This retirement, however favourable to Butler's con templative turn of mind, and to the production of his Analogy, which we may suppose was now the main em ployment of his recluse hours, was far too solitary for his disposition, which had in it a deep tincture of melancho ly. Ile felt at times, most painfully, the want of that select society to which he had been accustomed in the metropolis, and which was so well calculated to afford a delightful relaxation after the fatigues of study, and of professional labour. This circumstance was not un known to his friends, who were therefore extremely anxious to bring him bacl: into the world. Mr Seeker particularly exerted himself on this occasion. Haying himself been appointed king's chaplain in 1732, he one day, in the course of a conversation with Queen Caroline, took occasion to mention his friend's name. Her ma jesty said she thought he had been dead : and asked Arch bishop Blackburne if this was not the case. His reply was, " No, madam, but he is buried." This activity of Seckcr in behalf of Butler, was at last rewarded with complete success ; having found means, on the ele vation of :Air Charles Talbot to be lord chancellor, to have him effectually recommmded to his lordship for his chaplain. The chancellor accordingly, in 1733, nomi nated Butler, who accepted the nomination, and imme diately set off for London. Taking Oxford in his way, he was there created Doctor of Laws. A prebend in the church of Rochester was also conferred upon him by the same patron ; and that he might once more return to his favourite mode of life, it was agreed that he should still reside half the year at Stanhope.
In 1736 he was appointed clerk of the closet to the queen ; to whom, in the same year. he presented a copy of his great and immortal work, "The Analogy of Reli gion, Natural and Revealed, to the constitution and courst. of Nature ;" together with two brief dissertations annex ed to it ; one on personal identity, and the other on the nature of virtue.
Ilis philosophy of morals had been published by the author avian' young, in the form of ic.!rinons. His riper judgment induced him to throw his theory of religion into the form of regular dissertation. The reasoning contained in the Analogy, is founded on a topic, which the author had treated in one of his sermons, the igno rance of man ; a topic to which he was somewhat par tial on all occasions. The general idea whit 11 runs through the work is as follows :—The difficulties which occur in religion, both natural and revealed, are precisely of the same complexion as those which occur in the eco nomy of nature. But as, from our limited knowledge, the difficulties of nature are admitted to be no proof of its not haying, a divine author ; so the difficulties in re ligion, having probably no other cause than our igno rance, not merely are no evidence against its truth ; but afford rather a presumption, from the similarity in both cases, that both nature and religion arc conducted by the same government, and on the same plan. Since, then,
we perceive a striking resemblance between the systems of nature and of religion, and as to many remarkable events in the economy of grace there may be found cor responeing facts in real life ; it is logical to conclude, that this resemblance will be found to hold in parts beyond our view, and that to natural occurrences which take place at present, there will be corresponding occur rences in an after state.—Taking therefore this analogy as his guide, Butler follows it most beautifully through the constituent tenets of religion, and thus confirms the doctrines of a future existence, of probation, of retrihution, of the moral government of God, and of the peculiar doc trines of revelation. It ought ever to he had in recollection, that from its Very nature, analogical reasoning is, by it self, incapable of establishing any point, except perhaps, the single one of theoretical possibility. Its chief effect is merely to confirm evidence derived from a different source ; and while it pretends to no infallible deductions, contents itself with simple probability. There are two important objects which Dr Butler has accomplished by his Analogy, N% ith respect to the Christian religion : 11(3 has at once disposed our minds more readily to admit its positive evidences, by sheaving its conformity to the other departments of the divine government ; and clear ly demonstrated that it is not, prima Jack, according to the absurd assertion of some Deists, a proper subject of ridicule, but a system that at least may be true.
During 'the short remainder of Queen Caroline•s life, who died in 1737, she required the attendance of Dr But ler for two hours every day, from to nine in the even ing. 11cr demise was no obstacle to his preferment ; for so effectually had that excellent princess recom mended him to his majcS1..N prot.:Ttion, that in the en suing year he was promoted to the episcopal dignity, being consecrated to the see of Bristol on the 3d ol De cember, 1738. In addition to this splendid mark of roe al approbation, the king conft rred upon hint, in the deanery of St Paul's, London ; upon which, from the great accumulation of clot he immediately rc signt d the rich benefice of Stanhope. During this period he w as called upon to preach several sermons on In blic occa sions in the metropolis ; which Were print d, d have been since annexed to tl ose preached at the Rol's. In 1746, upon the death of Dr Egerton, bishop of Hereford, Dr Butler was made clerk of the closet to the king ; and on the 16th of October, 1750, he was translated to the princely see of appointment which we may easily conceive was peculiarly agreeable to the worthy prelate, from having been so long connected with that diocese in his younger days.