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Animal Rights History Timeline » [1660-1785] Enlightenment] » Sir Matthew Hale

Sir Matthew Hale

Contemplations Moral and Divine

Touching Thy Creatures

[1676] Sir. Matthew Hale, "Touching Thy Creatures," in The Great Audit with the Account of the Good Steward, in Contemplations Moral and Divine(1676; London, 1835; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks).

When I considered the admirable powers of life and sense, which I saw in the birds and beasts, and that all the men in the world could not give the like being to any thing, nor restore that life and sense which is once taken from them; when I considered how innocently and harmlessly the fowls and the fish, and the sheep and oxen take their food, that thou the Lord of all hast given them, I have been apt to think that surely thou didst intend a more innocent kind of food to man, than such as must be taken with such detriment to those living parts of thy creation. (116)

I have ever thought there was a certain degree of justice due from man to the creatures, as from man to man. (117)

I have always esteemed it as part of my duty, and it hath always been my practice to be merciful to beasts. And upon the same account I have ever esteemed it a breach of trust, and have accordingly declined any cruelty to any of thy creatures, and as much as I might, prevented it in others, as a tyranny, inconsistent with the trust and stewardship that thou hast committed to me. (117)