some few; the Species of things in the meantime being still copiously enough preserved, and marching on safely in this Theatre of the World in their several successions.
Now it is evident that the main powers of the Animal life are natural craft, strength and activity of body, and that any purchace by these is far more pleasant to a living Creature then what easily comes without them. Wherefore what can be more grateful to a terrestrial Animal, then to hunt his prey and to obtain it? But all kindes of Creatures are not capable of this special happiness. Some therefore are made to feed on the fruits of the Earth, that they may thus not only enjoy themselves, but occasionally afford game and food to other Creatures. In which notwithstanding the Wisdome of God as well as his Goodness is manifest, in that while they are thus a sport and prey to others, yet they are abundantly preserved in their several generations. But I have so fully and methodically treated of all such scruples against Providence in my Enquiry into the Causes and Occasions of Atheism, that we will content our selves with this short intimation of an Answer in this place.
Onely we will adde, That if the Souls of Brutes prove immortal (which the best of Philosophers have not been averse from) the Tragedy is still lesse horrid: but yet that ought not to animate us causlesly and petulantly to dislodge them, because we know not how long it will be till they have an opportunity to frame to themselves other Bodies; and the intervall of time betwixt is as to them a perfect death, wherein they have not the sense nor injoyment of any thing. And for my own part, I think that he that slights the life or welfare of a brute Creature, is naturally sounjust, that if outward Laws did not restrain him, he would be as cruel to Man.
7. The fourth Objection is against our Argument for Divine Providence drawn from the consideration of that happy Mitigation of the trouble and offensiveness of some Animals by others that bear an enmity to them, and feed upon them as their prey, as the Cat for example does on the Mouse. Now, say they, it were a more exact sign of Providence if there were no such offensive Creatures in the world to trouble us, then to bring on the trouble by making these Animals, and then to take it off again by making others to correct the mischief that would follow.
But no man would argue thus if it were not that he had over-carelesly taken up this false Principle, That the World was made for Man alone, whenas assuredly the Blessed and Benigne Maker of all things intended that other living Creatures should enjoy themselves as well as Men, which they could not if they had no Existence: Therefore Providence is more exact, in that she can thus spread out her Goodness further, even to the injoyments of the more inferiour ranks of Creatures, without any considerable inconvenience to the more noble and superior.
Besides, all these Creatures that are thus a prey to others are their sport and sustenance, and so pleasure others by their death, as well as enjoy themselves while they are yet in life and free from their enemy. To say nothing how they are both in some sort or other useful to man himself, and therefore sometimes would be missed if they were wanting.
