part i

.--on Natural Religion--he defends a moral or punishing Deity against the sentimental softness of the age. The God of Nature, whom deists confess does punish in time, if they will but look at the facts; why not in eternity? "Morality," as others have confessed, is "the nature of things"! Not the Being of God is discussed--Butler will not waste words on triflers (as he thinks them) who deny that--but God's character. Unfortunately (perhaps) Butler prefers to argue on _admitted principles_; holds much of his own moral belief in reserve; tries to reduce everything to a question of _probable fact_. If this hampers him in part i ., the situation appears still worse in