ON THE FUTURE EXISTENCE OF THE LOWER ANIMALS. 45 
Could we but bring ourselves to lock, not on the external cireum- 
stances of such persons, but on their spiritual situation,—could we 
but “‘ understand the end of these men,’’—we should see that they 
are in as imminent danger of eternal death as cattle in the ‘ hell’ 
of a slaughter-house are of a speedy temporal death. 
It may be objected that by allowing a future life to animals, 
we bring them into too close a relation with ourselves. The same 
objection is sometimes urged against allowing them reason; 
although, if we set aside that ambiguous term, and substitute the 
plain word understanding, who can deny that they possess that? 
We might as well deny them sight or hearing. Reason cannot 
be the barrier which separates human beings from brutes. The 
real distinction seems to be that man alone is capable of knowing 
and loving God. That a man, by not acknowledging his Creator, 
rejects the sole charisteristic of humanity, and degrades himself 
to the level of a beast, seems to be implied in Ecclesiastes iii. 18, 19, 
where it is said that men “might clear God, and see that they 
themselves are beasts.’””’ That the immortality of man does not 
constitute the distinction is clearly stated in the 19th verse, 
where we read ‘‘ all have one breath; as the one dieth, so dieth 
the other; so that a man hath [in that point no pre-eminence over 
a beast.” 
A belief in the future existence of animals enables us to dispel 
a plausible objection to the justice of God, viz. that He has 
subjected so many creatures that never have sinned to a life of 
misery, such as is the lot of many of our ill-treated domestic 
animals, especially beasts of burden. If they are to have ample 
compensation,—if they are to be, as S. Paul says, delivered (and 
annihilation is not deliverance) from the bondage of corruption,— 
this objection vanishes. It should also increase our confidence in 
God, to feel that He so cares for even the beasts. If the Lord will 
save, as the inspired writer says he will, ‘‘ both man and beast,” 
surely the sons of men may put their trust under the shadow of 
His wings! 
W. R. Tare. 
