MORAL DUTY TO BE KIND 25 I 



the lower animals had not received an equal share 

 of God's kindness and compassion we might view 

 the subject in a different light. But instead of 

 there being condescension on the part of man 

 in showing mercy, it is seen to be only his Christian 

 duty. On one occasion God spared a guilty city 

 from destruction, because it contained much cattle. 

 The innocence of the cattle was not only the cause 

 of the city being saved, but it helped to prevent 

 Nineveh from being destroyed with six score 

 thousand persons. This is one among many strik- 

 ing instances of God's care alike for man and 

 beast. God said, "Every beast of the forest is 

 Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I 

 know all the fowls of the mountains, and the wild 

 beasts of the field are Mine." 



Man in his folly and in his pride, may imagine 

 that animals are beneath his regard, and that he, a 

 rational and immortal creature, may treat them 

 with contempt and with carelessness. But such is 

 not the mind of Him who is good unto all, and 

 whose tender mercies are over all His works, and 

 who, though He listens to the praise of angels, 

 is not inattentive to the falling of a sparrow or the 

 cry of a raven. 



