480 Life and Immortality. 
of the ox in treading out the corn lest he should suffer the 
pangs of hunger in the presence of the food which he may 
not eat. Even bird’s nesting was regulated by Divine Law. 
“Tf a bird’s nest chance to be before thee in the way in any 
tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, 
and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, 
thou shalt not take the dam with the young: Bu¢ thou 
shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to ~ 
thee; that it may be well with thee, and ¢hat thou mayest 
prolong ¢hy days.” Moreover, as many animals must be 
killed daily, some for sacrifice and others solely for food, the 
strictest regulations were enjoined that their death should be 
sharp and quick, and that the whole of their blood should 
be poured out upon the ground lest they suffer lingering 
pain. 
In keeping with the same consideration felt by Deity 
towards the kid and ox and bird, as expressed in the Law, 
we would refer to the few concluding sentences of the Book 
of Jonah :— 
“Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou 
hast not labored, neither madest it grow ; which came up in 
a night, and perished in a night. 
“And should I not spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein 
are more than six score thousand persons that cannot dis- 
cern between their right hand and their left hand; and also 
much cattle?” 
“Every beast of the forest is mine,” saith the Lord, “and 
the cattle upon a thousand hills.” And again, “I know all 
the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field 
are mine.” Similar passages, in which God announces him- 
self as the protector of the beast as well as of man, could be 
given, for the Scriptures are full of them. Who does not 
recall the well-known saying of our Lord respecting the 
lives of the sparrows: “Are not two sparrows sold for a 
farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground with- 
out the notice of your Father.” 
