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Animal Rights History Timeline » [1837-1901] Victorian Age » John Henry Newman

John Henry Newman

Sermon Notes of John Henry Cardinal Newman

Love of Our Neighbour

[1913 [1856]] John Henry Newman, "Love of Our Neighbour, 1856-Sep-07," in Sermon Notes of John Henry Cardinal Newman 1849-1878 (London, 1913; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks).

Cruelty to animals is as if we did not love God.

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September 7 (Seventeeth Pentecoat)

[LOVE OF OUR NEIGHBOUR]

1. Introd.—Sometimes it is said that there is one, sometimes two, great commandments. Charity is the great commandment. Though properly the love of God, it involves love of neighbour.

2. We have not seen God. How are we to ascertain that we love Him? Feelings are deceptive. Thus, as by a test, by loving others, by love of man. And so St. John says, 1 John iv. [12.]

3. First, we should love man merely as the work of God. If we love God, we shall love all His works. Undevout men walk about, and look round, and they never associate what they see with God; but everything is the work of God. And though we should not e superstitious, we should destroy nothing without a reason. Cruelty to animals [is] as if we did not love God, their Maker; nay, wanton destruction of plants.

Thus, even if mankind were of a different species, as fellow-beings [they would have] ar relationship [to us].

5. But they are of our blood Acts xiv. Adam [our one father].

6. And all involved in Adam's sun—the sympathy of sin, as all sin, in misery and transgression, and in danger of ruin.

7. Hence Gen. xviii.¹, Ps. cxviii. 139.ῲ' St. Paul, Rom. ix. [3], ³ Acts xvii. [26] ⁴ Our Lord weeping over Jerusalem. Missionear to heathen counties, as St. Augustine who came here.

8.Of course, zeal for God also [moved these to heroism], but the sight of souls dying [more directly].

9. Still more if Christians, for then we are brought near to God. He who dwelt in solitary light once, now had round Him a circle of holy beings, so that we cannot love Him without loving them. Hence the glory paid to saints, as His garment.

10. Besides, we love the divine attributes and character in the saints; 'He who loveth God, loveth His brother also.'

11. This the condemnation of those who appose the Church.

12. On the other hand—love of saints—love of our Lady as God's mother, [a]sign of predestination. She the great work [i.e. the greatest of God's works] and the glory of our race. Let us at this season bet her to make us full of that love of herself, and of all those who have God's grace, and of all whom God has made.

¹ Abraham interceding for Sodom and Gomorrah.

² 'My zeal hath made me pine away: because my enemies forgot thy words.'

³ I wished myself to be and anathema from Christ for my brethren.'

⁴ 'He hath made of one all mankind.'