The Analogy of Religion to the Constitution and Course of Nature / To which are added two brief dissertations: I. On personal identity. II. On the nature of virtue. - Joseph Butler

A common absurdity, [243]
Abstract truth distinguished from facts, [305], [186]
Absurdity of some objections to Christianity, [245]
Abuse of our natural endowments, [217]
Accidental, what events are so called, [226]
Accountability gradually increases, [251]
Actions,
definition of, in morals, [261]
distinguished from things done, [261]
their bad consequences sometimes escaped, [232]
virtue and vice consist in them, [261]
Advantage, as proper a consideration in religion as in temporal affairs, [298]
variously bestowed, [249], [312]
Analogy
a confirmation of all facts to which it can be applied, [306]
affords no argument against the scheme of Christianity, [203]
nor against miracles, [203]
answers presumptions against miracles, [207]
does not prove the wisdom of God, [301]
does not teach that the whole of God’s government is like that on earth, [204]
easily cavilled at, but unanswerable, [306]
between natural information and that derived from inspiration, [212]
between the remedies of nature and those of grace, [219]
between the gospel and human discoveries, [219]
between the light of nature and of revelation, [218]
between the use of natural gifts, and miraculous, [217]
between the government of God and that of a human master, [261]
its small influence on men, [303]
how used in this treatise, [306]
may show our duty, but not the design of the requirement, [246]
objections to this mode of arguing, [CHAP. VIII.]
shows that there may be infinite reasons for things, with which we are not acquainted, [188]
the only ground for some of our knowledge, [306]
Antidote to heresies, [191]
Apocalypse, its principal object, [249]
Appearances of men and things deceptive, [248]
Arguments proper as to human writings, are not so as to Scripture, [214]
Atonement,
how held by the ancients, [241]
makes the innocent suffer for the guilty, [243]
Author of nature taken for granted, [298]
Authoritativeness of revelation, [189]
Baptism
a test of obedience, [199]
commanded and important, [194]
why the form of words, [194]
Bible, how to be interpreted, [202], [215]
Brutes, their great sagacity, [216]
Boundary of human inquiry, [223]
Candor necessary in judging of Christianity, [302]
Chance, really no such thing, [226]
Characters drawn in Scripture evidently unfeigned, [287]
Christ
a mediator, [CHAP. V.]
a prophet, [240]
a priest and king, [241]
his history, as given in Scripture, [285]
his pre-existence taught, [282]
his satisfaction, [239]
his sufferings voluntary, [243]
manner of his interposition, [238]
not merely a teacher and example, [242]
offered himself a propitiatory sacrifice, [241]
Christianity
a fearful curse, if it give no more light than natural religion, [196]
a question of fact, [301]
a remedial system, [193]
an authoritative republication of the religion of nature, [188], [189]
a particular scheme under a general plan, [194], [224]
a scheme imperfectly comprehended, [CHAP. IV.]
a scheme revealed but in part, [226]
brings life and immortality to light, [190]
could not possibly be a contrivance, [222], [294]
demands attention, if barely probable, [253]
has evidences besides miracles and prophecy, [263]
in what degree remedial, [193]
is a real revelation, [213]
is conformable to the constitution of things, [295]
its benefits require the use of means, [197]
its establishment and prevalence, the most conspicuous and important event in history, [286]
its evidences, [CHAP. VII.]
its good effects not small, [192]
its precepts plain and obvious, [218]
its proof historical, [304]
its proofs liable to objection, [260]
men bound to examine its evidence, [197]
miracles and prophecy its direct and fundamental proofs, [263]
must have mysteries, [223]
no objection to the morality of it, [214], [220], [222]
not merely a republication of natural religion, [196]
not primarily designed to remedy the defects of nature, [193]
not the discovery of reason, [188]
objections to its evidence, [210]
objections to its nature, [210]
offered to some in a corrupt state, [250]
prescribes new duties, [194]
preserves natural religion in the world, [191]
propagated against all obstructions, [294]
rashness of treating it lightly, [194], [196], [197]
requires means to accomplish ends, [225]
reveals a particular dispensation of Providence, [194]
reveals important facts, [196]
some of its dark parts may be cleared up, others cannot, [223]
teaches more than natural religion, [194]
the evils ascribed to it, are not its evils, [192]
the one great question concerning it, [213], [214]
the only religion professedly confirmed by miracles, [268]
to be transmitted by Christians, [190]
universal, in nature and intention, [248]
what alone could disprove it, [295]
why not remedial to a greater degree, [193]
why not sooner promulgated, [219]
Christians
bound to spread Christianity, [190]
primitive, their testimony, [267]
Church
men bound to support it, [193]
preserves a knowledge of religion, [191]
visible, its design, [190], [191]
Circumstantial evidences of Christianity, [263], [281]
often as convincing as direct testimony, [294]
Clemens Romanus, testimony of, [266]
his letter to the Corinthians, [266]
Climax of infidel extravagance, [294]
Coincidence of natural and revealed religion, [211], [218]
Coincidences of Scripture, [266]
Comparison, how it may mislead us, [201]
Compassion distinct from goodness, [233]
visible in the constitution of the world, [233]
Consequences of infidelity; more dangerous than those of faith, [294]
of sin, often averted, [233]
Conversational objections to revelation, [295]
Conversion, how produced, [225]
Course of nature
different from what we might have supposed, previous to experience, [211]
none at the beginning, [205]
our total darkness as to its causes, [208]
Creation
Mosaic account of, referred to by John, [282]
a different exertion of power from government, [205]
why Scripture describes it, [281]
Creatures of like moral qualities placed in different religious situations, [251]
Credulity of mankind acknowledged, [269]
Cumulative proof of Christianity, [207]
Daniel
his book had more evidence of authenticity than has come to us, [279]
his predictions a support of Jewish faith, [249]
quoted by Christ, [279]
Dark parts of revelation, [223]
Degrees of evidence have degrees of weight, [255]
require nice examination, [258]
Deistical explanation of Christ’s miracles, [206]
Deists, why do they oppose Christianity, [196]
Depravity of man obvious, [238]
doctrine of, [218]
Desert of good and ill, the notion of, [305]
Development, of truth, [218]
modern, doctrine of, [218]
Differences of religious advantages may have like reasons as those for different temporal advantages, [251]
would remain if revelation were universal, [252]
Difficulties
absurdity of requiring them to be all removed, [297]
as to the evidence of religion, analogous to those attending the practice of it, [256]
cannot be solved by analogy, [296]
speculative, may be the chief trials of some, [257]
the discernment which can see them, might suffice to see through them, [260]
Direct and circumstantial evidence must be taken together, [280]
Diseases of body and mind, analogous as to their remedies, [220]
Disobedience, without possible excuse, [253]
Dispensations, preparatory one to another, [310]
Disregard of religion a great profligacy, [233]
Distinction between moral and positive obligation, [198], [198]
between acts and principles, [235]
between temporary, individual, and universal commands, [188]
Doubt
affords scope for probation, [262]
exercises our virtuous principles, [256]
implies some evidence, [252], [254], [283]
involves some obligation, [263]
puts us upon probation, [253]
Doubtful evidence should have some influence, [255]
Duties arising from revealed relations, [195]
moral and positive, [194]
Earth, its appearances confirm Scripture, [238]
Effect of Adam’s transgression, [238]
of combined probabilities, [294], [294]
Efficacy of repentance, [190]
not taught by the light of nature, [190]
End, God’s not known, [246]
Enthusiasm
is not peculiar to religion, [272]
impairs no testimony for Christianity, [271]
may often weaken testimony, [271]
sometimes mixed with knavery, [272]
the absence of all sign of it in Christianity, a presumptive proof in its favor, [222]
will not account for the spread of Christianity, [270]
Enthusiasts make as great sacrifices as Christians, [270]
Epistles of Paul, proof from, [266]
Eternal retribution not taught by natural religion, [190]
Ethics of natural religion distinguished from its objects, [194]
Events expound Scripture, [219]
Evidence
of Christianity impregnable, [295]
collateral and direct to be viewed together, [294]
from miracles and prophecy, [267]
imperfect, should yet influence practice in proportion to its degree, [255]
of circumstances may be most direct, [294]
of religion, open to all, [260]
of religion, the same in kind as that which controls us in temporal things, [258]
much lower than satisfactory often determines us, [303]
not only increased but multiplied by a combination of probabilities, [294], [294]
reason the proper judge of, [221]
requires careful sifting, [256]
candor in judging, [302], [303]
safety always in admitting it, [294]
why liable to objection, [257]
Evil, remedies provided for it, [219], [232]
Exaggeration practised by many who will not lie, [272]
External manner of heart worship, [195]
Experience
affords no presumption against Christianity, [203]
corroborates Christian doctrines, [245]
teaches the effects of actions, [246]
Extravagance of some objections, [187], [188]
Facts
analogy the only proof of some, [306]
distinguished from abstract truths, [305]
of revelation distinguished from its principles, [235]
Fall of man, assumed as a fact, [236]
confirmed by appearances, [238]
Falsehood, its degrees and inducements, [272]
False miracles have deceived many, [273]
have some historic evidence, [273]
Fatalists, their principles argued upon, [304]
Fear cast out by love, [301]
Fitness, moral, [304], [305]
Flippant objections to Christianity, [295]
Folly, a real vice, [280]
Foresight of brutes, [216]
Future punishments,
all the reasons for them not known, [234]
not arbitrarily appointed, [232]
natural sequences, [231], [232]
rendered credible by temporal punishments, [300]
Genealogy of mankind given in Scripture, [283]
General laws
a wise arrangement, [227]
do not render miracles incredible, [227]
control the Christian dispensation, [226]
few events can be traced up to them, [226]
miracles may be their results, [226], [227]
the ground of believing there are such, [226]
things called accidental governed by them, [226]
Geology, its impressive lessons, [229]
GOD
a master giving laws, [261]
all his reasons for giving a command must be certainly known, and known to have passed away, before we can safely disregard it, [188]
duties towards him as the Father, [194], [195]
governs by mediation, [230]
his government shows compassion, [233]
progressive, [229]
his means and ends we cannot distinguish, [228]
his providence, objections to it idle, [300], [301]
his reasons not assigned, [246]
his will, as absolute or conditional, [261]
how he would act in contingencies, unknown, [222]
how to be worshipped, a pure matter of revelation, [195]
instructs us by experience, [211], [246]
little known, [222]
not indifferent as to who suffer, [243]
reveals our duties, not his plans, [246]
the real author of the prophecies, [276]
Good and evil unequally distributed, [248]
Government of God sometimes, apparently, tardy in its results, [224], [225]
Gradual growth of causes, [208]
Happiness not always secured by well-laid schemes, [247]
Hazard of neglecting Christianity, [262]
Heathen world, condition of, [186], [250]
Hieroglyphic and figurative language of Scripture, [210]
Hinderances to natural and spiritual knowledge similar, [218]
History
of miracles, [264]
of the Jews confirmed by their condition, [289], [290]
of the origin of religion, [206]
furnishes no parallel to revelation, [207]
prophecy is history anticipated, [281]
Scripture, has not been invalidated, [283]
Holy Spirit, its operations on the heart, [225]
Human contrivance unequal to some things, [222]
Human life, in what sense it may be called poor, [297]
Human testimony, reliable notwithstanding the prevalence of falsehood, [273]
Identity of principle between natural and revealed religion, [235]
Ignorance
of heathen writers, [187]
of other worlds, forbids objections to Christianity on the ground of miracles, [207]
of the laws of miracles, not greater than of natural laws, [256]
of the reason of our present condition, [251]
much of it our own fault, [259]
Imagination may fancy unreal coincidences, [293]
Immorality not authorized in Scripture, [221], [222]
Impassable limit to human knowledge, [223]
Imperceptible accumulation of forces, [208]
Imperfect knowledge, better than acting in the dark, [297]
Imperfection of language, [216]
Importance of revelation, [CHAP. I.]
an abstraction, [186]
precludes the idea that the first witnesses were careless, [274]
Improbability before and after an event, [207]
of the Deistical theory greater than that of miracles, [206]
Inadequacy of repentance, [236]
Inattention to religion, real depravity, [252], [307]
prevents convincement, [258]
Incarnation an invisible miracle, [204]
cannot be paralleled, [235]
Influence of the Holy Ghost, [225]
of the analogical argument, [303]
Innocent sometimes suffer for the guilty, [243]
Inspiration, the proper kind and extent of it not discoverable by reason, [212]
not to be interpreted like other writings, [212]
Inspired writers, key to their meaning, [276]
their one great scheme, [276]
show a foresight more than human, [278], [279]
Instruction from God to savages, [206]
Intercession by the good for the bad, [232]
Interest, temporal, not always apparent, [302]
Interpositions of men for each other, [232]
Internal improbabilities weaken external proof, [215]
Interpretation of Scripture, [215]
Irregularity, really no such thing, [226]
whence the appearance of, [227]
Irregularities of men, consequences proportioned to magnitude, [233]
Irreligion an aggravated sin, [233]
especially in persons in high standing, [254]
not justifiable on any pretence, [256], [312]
Invention an irregular way of information, [216]
Invisible miracles, [204]
things of God, how learned, [230]
Jews
God’s dealing with them, [290]
their continuance, a standing miracle, [290]
their history confirmed by facts, [291]
their system of Theism, [206]
Jewish miracles, a part of civil history, [265]
John, his allusion to Christ, in the beginning of his gospel, [282]
his doctrine agrees with that of Paul, [282]
Kingdom of Christ on earth, [241]
Knowledge
profound, not necessary to piety, [218]
scientific and religious, have the same difficulties, [218]
Knowledge of Scripture, improved in the same way as knowledge of the sciences, [218]
unequally distributed, [249]
Language necessarily ambiguous, [216]
of the prophecies, often figurative, [210]
Laplace, error of, [207]
Levity destructive to religious influence, [259]
Liberty
belief of our, unavoidable, [304]
of the will, not discussed, note [304]
necessary to the progress of knowledge, [218]
the principle so natural that language is formed on it, [304]
Life
future, brought to light by the gospel, [190]
may be taken away by command, [221]
not thrown away because success is uncertain, [302]
whether desirable or not, [301]
Light of nature
displayed in the Scriptures, [188]
does not teach our future condition, [190]
favors the doctrine of a Mediator, [230]
has left the greatest heathen in doubt, [186]
Ludicrous turn, danger of, [259]
Mahometanism not received on the footing of miracles, [268]
Mahometans and ancient Persians, how situated as to revelation, [250]
Man
accepted according to what he hath, [251]
his circumstances no ground of complaint, [252]
his obligation to study the Scriptures, [202], [262]
must be renewed, [197]
Manasses, prayer of, [237]
Manner of worship a matter of pure revelation, [195]
Martyrs
could not have been impostors, [272]
had full knowledge of facts, [269], [271]
the full force of their testimony, [269]
their obligations to veracity, [274]
were not enthusiasts, [271]
Means as related to ends, [225]
Mediation seen everywhere, [230]
exemplified in social life, [232]
Mediator,
appointment of, [CHAP. V.]
the notion of, natural, [230]
the Scripture doctrine of, [238-240]
whether one was necessary, [243]
why most objected to, [243]
Medium between full satisfaction of a truth and full satisfaction to the contrary, [313]
Memory, eloquence, &c. imprudently used, [217]
Men apt to be deluded by pretences, [273]
their conduct may be guessed at, [222]
Mercy seen in the constitution of the world, [233]
Messiah came at the expected time, [285]
his mission, [224]
Minuteness of predictions touching Christ, [207]
Miracles
admitted evidence for such as are false does not impair the evidence of Christian, [273]
contrary to the course of nature?, [206]
denying them leads to Atheism, [205]
disorderly use of, [217]
distinct reasons for them, [208]
large historical evidence for their truth, [270]
manner in which related, [264]
no argument of analogy against them, [205-207]
none parallel to those of Scripture, [207]
not mere embellishments, [264]
not to be compared to common events, [209]
nowise incredible, [209]
occasions for them likely to arise in the course of ages, [208]
of the Old Testament, inseparable from history, [265]
operate by general laws, [226]
Pagan and Popish, were wrought after those systems had obtained, [268]
peculiar to the Jewish and Christian religions, [268]
received as genuine from the first, [268], [269]
regulated by general laws, [227]
satisfactorily account for the existence of Christianity, [265]
should be compared to uncommon events, [209]
the credentials of Christianity, [267]
the evidence of their truth at first, [249]
the question of their truth only one of degree in point of evidence, [208]
the only satisfactory account of some events, [265]
the real nature of presumptions against them, [208]
the term a relative one, [205]
their direct proof of Christianity, [264]
their evidence the same as that for common facts, [264]
their force as proofs, [189]
visible and invisible, [204], [204]
what evidence arises from their having been accepted as true by the first Christians, [268]
writers upon, [264], [268]
Miraculous power
creation not properly an act of, [205]
misused by some, [217], [267]
pretences of, have deluded some, [273]
why bestowed, [190]
Misconduct creates need of assistance, [235]
Mistake of some of Hume’s opponents, [207]
Mistakes of philosophers dangerous, [230]
of transcribers, &c., [228]
Modern geology, lesson from, [229]
Moral action, the nature of, [261]
an action becomes such by command, [221]
Moral duties. See [Positive].
Moral faculty, its object, [305]
Moral government. See [Government].
Moral precepts. See [Positive].
Moral system revealed to mankind, [190]
Morality of Scripture, reason a judge of, [220]
Mysteries to be expected in revelation, [223], [224]
as many in nature as in Scripture, [246]
Mystery of godliness, [225]
Mythological writings resemble prophecy, [276]
Narratives of Scripture unadorned, [228]
Natural consequences of vice are judicial punishments, [197]
and spiritual things analogous in importance, [219]
endowments often abused, [217]
Natural light compared to revelation, [218]
Natural religion
and revealed, coincide, [211]
as much perverted as Christianity, [192]
could not have been reasoned out, [192]
discloses no Redeemer, [194]
its ethics and objects distinguished, [194]
its light wholly insufficient, [187]
might be authenticated by miracles, [190]
moral system of, [187]
taught and confirmed by Christianity, [188], [286], [292]
what it does not teach, [190], [194]
Nature carried on by uniform laws, [226]
implies the agency of God, [231]
its light insufficient, [186]
Nature and obligation of sacraments, note [195]
Necessity of revelation, [186]
Negligence prevents the recognition of truth, [258]
wholly inexcusable, [197]
Obedience from dread, [301]
or disobedience, an important matter, [188]
to a positive rite, especially indicative of piety, [199]
Objections
to certain precepts of Scripture, as immoral, [221]
to prophecy, from its obscurity, [275]
to revelation, are of equal weight against natural religion, [97]
to the analogical argument, as such, [CHAP. VIII.]
to the distribution of good and evil, [248-250]
to the doctrine of mediation, [CHAP. V.]
to the evidence for miracles, [CHAP. II.]
to the unequal distribution of religious knowledge, [249]
Objections to Christianity
as a matter of fact, [301]
as a remedial system, [193], [219]
as a roundabout, perplexed contrivance, [228]
as deficient in point of truth, [247]
as a scheme, [209]
as mysterious, [223]
as to its wisdom and goodness, [CHAP. IV.]
as unimportant, [CHAP. I.]
atonement makes the innocent suffer for the guilty, [227], [243]
contains things unlike the course of nature, [204]
does not remove difficulties, [223]
has been perverted, [192]
has been productive of evils, [192]
has internal improbabilities, [225-227]
disclosed to the world so recently, [219]
disorderly use of miraculous gifts, [227]
has small influence, [192], [303]
if true would not be left doubtful, [299]
is not satisfactory, [260], [261]
its doctrine of mediation, [CHAP. V.]
its external proof weakened by internal improbabilities, [215]
its lack of evidence, [CHAP. VI.]
its late introduction, [219]
may be advanced flippantly, but cannot be so answered, [295]
natural things too unimportant to furnish analogies in its favor, [219]
not just and good, [CHAP. IV.]
not necessary, [147]
not universal, [CHAP. VI.], [248]
slowly developed, [219]
some of its precepts immoral, [221]
sufficiency of natural religion, [187]
vicarious sufferings, [245]
Obligation arises from the bare supposableness of Christianity, [253], [262]
Obligations to God arising out of relationship, [196]
Obscurity in part of a prophecy, does not impair the evidence of foresight, [275]
Offenders often shielded by friends, [232]
Offices of Christ as a mediator, [238-240]
Opinions must be distinguished from facts, [270]
Ordinary rules of interpretation, [215]
Pagan and Popish miracles easily accounted for, [268]
Parables show what the author intended, [276]
Partial views give an appearance of wrong, [309]
Passion hinders correct judgment, [259]
Paul, his separate testimony, [266]
how he received the gospel, [267]
summary of his testimony, [267]
Perfection of religion, what? [CHAP. VIII.]
Persons for whom this treatise is written, [309]
Philosophy, its true mode of proceeding, [230]
Piety superior to ritual observances, [201]
Pleasures and pains, which overbalance? [301]
Political events, how mentioned in Scripture, [282]
Popish doctrine of a miracle at the Eucharist, [204]
Popular conversational objections, [295]
Porphyry’s mode of interpretation frivolous, note [279]
objections to the book of Daniel, [279]
Positive evidence of Christianity, [CHAP. VII.]
Positive institutions
belong to the notion of a church, [192]
lay us under the strictest obligation, [202]
means to moral ends, [199]
men disposed to depend on them, [200]
necessary to keep up and propagate religion, [246]
not to be made light of, [201]
not to supersede moral obedience, [200]
the reason of them often obvious, [198]
two modes of viewing them, [198]
Positive precepts compared with moral, [198], [201]
create moral obligations, [221]
Power of healing, [217]
Practice should be influenced by probability, [254]
Predictions of Christ very numerous and minute, [207], [208]
Prejudice a hinderance to knowledge, [258]
a mark of weakness, [280]
as hostile to truth as enthusiasm, [272]
operates contrary ways, [294]
Preservation of the Jews as a distinct race, [291]
Presumptions
against miracles, [205]
against revelation as miraculous, [CHAP. II.]
none against the general scheme of Christianity, [203]
none peculiar to miracles, [207]
strong, overcome by weak proof, [207], [207]
Priesthood of Christ, [238]
Jewish, typical of Christ, [239]
Principles argued upon in this treatise, [304]
Progressions in our existence, [229]
Progress in theology probable, [218]
Probable proofs, by being added, not only increase evidence, but multiply it, [294]
Probability should influence practice, [254]
Profane history corroborates Scripture statements, [287]
Proofs of Christianity
a touchstone of honesty, [259]
level to common men, [260]
some important ones omitted in this treatise, and why, [304]
why not more plain, [261]
Prophecy
a joint review of prophecies furnishes a far stronger proof than examination in detail, [294]
a series of, being applicable to certain events, is proof that it was intended of them, [276]
compared to compiled memoirs, [278]
created the expectation of a Messiah, [284]
confirmed by appearances, [292]
evidence from, [275]
expressed in figurative language, [275]
how understood by ancient Jews, [277]
in relation to the Jews, [284]
is history anticipated, [281]
its obscurity, [275]
its proofs amazingly strong, [207]
may not always have been understood by the writer, [278]
proves foresight, [276], [279]
sometimes obscured by interpreters, [210]
summary of, concerning Christ, [284]
use of, to future ages, [249]
writers upon, [277], [285]
Prophet, Christ a, [240]
Prophets
not the authors of what they wrote, [278]
their sense of their predictions not necessarily the whole sense, [278]
whether they had in view the events which Christians consider fulfilments, [277]
Proverbial, use of the word, [201]
Providence, never hasty, [229]
objections to it useless, [300], [301]
the course of, progressive, [229]
Province of reason, [220]
Prudence, its best plans often frustrated, [247]
often requires us to act with uncertain prospect of success, [247], [248]
Punishment
follows wickedness, of course, [231]
instances of vicarious, [244]
not always avoided by reformation, [235]
not promiscuously inflicted, [243]
provision made for escaping it, [232], [311]
we cannot of ourselves escape it, [234]
we cannot know why such and such are inflicted, [231]
Quotations
Angus, [202], [223]
Augustine, note [187]
Arnobius, [269]
Clemens Romanus, [266]
Davidson, [294]
Fitzgerald, [303]
Grotius, [259]
Guizot, [229]
Hurd, [276]
Dr. Johnson, [288]
Mahomet, [268]
Powell, [230]
Warburton, [217], [223]
Whately, [206]
Rashness of interpreters, [210]
of treating religion lightly, [197]
Reason
could not have invented Christianity, [206]
could not ascertain the power of penitence, [194]
discovers our relation to God the Father, [194]
but not our relation to the Son and Holy Ghost, [194], [196]
its limits very narrow, [223]
its proper province, [220]
must have right principles, [220]
needs the aid of experience in judging of the consequences of actions, [246]
not sufficient to construct a system of natural religion free from superstition, [186]
our only faculty for judging even revelation, [210]
requires the importance of a question to be taken into account, [295]
teaches nothing of the certain means of either temporal or spiritual good, [197]
very incompetent to judge what a revelation ought to be, [210-212]
Reasoning by analogy to any extent, leaves the mind unsatisfied, [296]
Redemption
agreeable to our natural notions, [235]
analogous to natural remedies, [232]
conjectures about it must be uncertain, [242]
mode of, not discoverable by reason, [243]
men not competent judges of its plan, [243]
on whom are its benefits, note [237]
Scripture account of, [239], [240]
we should be thankful for it, without disputing how it was procured, [242]
References to other authors
Alexander, [269]
Apthorpe, [285]
Bayle, [301]
Benson, [215]
Birk, [266]
Blaney, [285]
Blunt, [266]
Bolingbroke, [265]
Boswell, [288]
Boyle, [264]
Butler, [190], [272]
Campbell, [264]
Celsus, [287]
Chalmers, [187], [194], [242]
Colliber, [195]
Damascenus, [287]
Davidson, [285]
Diodorus Siculus, [287]
Eupolemus, [287]
Featley, [215]
Fitzgerald, [193], [206], [207]
Fleetwood, [264]
Fuller, [285]
Gibbon, [268]
Graves, [266]
Grotius, [266]
Gulick, [277]
Hengstenburg, [277]
Horseley, [277]
Howe, [236]
Hurd, [285]
Jortin, [264], [285]
Julian, [257]
King, [215], [277]
Lardner, [264]
Leland, [187]
Longinus, [287]
Lyall, [277]
McCosh, [187]
Mackintosh, [223]
Magee, [236], [242]
Manasses, [237]
Menander, [287]
Michaelis, [215]
Mills, [207]
Newman, [235]
Numenius, [287]
Owen, [242]
Paley, [205], [266], [268]
Pascal, [187], [223]
Pfaffius, [264]
Phlegon, [287]
Phœnician Annals, [287]
Pliny, [287]
Porphyry, [279], [287]
Samuel Stanhope Smith, [206]
Solinus, [287]
Spinoza, [215]
Stapfer, [242]
Storr, [215]
Strabo, [287]
Suetonius, [287]
Tacitus, [287]
Taylor, [264]
Tindall, [196], [248]
Tucker, [264]
Turretin, [242]
Vitringa, [276]
Warburton, [187]
Waterland, [195]
Watson, [264]
Waugh, [277], [285]
Wayland, [188], [236]
Whately, [206], [268], [288]
Witsius, [264]
Reformation does not always preclude punishment, [235]
Regard due to the Son and Holy Spirit, [195]
Regard to God as Creator, the essence of natural religion, [195]
Rejection of Christ by many, at first, the argument from it, [269]
foretold, [285]
Relations, being learned, duties are perceived, [194]
Relations of man to Deity, [194]
to the Son and Holy Ghost, [195]
Religion
a practical thing, [298]
a question of fact, [301], [304]
affords particular reasons for miracles, [208]
confirmed by the establishment of a church, [191]
considered as external and internal, [195]
doubt of its evidence does not release from moral obligation, [254]
has its end on all persons to whom proposed, [303], [303]
if true, why susceptible of any possible doubt? [299]
its acceptance safe, [295]
its general spirit intimated, [200], [201]
its great importance, [254]
its introduction into the world, [206]
its reasonableness fully shown, if it can only be proved that it may be reasonable, [301]
its very nature overlooked by those who insist that it should have overwhelming evidence, [302]
may be true, though doubtful, [299]
must be judged by its evidences taken together, [294]
not a thing reasoned out, [206]
not equally taught to all men, [206]
objections to it removed by analogy, [300]
presupposes candor in those who examine it, [256], [302], [303]
reason may judge of its morality, [220]
reasonable, for aught which can be shown to the contrary, [301]
the perception of, [302]
the view of it taken in this treatise, [299]
the evidence for it may be lessened, but cannot be destroyed, [295]
why its evidences are allowed to admit of doubt, [249], [253], [299]
Relief for evils provided, [232]
Remedial nature of Christianity, [193]
Remedies
provided in nature, [219], [232]
may be unskilfully used, [220]
show the compassion of God, [233]
and also his strictness, [234]
Repentance
cannot cancel guilt, [236], [236]
general sense of mankind on the subject, [236]
its efficacy not taught by natural religion, [190]
its efficacy taught in the Scriptures, [190]
not sufficient to preclude disaster, [234], [235]
Revelation
a particular part of a great plan, [224]
accounts for the Theism of the Jews, [206]
at the beginning of the world, would not be miraculous, [205]
cannot be neglected with impunity, [260-262]
considered as miraculous, [CHAP. II.]
considered historically, [281]
difference between its facts and its principles, [235]
discovers new relations, and so new duties, [194]
distinguished from natural religion, [195]
does not compel assent, [253]
has twice been universal, [248]
how it could be overturned, [214]
its disclosures, of course, could not have been anticipated, [211], [212]
its measure of evidence puts us on probation, [253]
its facts necessarily singular, [235]
no more different from the course of nature than some parts of the course of nature are different from other parts, [312]
necessary, [CHAP. I.]
republishes and confirms natural religion, [188], [189]
nothing incredible in it, [271]
teaches that God’s laws are compassionate, [236]
the use of unwritten revelation, [213]
what is to be expected in revelation, [210], [212]
Reverence for the will of God, [199]
Ridicule of Scripture
an offence against natural piety, [286]
easier than examination, [259]
the great weakness of being influenced by it, [280]
Roman Empire mentioned, [279]
Rules for health very fallible and inexact, [302]
of Biblical interpretation, [215]
Sacrifices
commanded, [241]
expiatory, [239]
how the ancients regarded them, [242]
learned by the heathen from tradition, [241]
really efficacious, [242]
the prevalence of, [236]
Sacrifice of Christ
an objection to it, [243]
how efficacious, not taught, [242]
proper and real, [239-241]
puts us into a capacity for salvation, [242]
voluntary, [244]
Safety an important consideration in judging, [294]
Satirical writings, how understood, [276], [277]
Scheme of nature, vast, [204]
progressive, [229]
Scheme of providence, if understood, would justify facts which are objected to, [300]
Schemes, the best may be disconcerted, [247]
Science confirms Scripture history, [287]
Scorn of prophetic diction, [210]
Scripture
announces a general restoration of things, [282]
antiquity of, [287]
characters evidently not feigned, [287]
confirmed by profane authors, [288]
confirmed by the state of the earth, [287]
considered historically, [281]
contains an abridged history of the world, [282]
exposed to criticism, [283]
expounded by itself, [202]
gives a history of this world as God’s world, [281]
gives an account of civil governments only as they affected religion, [282]
has internal evidence of truth, [287]
history genuine, [265]
how distinguished from other books, [281-283]
how to be interpreted, [202]
if false could be shown to be so, [283]
includes a history of thousands of years, [283]
includes the chronology of nearly four thousand years, [284]
its authority the great question, not its contents, [214]
its chronicles confirmed by history, [287]
its evidences comprise a series of things of great variety and reaching to the beginning of time, [263]
its evidences not intended to be overpowering, [253]
its great proofs are miracles and prophecy, [264]
its relation to miracles only to be accounted for on the supposition of their truth, [265]
its strangeness not surprising, [288]
its style objected to, [210]
its truth must be judged of by the evidence taken together, [295]
may contain things not yet discovered, [218]
miracles, their first reception, [265]
naturalness of its statements, [287]
not composed by rules of art, [210]
nothing improbable related in any part, [287]
not to be judged by preconceived expectation, [215]
not to be judged exactly as other books, [214]
ordinary rules of interpretation, [215]
our duty to search it, [202], [262]
precepts, some give offence, [210]
reveals our relation to the Son and Holy Spirit, [194]
the possibility of its truth demands investigation, [258]
truths not discoverable by reason, [203]
variety of topics introduced, [283]
written in a rude age, [283]
why it describes creation, [282]
Searching the Scriptures a great duty, [202]
Self-deceit, our liability to it, [262]
Serious apprehension may comport with doubt, [313]
Shameful mistakes of philosophers, [230]
Similarity of objections to religion and nature, [298]
Sincerity of belief proved by dying for it, [270]
Skepticism no justification of irreligion, [253]
Sorrow cannot of itself restore abused benefits, [234]
Speaking with tongues, [217]
Speculative difficulties similar to external temptations, [256]
the chief trial of some, [257], [259]
Spread of Christianity unaccountable if it were an imposture, [290]
Standing ministry, what for, [191]
Strangeness of some Scripture events, [288]
Stupidity of the martyrs, if insincere, [269]
Subserviences, the world a system of, [229]
Success, temporal, always uncertain, [302]
Suffering, ignorance does not prevent it either in temporal or spiritual things, [196]
Sufferings of Christ vindicate God’s law, [244]
of the early Christians, [269]
Sufficiency of light of nature pretended, [186]
Summary of Jewish history, [284]
of the historical evidence of Scripture, [292]
Supernatural instructions necessary from the first, [206]
Temporal interests not always discerned, [247], [248]
managed by prudent persons on the very principles proposed by religion as to spiritual interests, [298], [299]
Temporal interests often decided by considerations which fall short of demonstration, [299]
Temporary commands, distinguished from perpetual, [188]
Temptation
a wholesome discipline, [256]
earthly and spiritual similar, [256]
calls forth virtuous effort, [257]
Testimony
can be destroyed only by counter-testimony, or by the incompetency of the witness, [274]
for miracles not mentioned in Scripture, does not impair the testimony for those there recorded, [273]
of Paul, separate and independent, [266]
of profane authors to the truth of Scripture history, [287]
of the first Christians, [269], [271]
must be judged candidly, [259]
none counter to Christianity, [275]
slight, overcomes strong presumptions, [208]
unconfuted, must be admitted, [273]
value of, lessened by enthusiasm, [271]
Theism of the Jews accounted for, [206]
Theology of the Bible, not to be corrected, [202]
Things which it is unreasonable to dispute, [307]
Thoughtlessness of men, [233]
Tradition teaches that there was a revelation at the beginning, [205]
of the fall of man, [311]
Transubstantiation, [205]
Trial by speculative difficulties, analogous to other trials, [256]
True philosophy inductive, [230]
Truth of Christianity proved, unless the whole of its history and influence can be accounted for by accident, [295]
Truth, how developed, [218]
the, of an event may be fully proved, though no one of sundry proofs may be complete, [295]
whether there is any such thing, denied by skeptics, [305]
Twofold effect of the analogical argument, [305]
Unbelievers, acknowledgment of, [289]
cannot deny a conformity between prophecy and events, [293]
Understanding, its right use, [245]
Undesigned coincidences in Bible history, [266]
Undeterminate language deceives many, [297]
Unequal distribution of religious knowledge, [249]
Unfair dealing of objectors, [297]
Unreasonableness of applying to passion for guidance, [295]
Unsatisfactory evidence, men often obliged to act upon it, [302]
Variety in the distribution of God’s gifts, [249], [312]
Vastness of the scheme of nature, [204]
Veracity of the first Christians, [274]
Vicarious punishments witnessed every day, [244]
deter from sin, [245]
Vice
appointed to be punished, [231]
blinds men to just evidence, [255]
its effects in the present world, [234]
its natural consequences are God’s judicial inflictions, [197]
its real enormity, [234]
not palliated by any supposed lack of evidence for religion, [255]
Vindication of religion by analogy impossible, [296]
of the character of God, not attempted in this treatise, [299], [300]
Way of salvation for the helpless, [186]
Will of God, as absolute or conditional, [261]
World, wickedness of, [238]
Worship, mode of, a matter of pure revelation, [195]
Writers
on the atonement, [242]
Christian sacraments, [195]
miracles, [264], [268]
necessity of revelation, [187]
prophecy, [277-285]
Scripture difficulties, [[215]
undesigned coincidences, [[266]

THE END.