  The problem of self-deceit is connected to another of Butler’s abiding themes, human ignorance of the larger design of God. In Sermon XV “Upon Human Ignorance” (notably the final sermon of the collection), the Analogy and the “Dissertation on Virtue”, Butler stressed that our knowledge of design is probable at best. Sermon XV concludes with an exhortation reminiscent of Locke.  Since we have such limited knowledge of providence and of God’s design, we should turn our attention to that which we can have knowledge of: our nature insofar as it bears on our moral governance and conduct.