Q. 379. What are the works of Bishop Butler which have so gone out of fashion?—The Analogy and the Sermons were the books which we used to take up.
[67] The subject of this Lecture is touched upon, but not expanded, in the following pregnant passage of Butler's Analogy: "The thing objected against this scheme of the Gospel is, that it seems to suppose God was reduced to the necessity of a long series of intricate means in order to accomplish His ends, the recovery and salvation of the world: in like sort as men, for want of understanding or power, not being able to come to their ends readily, are forced to go roundabout ways, and make use of many perplexed contrivances to arrive at them. Now, everything which we see shows the folly of this, considered as an objection against the truth of Christianity. For, according to our manner of conception, God makes use of a variety of means, what we often think tedious ones, in the natural course of providence, for the accomplishment of all His ends. Indeed, it is certain there is somewhat in this matter quite beyond our comprehension: but the mystery is as great in nature as in Christianity."—Analogy, Part II., chap. iv.
[68] Philos. of Univ. Hist. i. p. 191.
[69] Manuel d'Histoire, tom. ii. p. 16.
[70] Zeitschrift f. Œgypt. Sp. Nov. 1868.
[71] Colenso. "The Pentateuch and the Book of Joshua."
[72] Gen. xlvi. 27; compare Ex. i. 5.
[73] Gen. xlvi. 7.
[74] Gen. xlvi. 5. The word taph (טף) here, translated "little ones" means "households." The Septuagint translate it by οἰκία [Greek: oikia] or συγγένεια [Greek: sungeneia].
[75] Payne Smith, "Bampton Lectures." p. 89.