782 
AN ESSAY ON THE FUTURE EXISTENCE 
a spirit towards the dumb members of God’s great family as the 
Bible, or that gives such remarkable pre-eminence to subjects 
connected with their welfare. In its commencement it expressly 
states that the beasts of the field, the fowls of the air, the reptiles 
that crawl upon the earth, and the finny race that inhabit 
“ The blue depths of the water, 
Where the wave hath no strife, 
Where the wind is a stranger, 
And the sea-snake hath life,” 
are all the works of his hand, and the objects of his benevolent 
providence. When the sabbath was instituted, it was for the pur- 
pose that they as well as their rational superiors might enjoy a due 
portion of rest. When the Almighty ratified a solemn qovenant 
with Noah, and himself and his posterity, they were expressly in- 
cluded in its benefits. “ I establish my covenant with you, and 
every living creature ; that is, with you of the fowl, of the cat- 
tle, and of every beast of the earth with you, from all that go 
out of the ark to every beast of the earth.” Not one member of 
the family is excluded — all are his offspring — all share in his 
blessing and protection, and all are under his divine government. 
Whilst he committed the domestic and laborious animals to man, 
he takes upon himself to preserve and sustain the wild inha- 
bitants of the forest : “ Every beast of the forest is mine,” says he, 
when expostulating with his people, “and the cattle upon a thou- 
sand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountain, and all the wild 
beasts of the field are mine.” Even the wild beasts are provided 
for : “Thoumakest darkness, and it is night, wherein the beasts of 
the forest do creep forth. The young lions roar after their prey, 
and seek their meat from God.” 
The inferior animals are frequently called on to praise and 
adore their great Creator for his innumerable benefits. “ Praise 
the Lord upon earth, ye dragons and all deeps ; beasts and all 
cattle, worms and feathered fowls. Let every thing that hath 
breath, praise the Lord.” 
The great Jehovah himself is introduced by the prophet Isaiah*, 
saying — “The beasts of the field shall honour me ; the dragons 
and the owls or, as the passage is rendered by Bishop Lowth, 
“ The wild beasts of the field shall glorify me, 
The dragons and the daughters of the ostrich, 
Because I have given waters in the wilderness 
And flowing streams in the desert.” 
This is one of the unfulfilled prophecies relating to the inferior 
animals which never can possibly take place on our globe, but it 
Chap, xliii. 
