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Animal Rights History Timeline » [1785-1837] Romantic Age » John Budd Pitkin

John Budd Pitkin

Sermon on the Duty of Mercy

[c1830] John Budd Pitkin, The Duty of Mercy in Sermons ([Posthumously published] Boston, 1837; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks).

It is to be manifested in our treatment of the brute creation. Man is made the lord of the animal tribes, not to abuse his dominion over them. He that needlessly sets foot upon a worm, violates a solemn duty. Children should be early cautioned against every species of cruelty. Parents and guardians who are accustomed to see them indulging a cruel disposition towards animals, without reproving them, ought to reflect that they are acting towards those under their charge a very negligent, unmerciful and reprehensible part. They are suffering by such negligence the seeds of inhumanity to obtain root and acquire growth in the bosoms of their children, that may spring forth and ripen into great insensibility and cruelty in after life. The man too, who overworks the laboring animals, or inflicts on them unnecessary pain, is guilty of great sin. He too that amuses himself with the suffering of the brute creation, in inhuman sports, violates the duty of mercy and will assuredly be called by his God to an account for the act. We should be merciful then towards the brute creation. (184)