XXXVI 



does such a man's habitation smell, whose enter- 

 tainment and salutation is the dialect of peace, 

 where every action, if thorowly examined, reads 

 harmonious lectures of concord and content, la- 

 bouring what in him lies to stand a distance from 

 this ambiguous world, whilst the world pursues 

 her flattering admirers, and such only as vainly 

 heap up accursed riches to perplex themselves, 

 and blast posterity. But I fancy, and it may be 

 but a fancy, that some prevaricating Zoilist will 

 arraign my hypothesis, and stigmatize anglers 

 (and the art) with those black blemishes of barba- 

 rity and cruelty, when only designed to Mil a fish. 

 To which I reply, that the creatures in the crea- 

 tion (by divine appointment) were appropriated 

 for use, and what may that use be, if not the re- 

 freshment and nourishment of mankind ? A.dam 

 had a commission from the King of Heaven, im- 

 powering him lord over all sublunary creatures : 

 Will any one question this privilege ? And Peter 

 was commanded to arise, Mil, and eat ; when 

 doubting with himself the legality of the thing, 

 who disputes this commission ? Noivfor any man 

 to question these divine truths, (except a Banian,) 

 he questions the Scriptures, the authority of truth. 

 The creatures in the creation (we must grant) 

 ivere designed for nutrition and sustentation ; yet 

 no man had a commission so large to take away 

 life upon no other account than to gratify his lust. 



