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Animal Rights History Timeline » [1660-1785] Enlightenment » James Foster

James Foster

Sermons

Image of God in Man; or Excellency of Human Nature

[1732] James Foster, "Of the Image of God in Man; or the Excellency of Human Nature," Sermon 4 in vol. 1 of Sermons (1732; London, 1745; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks).

Cruelty, even to brute creatures, is a certain sign of a very base and degenerate mind. (95)

As we believe that we were made in the image of God, and to act in imitation of his example, 'tis our duty to exercise our dominion over brute animals with lenity, moderation, and mercy: For by unnecessary severities and cruelties towards them, we manifest a barbarous and savage temper of mind, and consequently that we have lost those sentiments of goodness and pity, which are our most glorious resemblance of the great Creator; and act contrary to those excellent rules, which he himself adheres to in the government of the universe. And I can't help observing upon this occasion, that our treatment of brute creatures, who, in respect of their many services to mankind, as well as from the regard due to to our common Creator, have a claim to much better usage from us, must be matter of great uneasiness to persons of benevolent and generous disposition; not only upon the account of the misery which they endure; but because the barbarous instruments of their misery are so far from having that merciful temper, which the Christian religion recommends, that they seem, almost, to have forgot common humanity. (97-8)