Arthur Penrhyn Stanley
The Creation of Man: A Sermon
「1865」 Arthur Penrhyn Stanley, The Creation of Man: A Sermon 「Google Books」 , Preached in Whitehall Chapel by Arthur Penrhyn Stanley, D.D., Dean of Westminster; On the Fourth Sunday after Trinity, July 9th, 1865 in Behalf of The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Published at the Request of the Committee (Oxford and London, 1865).
I am called to speak to you of our duty to dumb animals; and it has seemed to me that this might be well set forth by considering what the Bible and our own knowledge tell us of the nature of man in relation to these lower creatures, to his fellow-men, and to God (1).
He whose soul burns with indignation against the brutal ruffian who misuses the poor, helpless, suffering horse, or dog, or ass, or bird, or worm, shares for the moment that Divine wrath which burns against the oppressors of the weak and defenceless everywhere. He who puts forth his hand to save from ill-treatment, or add to the happiness of any of those dumb creatures, has opened his hear to that Divine compassion which our Heavenly Father has shown to the whole range of created things—which our blessed Saviour has shown to the human race, His own peculiar charge, by living and dying for us. (13)
“Be ye merciful”(so let me sum up the application of this discourse), be ye merciful to dumb animals, for ye have a common nature with them. Be ye merciful, for the worst part of the nature of brutes is to be unmerciful. Be ye merciful, for ye are raised far above them, to be their appointed lords and guardians. Be ye merciful, for yea are made in the image of Him who is All-Merciful and All-Compassionate. (13)
