ANIMALS PROMISED A PARADISE 103 



the words " like the beasts that are irra- 

 tional." 



The words in the Septuagint were translated 

 "senseless cattle" and in the Wycliffe Bible, were 

 translated " unwise beasts." One of the accepted 

 translations of the Roman Catholic Church of 

 England uses the words ' ; senseless beasts." The 

 word " perish " should not be used. But we will 

 take the English translation as it reads and show 

 that the doctrine of the annihilation of lower ani- 

 mals was not here intended and that the passage 

 says nothing more about the perishing of beasts 

 than other passages do of man. When we read the 

 context it is plain that it has but one meaning ; 

 namely, that the rich and wicked man may perish 

 or die and his name be forgotten like a beast which 

 dies and is forgotten. We are aware that lower 

 animals die and perish from our memory, that is, 

 are forgotten, and man is very properly compared 

 to them. Whilst he lives he may be honored for 

 his wealth, notwithstanding he may be mean and 

 insignificant ; but when he dies his honor dies with 

 him, and, like a poor, obscure, nameless animal, 

 sinks into oblivion so far as this world is concerned. 

 But the word " perish " does not in any sense mean 



