182 HUME vin 



religion must be false because it is inconsistent 

 with the divine attributes of justice and mercy; 

 I beg leave to point out to you, that there are 

 undeniable natural facts which are fully open to 

 the same objection. Since you admit that nature 

 is the work of God, you are forced to allow that 

 such facts are consistent with his attributes. 

 Therefore, you must also admit, that the parallel 

 facts in the scheme of orthodoxy are also con- 

 sistent with them, and all your arguments to the 

 contrary fall to the ground. Q. E. D. In fact, the 

 solid sense of Butler left the Deism of the Free- 

 thinkers not a leg to stand upon. Perhaps, how- 

 ever, he did not remember the wise saying that 

 " A man seemeth right in his own cause, but an- 

 other cometh after and judgeth him." Hume's 

 Epicurean philosopher adopts the main arguments 

 of the " Analogy," but unfortunately drives them 

 home to a conclusion of which the good Bishop 

 would hardly have approved. 



" I deny a Providence, you say, and supreme governor of 

 the world, who guides the course of events, and punishes the 

 vicious with infamy and disappointment, and rewards the 

 virtuous with honour and success in all their undertakings. 

 But surely I deny not the course itself of events which lies 

 open to every one's inquiry and examination. I acknowl- 

 edge that, in the present order of things, virtue is attended 

 with more peace of mind than vice, and meets with a more 

 favourable reception from the world. I am sensible that, 

 according to the past experience of mankind, friendship is 

 the chief joy of human life, and moderation the only source 

 of tranquillity and happiness. I never balance between the 



