Could I, indeed, have felt justified in taking greater liberties with Bishop Butler's style, the difficulties of my task would have been materially lessened. Many passages might then have been reconstructed, so as to fall in with the argument in hand, with considerably less trouble than was required in cautiously selecting, from the author's own language, every successive and connecting link in the abbreviated chain of the discourse. Of an attempt then, thus conducted, comparatively easy as it might have been to a more penetrating intellect, and more practised hand, I cannot but exclaim, 'Hoc opus, hic labor est!"

To determine in a work of such a character, where every sentence and word has its own specific and relative weight, what to select, and what to pass over, has frequently been a point of no ordinary perplexity. In writing the MEMOIR of this great man, I found a straight-forward and agreeable path; in preparing a COMPENDIUM OF THE ANALOGY, the road was always difficult, and sometimes painful, from a proper distrust of my own judgment, where it was not an easy thing to call in aid the judgment of another. The time and attention, moreover, which I have deemed it my duty to devote to this object, have

been so considerable, as to deter me from imposing upon another the laborious task of as deliberately, and as carefully, tracing my steps. But, unless the ground I have trodden were as carefully passed over by an auxiliary, suggestions, formed upon a hasty view of the whole, might only have embarrassed my own course, without conducting me to a more satisfactory result. If then, as it may well be thought, I have performed the more arduous branch of my design imperfectly, I trust, at least, that my motives for entering upon it will not be condemned. Having met with many well-educated persons who are unacquainted with the Analogy, and many more who, although in some measure acquainted with this masterly Treatise, are wholly ignorant of Butler's other, and perhaps equally valuable writings, I am led to indulge a hope, that the COMPENDIUM, now given of the former production, by attracting the notice of those of this class who may peruse the Memoir, may promote a wider study of the entire works of one, of whom Bishop Halifax observed, that he had "done as much essential service to the cause of sound morality and true religion, as any single person, since the extraordinary gifts of the word of wisdom, and the word of knowledge,' have been withdrawn."

To this may be added another motive,—a desire to make the leading arguments of Butler's Analogy known, in quarters where the entire work is not likely to be met with. It is generally admitted, that these arguments furnish one of the most powerful antidotes, against infidelity, that English literature can supply; and it is an appalling fact, that infidel productions are, at the present moment, widely diffused, in a cheap and insidious form, both in the metropolis, and in many of our manufacturing districts. The Analogy however, is of too copious and expensive a character to circulate freely amongst those, who have but little time to devote to the perusal, and but little money to expend in the purchase, of such a work. But, assuming that it is a desirable object to bring the arguments of Butler before the public in a briefer form, although many analyses of the Analogy have already appeared, I am not aware of one which is either intended, or adapted, for this purpose. The Preface of Bishop Halifax, and The Introductory Essay of Bishop Wilson, were designed to accompany the work itself, and not to be separated from it. The edition of the Analogy by the Reverend Edward Bushby, with the omission of the Chapters on "the opinion of Necessity, considered as influencing practice," and "on the objections against

arguing from the Analogy of Nature to Religion," and other alterations, was expressly prepared for the use of students in their college course. Hobart's Analysis, moreover, with valuable notes and comprehensive summaries of each Chapter,— and the Examination Questions, grounded upon that Analysis, by the Reverend G. W. Craufurd, profess to aim at the same object; that of making the university student better acquainted with Butler's design, "the refutation of objections, and the removal of apparent improbabilities,"—" the complete accomplishment of which is, alone," as remarks the Reverend Edward Bushby, "one of the greatest services that has ever been rendered to the cause of religion." Whatever, then, may be the respective merits of these several productions, and however accurately adapted they may be to the purpose for which they are designed, there is not one amongst them calculated to answer the end now assumed to be an important one.

Although, therefore, the COMPENDIUM OF THE ANALOGY, (which is added to this volume, and which contains about a third part of the original matter,) may not present an adequate idea of the vast stores of Butler's richly-furnished mind, and of the almost endless illustrations which

he so profusely throws around his subject; and although, in point of fact, it may render very imperfect justice to the writer of that incomparable Treatise, yet, if it shall be found to exhibit, in a tolerably clear manner, a condensed view of the leading arguments of the Analogy, it may perhaps assist the accomplishment of an important object. By circulating in a cheap form, it may meet infidelity, in some of its lower walks, amongst the large masses of our reading, and reflecting, and progressively intelligent, population, to whom Butler, in his own natural shape and dimensions, cannot be expected to gain access.

An advertisement has appeared, in several of the leading journals, soliciting original documents for this work, should any such be known to exist, but it has not been productive of one such document. Neither has it been the means of directing my attention to any circumstances connected with Bishop Butler, nor to any notices of him, with which I was not previously acquainted.

To his Grace, the Archbishop of Canterbury, for allowing me the use of some private papers of Archbishop Secker;-to the Lord Bishop of Exeter, for his permission to make extracts from his interesting letter to the Archdeacon of Lincoln;