232 A COMPARISON OF ANIMALS. 



immediately attacking him in person, or intruding upon t\i<*i 

 food he has appropriated to himself. Vegetables, on the 

 contrary, though existing in greater variety, are but few 

 of them noxious. The most deadly poisons are often of 

 great use in medicine ; and even those plants that only 

 seem to cumber the ground, serve for food to that race of 

 animals which he has taken into friendship or protection. 

 The smaller tribes of vegetables, in particular, are culti- 

 vated, as contributing either to his necessities or amuse- 

 ment ; so that vegetable life is as much promoted by 

 human industry, as animal life is controlled and dimin- 

 ished. 



Hence, it was not without a long struggle, and various 

 combinations of experience and art, that man acquired his 

 present dominion. Almost every good that he possesses was 

 the result of the contest ; for, every day, as he was con- 

 tending, he was growing more wise ; and patience and for- 

 titude were the fruits of his industry. 



Hence, also, we see the necessity of some animals living 

 upon each other, to fill up the plan of Providence ; and 

 we may consequently infer the expediency of man's living 

 upon all. Both animals and vegetables seem equally 

 fitted to his appetites ; and were any religious or moral 

 motives to restrain him from taking away life, upon any 

 account, he would only thus give existence to a variety of 

 beings made to prey upon each other ; and, instead of pre- 

 venting, multiply mutual destruction. 



