An antidote against atheisme, or, An appeal to the natural faculties of the minde of man, whether there be not a God by Henry More ...

CHAP. VIII.

The Usefullnesse of Animalls an Argument of divine Pro∣vidence.

WE are now come to take a view of the nature of Animalls: In the contemplation whereof we shall use much what the same Method we did in that of Plants, for we shall consider in them also, their Beauty, their Birth, their Make and Fabrick of body, and Vse∣fullnesse

to Man-kind. And to dispatch this last first. It is wonderfull easy and naturall to conceive, that as almost all are made in some sort or other for humane uses, so some so notoriously and evidently, that without maine violence done to our faculties we can in no wise deny it. As to in∣stance in those things that are most obvious and familiar; when we see in the solitary fields a Shepheard, his Flock, and his Dog, how well they are fitted together; when we knock at a Farmers door, and the first that answers shall be his vigilant Mastiffe, whom from his use and office he ordinarily names Keeper, and I remember Theophrastus in his Character 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 tells us, that his Master when he has let the stranger in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 taking his Dog by the snout will relate long stories of his usefullnesse and his services he does to the house and them in it. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. This is he that keepes the yard, the house and them within. Lastly when we view in the open Champian a brace of swift Grey-hounds coursing a good stout and well-breathed Hare, or a pack of well tuned Hounds, and Huntsmen on their horse∣backs with pleasure and alacrity pursuing their game, or heare them winding their Hornes neere a wood side, so that the whole wood rings with the Echo of that Musick and chearefull yelping of the eager Doggs: to say nothing of Duck-hunting, of Foxe-hunting, of Otter-hunting, and a hundred more such like sports and pastimes, that are all performed by this one kind of Animall; I say when we consider this so multifarious congruity and fitnesse of things in reference to our selves, how can we withhold from inferring, that that which made both Dogs and Ducks and Hares and Sheep, made them with a reference to us, and knew what it did when it made them? And though it be possible to be otherwise, yet it is highly improbable that the flesh of Sheep should not be designed for food for men; and that Dogs that are such a familiar and domestick Creature,

to Man, amongst other pretty feats that they doe for him, should not be intended to supply the place of a servitour too, and to take away the bones and scraps that nothing might be lost. And unlesse we should expect that Nature should make Jerkins & Stockings grow out of the ground, what could she doe better then afford us so fit materialls for clothing as the Wooll of the Sheep, there being in Man Wit and Art to make use of it? To say nothing of the Silk∣worme that seems to come into the world for no other pur∣pose▪ then to furnish man with more costly clothing, and to spin away her very entrailes to make him fine without.

Agains when we view those large Bodies of Oxen, what can ••e better conceit them to be then so many living and walking powdring Tubbs and that they have animam pro Sale, as Philo speaks of Fishes, that their life is but for Salt to keepe them sweet till we shall have need to eate them? Besides their Hides afford us Leather for Shooes and Boots. as the skins of other beasts also serve for other uses. And indeed Man seems to be brought into the world on purpose that the rest of the Creation might be improved to the utmost usefulnesse & advantage; For were it not bet∣ter that the hides of Beasts and their flesh should be made so considerable use of as to feed and cloath Men, then that they should rot and stink upon the ground, and fall short of so noble an improvement as to be matter for the exercise of the wit of Man, & to afford him the necessary conveni∣ences of life? For if Man did not make use of them, they would either dye of Age, or be torne apieces by more cruel Masters. Wherfore we plainly see that it is an Act of Reason & Counsel to have made Man that he might be a Lord over the rest of the Creation▪ & keep good quarter among them.

And being furnish'd with fit Materialls to make himself weapons, as well as with naturall wit and valour, he did bid battaile to the very fiercest of them, and either chased them away into Solitudes and Deserts, or else brought

them under his subjection and gave lawes unto them; Un∣der which they live more peaceably, and are better provi∣ded for (or at least might be, if Men were good) then they could be when they were left to the mercy of the Lyon Bear or Tiger. And what it he doe occasionally and orderly kill some of them for food? their dispatch is quick and so lesse dolorous then the paw of the Bear or the teeth of the Lyon, or tedious Melancholy and sadnesse of old Age, which would first torture them, and then kill them and let them srot upon the ground stinking and uselesse.

Besides, all the wit and Philosophy in the world can ne∣ver demonstrate, that the killing and slaughtering of a Beast is any more then the striking of a bush where a birds Nest is, where you fray away the Bird and then seize upon the empty Nest. So that if we could pierce to the utmost Catastrophe of things, all might prove but a Tra∣gick-Comedy.

But as for those Rebells that have fled into the Moun∣tains and Deserts, they are to us a very pleasant subject of naturall History besides we serve our selves of them as much as is to our purpose. And they are not onely for ornaments of the Universe, but a continuall Exercise of Mans Wit and Valour when he pleases to encounter. But to expect and wish that there were nothing but such dull tame things in the world, that will neither bite nor scratch, is as ground∣lesse and childish as to wish there were no choler in the body nor fire in the universall compasse of Nature.

I cannot insist upon the whole result of this warre, nor must forget how that generous Animall the Horse, had at last the wit to yield himself up, to his own great advantage and ours. And verily he is so fitly made for us, that we wight justly claim a pecu∣liar right in him above all other Creatures. When we ob∣serve his patient service he does us at the Plough, Cart, or un∣der the Pack-saddle, his speed upon the high way in matters

of importance, his dociblenesse and desire of glory and praise, and consequently his notable atchievements in war, where he will knap the Speares a pieces with his teeth, and pull his Riders Enemy out of the Saddle; and then that he might be able to performe all this labour with more Ease, that his hoofs are made so fit for the Art of the Smith, and that round armature of Iron he puts upon them; it is a very hard thing not to acknowledge, that this so congruous con∣trivance of things was really from a Principle of Wisdome and Counsell. There is also another consideration of Ani∣••alls and their usefulnesse, in removing those Evills we are pester'd with by reason of the abundance of some other hurtfull Animalls, such as are Mice and Rats and the like; and to this end the Cat is very serviceable. And there is in the West-Indies a beast in the form of a Beare which Car∣dan calls Vrsus Formicarius, whose very businesse it is to eate up all the Ants which some parts of that Quarter of the World are sometimes excessively plagued withall.

We might add also sundry Examples of living Crea∣tures that not onely bear a singular good affection to Man∣kind, but are also fierce Enemies to those that are very hurtfull and cruell to Man; and such are the Lizard, an Enemy to the Serpent; the Dolphin to the Crocodile; the Horse to the Bear; the Elephant to the Dragon, &c. but I list not to insist upon these things.