254 THE IMMORTALITY OF ANIMALS 



dangerous member of society. Men cannot change 

 their dispositions like their dress, but whatever dis- 

 position they encourage will become habitual and 

 natural. 



The wrath vented upon animals by beating is 

 a passionate and senseless wrath, like that which a 

 fretful, impatient man would show to inanimate 

 things. The inferior creatures often, have not 

 only to do the work of man, but to bear his spleen, 

 and endure his senseless anger. Men think there is 

 no evil in such actions because they can strike or mal- 

 treat an animal without its being able to make the 

 cruelty known, or without themselves being answer- 

 able to the laws of the country. But if the cruel 

 man appears so repugnant to all good people, how 

 does he appear in the estimation of that God whose 

 tender mercies are over all His works, and who has 

 given us a positive command that we must be mer- 

 ciful even as He is merciful ? Is a man fit for heaven 

 that holy, happy place, where there is nothing to 

 hurt or destroy, but where love rules in every 

 bosom and binds all the inhabitants into one band 

 of the most endearing and holy intercourse? Or 

 shall he not rather have his place assigned to him 

 with those dark and malignant spirits who delight 



