foresee, or might foresee, is likely to produce an overbalance of unhappiness in it: than which mistakes, none can be conceived more terrible. For it is certain, that some of the most shocking instances of injustice, adultery, murder, perjury, and even of persecution, may, in many supposable cases, not have the appearance of being likely to produce an overbalance of misery in the present state; perhaps sometimes may have the contrary appearance. For this reflection might easily be carried on, but I forbear-The happiness of the world is the concern of him, who is the lord and the proprietor of it: nor do we know what we are about, when we endeavour to promote the good of mankind in any ways, but those which he has directed; that is indeed in all ways not contrary to veracity and justice. I speak thus upon supposition of persons really endeavouring, in some sort, to do good without regard to these. But the truth seems to be, that such supposed endeavours proceed, almost always, from ambition, the spirit of party, or some indirect principle, concealed perhaps in great measure from persons themselves. And though it is our business and our duty to endeavour, within the bounds of veracity and justice, to contribute to the ease, convenience, and even cheerfulness and diversion of our fellow-creatures: yet, from our short views, it is greatly uncertain, whether this endeavour will, in particular instances, produce an overbalance of happiness upon the whole; since so many and distant things must come into the account. And that which makes it our duty is, that there is some appearance that it will, and no positive appearance sufficient to balance this, on the contrary side; and also, that such benevolent endeavour is a cultivation of that most excellent of all virtuous principles, the active principle of benevolence. However, though veracity, as well as justice, is to be our rule of life; it must be added, otherwise a snare will be laid in the way of some plain men, that the use of common forms of speech, generally understood, cannot be falsehood; and, in general, that there can be no designed falsehood without designing to deceive. It must likewise be observed, that in numberless cases, a man may be under the strictest obligations to what he foresees will deceive, without his intending it. For it is impossible not to foresee, that the words and actions of men, in different ranks and employments, and of different educations, will perpetually be mistaken by each other; and it cannot but be so, whilst they will judge with the utmost carelessness, as they daily do, of what they are not, perhaps, enough informed to be competent judges of, even though they considered it with great attention. INDEX TO BISHOP BUTLER'S ANALOGY, Drawn up by Dr. Bentham, and revised and corrected by the Bishop himself. Abstract notions, not to be applied Afflictions, how they produce the how to be conducted, 5, 6. arguments drawn from it may reasonably be admitted afford sufficient proof to in- what it shews us concerning its use with regard to ob- how it assists us in judging ANALOGY. Analogy, how it how it obviates objections between our state of trial, in between the misconduct of the miserable consequences of how it invalidates the plea what argument it suggests suggests arguments sufficient - between the moral system of between the light of nature Ꮓ Analogy, how it obviates objections as to the fitness of means to affords no argument against affords no peculiar pre- between the mysteriousness between the difficulty there is the usefulness of arguing from what is taken for granted in between what we see contained between what we at present affords no argument against how it confirms our appre- between our state of probation, how it illustrates the Scrip- the Christian doctrine of a how it obviates those objec- from its supposed want Analogy, objections against the argu- Attention, necessary when we con- Benevolence, divine, towards us, Body, our existence may be con- Brutes, whether capable of immor- Chance, what is meant by it, 193. regal and priestly, 211, 212. his satisfaction, see Mediator, a summary of the Bible . upon what evidence his Divine Christianity: see Revelation, Ob- Christians, primitive, what argu- Church, visible, the necessity of one the dictates of it are to be makes us proper subjects of regards chiefly, but not solely, Contemplation, of itself, insufficient |