"Let us Instance in a Watch--Suppose the several Parts of it taken to Pieces, and placed apart from each other: Let a Man have ever so exact a Notion of these several Parts, unless he considers the Respects and Relations which they have to each other, he will not have any thing like the Idea of a Watch. Suppose these several Parts brought together and any how united: Neither will he yet, be the Union ever so close, have an Idea which will bear any Resemblance to that of a Watch. But let him view those several Parts put together, or consider them as to be put together in the Manner of a Watch; let him form a Notion of Relations which those several Parts have to each other--all conducive in their respective Ways, to this Purpose, shewing the Hour of the Day; and then he has the Idea of a Watch. Thus it is with Regard to the inward Frame of Man. Appetites, Passions, Affections, and the Principle of Reflection, I considered merely as the several Parts of our inward Nature, do not at all give us an Idea of the System or Constitution of this Nature: Because the Constitution is formed by somewhat not yet taken into Consideration, namely by the Relations, which these several Parts have to each other; the chief of which is the Authority of Reflection of Conscience. 'Tis from considering the Relations which the several Appetites and Passions in the inward Frame have to each other, and above all the Supremacy of Reflection or Conscience, that we get the Idea of the System or Constitution of Humane Nature."
Fifteen Sermons Preached at the Rolls Chapel
9 entries in ESTC (1729, 1736, 1749, 1759, 1765, 1769, 1774, 1792).<br> 
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First published in 1726, but see "The second edition, corrected: to which is added a preface": <u>Fifteen Sermons Preached at the Rolls Chapel Upon the Following Subjects. Upon Humane Nature. Upon the Government of the Tongue. Upon Compassion. Upon the Character of Balaam. Upon Resentment. Upon Forgiveness of Injuries. Upon Self-Deceit. Upon the Love of Our Neighbour. Upon the Love of God. Upon the Ignorance of Man. by Joseph Butler, L. L. B. Preacher at the Rolls, and Rector of Stanhope in the Bishoprick of Durham.</u> 2nd ed., corr. (London : printed by W. Botham, for James and John Knapton, at the Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1729). &lt;<a href="http://estc.bl.uk/N6556">Link to ESTC</a>&gt;<br>
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See <u>Fifteen Sermons Preached at the Rolls Chapel Upon the Following Subjects. Upon Humane Nature. Upon the Government of the Tongue. Upon Compassion. Upon the Character of Balaam. Upon Resentment. Upon Forgiveness of Injuries. Upon Self-Deceit. Upon the Love of Our Neighbour. Upon the Love of God. Upon the Ignorance of Man. By Joseph Butler, L. L. B. Preacher at the Rolls, and Rector of Stanhope in the Bishoprick of Durham.</u> (London: Printed by W. Botham, for James and John Knapton, at the Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1726). &lt;<a href="http://estc.bl.uk/T67977">Link to ESTC</a>&gt;<br>
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Reading in D. D. Raphael, ed. <u>British Moralists</u>. vol 1 of 2. (Oxford at the Clarendon Press, Oxford UP 1969). The OUP text is drawn from the 4th edition of 1749, which is available in <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=EioqAAAAYAAJ">Google Books</a>.