e inclination,
_to attend to_ religion as the they would still need some
better sort of men (15 _a_) _are_; standing admonition, whereby
yet, even upon this supposition, natural religion might be
there would be various occasions suggested and inculcated. Still
for supernatural instruction and further, even if we suppose these
assistance, _and the greatest ordinary men to be as attentive to
advantages_ (50) _might be religion as men of a better sort,
afforded_ (15 _a_) _by_ (5) yet even then there would be
_them_. So that, to say revelation various occasions when
is a thing superfluous, _what supernatural instruction and
there_ (47 _a_) _was no need of_, assistance might be most
and _what can be of_ (47 _a_) _no beneficially bestowed.
service_, is, I think, to talk
wildly and at random. Nor would it Therefore, to call revelation
be more extravagant to affirm that superfluous, needless, and
(40 _a_) _mankind_ is so entirely useless, is, in my opinion, to
(40 _a_) _at ease_ in the present talk wildly and at random. A man
state, and (40 _a_) _life so_ might as reasonably assert that we
completely (40 _a_) _happy_, that are so entirely at ease and so
(5) _it_ is a contradiction to completely happy in this present
suppose (40 _a_) our condition life that our condition cannot
capable of _being in any respect_ without contradiction be supposed
(47 _a_) _better_.--(_Analogy of capable of being in any way
Religion_, part ii. chap. 1.) improved.

FOOTNOTES:

[33] "To pretend" once meant "to put forward," "maintain."

[34] It has been suggested, however, that by "in its very notion
incredible," is meant "inconceivable."

[35] "Wanting" is used for modern "wanted."

[36] This use of the particular for the general would be out of place
in Butler's style, but it adds clearness.

BREVITY.

SIR ARCHIBALD ALISON.

The following extract exhibits examples of tautology and lengthiness.
The "implied statement" (50) can often be used as a remedy, but, more
often, the best remedy is omission.

ORIGINAL VERSION. PARALLEL VERSION.

The Russian empire is (50) _a Russia, with her vast strength and
state of_ (54) _such_ vast boundless resources, is obviously
strength and boundless destined to exercise on the course