Introduction

This chapter will consider the practical application of Butler's thought to the conduct of his episcopal responsibilities, presenting readings of a selection of material which, for the most part, he did not publish.

From the first, The Analogy had a greater sale (judging by the number of editions) than Fifteen Sermons and made Butler, perhaps reluctantly, a theological authority of first resort: he spent several years avoiding David Hume and Bartlett describes how he was approached by Henry Home (Lord Kames) in 1737,

This evasiveness and reticence in private matched his conduct in the House of Lords, where he cannot be shown to have made a speech. One of the few accounts we have of his social life is John Byrom's record of a conversation at David Hartley's home in March 1737. Butler played a minor part, although the oldest and most eminent person among those present, who besides David Hartley included John Lloyd MP, and Byrom himself. Butler arrived at about 9 p.m., staying two hours, but leaving before supper and drinks. Byrom's account shows that Butler knew the theological works of Isaac Newton (Butler saying that Newton ‘always thought that prophecy was the great proof of the Christian religion’) as well as those of Pascal, Tertullian and Hobbes. Butler revealed that he had read Hobbes to Queen Caroline, with a listener, the Duke of Queensberry, delivering to the Queen the Butlerian dictum that ‘there must be right and wrong before human laws, which supposed right and wrong; and besides, wherever was there that state of nature that [Hobbes] talked of? who ever lived in it?’ The conversation at Hartley's centred on the question, whether authority or reason had the priority. Butler took the side of reason.