Human Nature and Other Sermons | Page 3

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This etext was prepared from the 1887 Cassell & Co. edition by David
Price, email [email protected].

HUMAN NATURE AND OTHER SERMONS
by Joseph Butler

INTRODUCTION.

Joseph Butler was born in 1692, youngest of eight children of a
linendraper at Wantage, in Berkshire. His father was a Presbyterian,
and after education at the Wantage Free Grammar School Joseph Butler
was sent to be educated for the Presbyterian ministry in a training
academy at Gloucester, which was afterwards removed to Tewkesbury.
There he had a friend and comrade, Secker, who afterwards became
Archbishop of Canterbury. Butler and Secker inquired actively, and
there was foreshadowing of his future in the fact that in 1713, at the age
of twenty-one, Butler was engaged in anonymous discussion with
Samuel Clarke upon his book on the a priori demonstration of the
Divine Existence and Attributes.
When the time drew near for call to the ministry, Butler, like his friend
Secker, had reasoned himself into accordance with the teaching of the
Church of England. Butler's father did not oppose his strong desire to
enter the Church, and he was entered in 1714 at Oriel College, Oxford.
At college a strong friendship was established between Butler and a
fellow-student, Edward Talbot, whose father was a Bishop, formerly of
Oxford and Salisbury, then of Durham. Through Talbot's influence
Butler obtained in 1718 the office of Preacher in the Rolls Chapel,
which he held for the next eight years. In 1722 Talbot died, and on his
death-bed urged his father on behalf of his friend Butler. The Bishop
accordingly presented Joseph Butler to the living of
Houghton-le-Spring. But it was found that costs of dilapidations were
beyond his means at Houghton, and Butler had a dangerous regard for

building works. He was preferred two years afterwards to the living of
Stanhope, which then became vacant, and which yielded a substantial
income. Butler sought nothing for himself, his simplicity of character,
real worth, and rare intellectual power, secured him friends, and the
love of two of them--Talbot first, and afterwards Secker, who made his
own way