them all the happiness their natures capable of enjoying and every person who inflicts unnecessary pain or distress upon them, acts in opposition to the will of God. Man, as a rational being, is accountable to God when he takes away life, to do it in the properest manner, and with feelings of tenderness and compassion. Power will be no excuse in the day of judgment for the butcheries of a Nero, a Robespiere, or the African slave dealer! Nor will the abominable cruelties so wantonly inflicted by mankind upon brute animals be then winked at; but they will be fearfully punished by that great and good God, whose mercy extends to every creature he has made.

Question.-What is mercy, and who are the

merciful?

Answer.--Mercy is an essential attribute, property, or perfection of the Divine Being, flowing from Him, as the inexhaustible source and author of all goodness and happiness, and it spreads and diffuses itself through universal nature, and provides for the comfort and happiness of all his creatures: and he only is a righteous or merciful man, who truly loves, fears, and serves God, and treats His dumb creatures with kindness.

All hail! benignant name, Humanity!
So prompt to pity, eager to supply,
Blest emanation of the Heav'nly mind,
Friend of the brute, and parent of mankind,
To praise shall be thy theme till nature fail,
All hail! benignant name, sweet Mercy hail !

Question.-What is cruelty, and who are the

cruel?

Answer.-Cruelty is a wicked, evil and detestable principle, peculiar to Satan, and origin ating in him as its author; and it displays itself in promoting the destruction and misery of God's creatures: and the man however exalted, or humble his name, who takes pleasure in the sufferings of animals, and wantonly inflicts the pang of torture upon a brute, is cruel and wicked in the sight of that God who made both man and beast.

What is that vice which still prevails,
When ev'ry other passion fails;
Which with our very dawn begun,
Nor ends but with our setting sun,
Which like a noxious weed can spoil

The fairest flow'rs, and choke the soil?
'Tis Cruelty! with grief I own,
The vice of human kind alone.

Question. Must not the present comfort and happiness of mankind be greatly increased or diminished, in proportion as they are governed by the principles of mercy or cruelty?

Answer.-Yes. For as mercy is the very essence of the Divine Being, so it never fails to impart to its possessor, in the exercise of it, at all times, and under all circumstances, the most delightful sensations: by its pleasing, but powerful influence, the heart becomes softened, and the soul filled with an enjoyment perfectly in unison with that great Being from whom it emanates. While cruelty, the offspring of the great Destroyer, hardens the heart, and robs the soul of those pleasurable feelings which the God of mercy has inseparably connected with the exercise of humanity, and prepares it for

an eternal abode in the dungeon of everlasting perdition, as a fit companion to that terrific monster from whom it emerges :—

Hard and unfeeling is the heart,

And dark the inmost soul
Of him, who never felt the force
Of Pity's sweet controul.

The heav'nly feeling mercy gives
To him no joys impart,
For deeds of cruelty alone

O'erwhelm his vicious heart.

But, oh, how truly blest is he,

Whose soul is all benign,

Which feels the sweet attractive pow'r
Of sympathy divine.

To soothe the pains of deep distress.

The tearful, weeping eye,

The heart which melts at scenes of woe,

The sympathetic sigh.

These are the choicest gifts of heav'n,

Exalted and divine,

The breast to soften and expand,

The passions to refine.

Oh, may this happiness be mine,
The timely aid to lend

To ev'ry creature in distress,

And be the suff'rer's friend.

Question.-Doth not God in a particular manner record the cruel actions of wicked men towards his creatures?

Answer.-Yes.

"Many a crime deem'd innocent on earth
Is register'd in heav'n; and these no doubt
Have each their record, with a curse annex'd.
Man may dismiss compassion from his heart,
COWPER.
But God will never.'

Psalm lvi. 8, Are not these things noted in thy book?

Daniel vii. 10, The judgment was set and the books were opened.

Rev. xx. 12, And the books were opened; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books.

How would you be,

If He who is the top of judgment, should

But judge you as you are? Oh! think on that,
And mercy then will breathe within your lips,
Like man new-born.

SHAKSPEARE.

Question.-How can we distinguish a righteous man from a wicked man?

Answer. Their conduct towards the dumb creation distinguishes them.

For there are hearts of softest mould,
Which, pitying, throb at sight of woe;
And there are hearts as marble cold,
Which pity never taught to glow.

Dr. Booker's Child of Nature.

Prov. xii. 10, A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast. But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

Psalm xxxvii. 21, The righteous sheweth mercy. But the wicked are cruel, and will not shew mercy. Jeremiah 1. 42.

Psalm xxxvii. 26, The righteous is ever merciful. But the wicked are cruel, and have no mercy. Jeremiah vi. 23.

Psalm cxii. 4, The righteous is full of compassion. But the heart of the wicked studieth destruction. Prov. xxiv. 2.

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A man of mercy to his beast is kind,

But cruel actions shew a cruel mind;

Remember, He who made thee, made the brute-
Who gave thee speech and reason, form'd him mute :
He can't complain, but God's all-seeing eye
Beholds thy cruelty, and hears his sigh.-Cowper.

Question.-Do not those who practice mercy confer upon themselves a present blessing? Answer.-Yes.

The quality of mercy is not strain'd,

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heav'n
Upon the place beneath. It is twice bless'd-
It blesseth him who gives, and him who takes.

SHAKSPEARE.

Prov. xi. 17, The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

Prov. xxi. 21, He that followeth after (or practiseth) mercy, findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

he.

Prov. xvi. 6, By mercy iniquity is purged. Prov. xiv. 21, He that hath mercy, happy is

Prov. xx. 28, Mercy and truth preserve the king and his throne is upholden by mercy.

Prov. iii. 3, Let not mercy forsake thee: so shalt thou find favour with God.

Jeremiah vii. 6, 7, If ye shed not innocent blood, then will I cause you to dwell in this place for ever and ever.

Blessed are they who mercy shew
To ev'ry creature here below;
They shall from God the same obtain,
Mercy was never shewn in vain.