OF THE BRUTE CREATION. 781 
more than six score thousand persons that cannot discern between 
their right hand and their left, and also much cattle*.’ ” 
With regard to scriptural evidence, the question is, whether 
the sacred writings authorize or countenance this subject] The 
answer to this should not depend on the opinion of man, or any 
body of men, but on the plain word of God, which should be al- 
lowed to speak for itself. This has not been generally the case ; 
and so little regard has been paid to such mode of proceeding, that 
the word “ perish ,” taken from the passage, “ Man that is in ho- 
nour abideth not, but is like the beasts that perish,” — is not un- 
frequently quoted as being quite conclusive against the future 
existence of brutes.” Yet where is the biblical critic who would 
say that the word perish is synonymous with annihilation ? The 
word perish is frequently made use of and applied in the same 
sense to man. In Isaiah lviit, for example, it means the passing 
from one mode or state of existence to another. 
There is another passage that is frequently quoted against this 
subject, taken from Genesis, chap, xi, “ When God formed man 
out of the dust, he breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and 
man became a living soul.” From this passage it has been argued 
that the living principle was different in man and the brute. It 
surely can scarcely be considered necessary to refute such a ridi- 
culous absurdity. Those who are conversant with biblical lore 
well know that the word soul is very equivocally used by the He- 
brews. It sometimes means that which animates mankind, and that 
which animates beasts — and sometimes it means a living person. 
In the 12th chapter of Job it is applied to the inferior animals, in 
which the Almighty himself asserts his own relation to them, his 
property in them, and his solicitude for their happiness. He would 
awe the lordly delegate of his power into a reverential regard for 
him, in his treatment of the creatures subject to his temporary do- 
minion ; for here they are exalted into the office of teachers, and 
he expressly says that there is no difference in the living principle 
of a brute from that of a man. 
“ But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee — and the 
fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee — or speak to the earth, and 
it shall teach thee — and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. 
Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath 
wrought this ] In whose hand is the soul of every living thing , 
and the breath of all mankind. 
There is no other book in the world that breathes so affectionate 
* Youatt’s Humanity. 
t “ The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart ; and merciful men 
are taken away — none considering that the righteous is taken away from the 
evil to come.” 
VOL. XII. 5 K 
