A Scriptural and moral catechism, designed chiefly to lead the minds of the rising generation to the love and practice of mercy, and to expose the horrid nature of cruelty to the dumb creation

on your souls, but have also partook of his very nature; it therefore becomes as totally impossible for you to be otherwise than merciful, as it is for God not to be merciful. But the mercy of God has been manifested in a most astonishing manner in raising you from the ruins of Adam's apostacy. Then to be like God you must be merciful, even as he is merciful. But if you withhold mercy, either from your fellowcreatures, who might have injured you, or more so from the innocent dumb creation, which have done you no wrong, you are destitute of that spirit of mercy which brought salvation to light by the Gospel. The command to be merciful is imperative; it is universal; not limited to yourselves, your families, or your fellow-creatures; but extends to the harmlessly suffering and wantonly afflicted dumb creation, which is constantly made to feel all the gnawing tortures of the wicked, in methods and extremes which can only be suggested and effected under Satanic influence. Then I call upon you Christians, in the name of that God whom you serve, and to whom you are indebted for all you have and are, and in the name of his blessed Son, who voluntarily suffered for you all the cruelty that hellish malice could suggest to consider the claim the poor suffering dumb creation have upon you. I call not on the almost christian, the sceptic, or profane. You only know the great obligation under which you are placed, and the eminence to which mercy has raised you. Then I call on you; I beseech you to manifest a concern for the inflicted brute creation; that you will use your utmost efforts

to suppress the grievous sin of cruelty in every form it may present itself, thereby raising these poor animals out of the horrible pit of pain and torture into which the sin of man has plunged them. By this, you know not to what extent you may be the means of pulling down the kingdom of Satan, it being a kingdom of cruelty. You cannot subdue it in the hearts of the wicked, but you can suppress it in their actions. Stretch therefore your hand; though it may be like the man's withered hand in the gospel, make the effort, and you know not what an harvest of blessings will crown your endeavours. Stem, with all your Christian energies, the torrent of cruelty which deluges the land; and though you effect not your wishes on the minds of your fellow-creatures, nor on the innocent brute creation, you will have the satisfaction of a good conscience, arising from a faithful performance of your duty, and the approbation of that great Being, who, when he became " man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief," said to his disciples, "Blessed are the merciful!"

THE END.