ciently fo much esteemed, according to hif tory, by the Romans, that they went to Africa to fetch it into Italy, from which it was propagated in France, where those who walked under its fhade had to pay tribute to the Romans. What infinitely more reason have all men to pay the tribute of thanks and praise to the Creator of all, for not only making the world, but also bountifully furnishing it with excellent, comfortable, and useful accommodations for man and beaft, of which trees are none of the fmalleft.

There on these branches the birds fing, and may build their nefts in safety, free from the ravages of quadrupeds, which, if their nefts were not fo elevated, would thereby often be destroyed: and under their fhadows, not only the beafts, but also men often find a shelter from rain, cold, or heat, as I do at prefent. But far, nay, very far more ought I and all men to praise the Lord for his unfpeakable gift, Christ Jefus, who is as an hiding place from the wind of the Almighty's fury, and a covert from the tempeft of his infinite wrath, and as refreshing as rivers of water in a dry place,

to all them who will fly under his shadow, which is as a great rock in a weary land, Ifa. xxxii. 2. The spouse proved this when she faith, "I fat down under his fhadow with great delight, and his fruit was fweet to my taste," Cant. ii. 3.

He is that tree of life whofe leaves are for the healing of the nations, Rev. xxii. 2. and blessed be God, though he debarred man from approaching the tree of life in paradife, he hath discovered unto him one in the paradise above, of a spiritual kind, and infinitely better, to which he hath not only allowed free accefs, but also invited, nay, even entreated: Astonishing love! and earneftly befought us who were not his friends, but enemies, and full of enmity, to come under his fhadow, eat of his fruit, and live for ever, Ifa. lv. 1. Matt. xi. 28. 2 Cor. v. 20. John iii. 16. O that I may then fay from experience,

I fat down under

his fhadow with great delight, and his "fruit was fweet to my tafte," Cant. ii. 3.

While I am preffing through this thicket, I perceive a timorous hare alarmed for her fafety, has fprung from her den: how

swiftly fhe runs across yonder opening, and is loft to my view. Poor creature! thou mightest have enjoyed thy repose in safety for me.---What can be the reason that the animal creation are so much afraid of man, and man of them? Methinks fomething whispers in my ear, The fall is the occafion of both; for ever fince man brake his truft with the Creator, these inferior crea tures durft truft him no more; and even no man could put confidence in a brother. And though he had the grant of dominion over all the creatures, yet they, as it were fenfible he had loft that wisdom, prudence, and mildness that was neceffary for fuch a governor, ever fince he was afraid to meet with God, Gen. iii. 8, 9, 10. have been afraid to meet with him, and fought to shun his prefence: And indeed well they may, for fince that time, they have often experienced his cruelty.

Among all the fins that men are guilty of, I am perfuaded that of cruelty to brutes is none of the leaft; and I cannot doubt, but in the judgment of the great day, by the Search er of hearts, and Witnefs of all our actions, that fin will be expofed. What an awful

account then will many have to give, who have here unmercifully treated those beasts over which they had power? If God hear the young ravens that cry unto him, and supply them with food, Pfal. cxlvii. 9. will not he who is a God of pity hear the cries and groans which the cruelty of man extorts from the animals, and avenge their oppreffion?

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast, Prov. xii. 10. the negative of this fcripture no doubt is, a man that regardeth not the life of his beaft is not a righteous man: The Lord is good to all, and his "tender mercies are over all his works," Pfal. cxlv. 9. We ought therefore to copy after this darling attribute of the Creator; for our Lord and Saviour hath faid, "Bless"ed are the merciful, for they fhall obtain

mercy," Matth. v. 7. the negative of which no doubt is, Curfed are the unmerciful, for they shall not obtain mercy: What a strong incitement to this duty is this benediction and its negative? Be ye therefore merciful, as your father alfo is merciful, Luke vi. 36.

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If God were as unmerciful to us, as ma

of us are to brutes, how miferable would our lives in this world be! Thofe inferiour

creatures were given to man for his use, but not to be abufed by him. The faculty of reafon which fets him fuperiour to them, gives him no more warrant to be cruel to fuch; than the fuperiour nature of the angels gives them a right to tyrannize over us; but on the contrary, ought to move him with compaffion to those creatures which are made to groan and travail in pain for his fins, Rom. viii. 22.

To induce us to be tender to them, efpecially those of the domestic kind, we ought to confider, that they could do much better, without us, than we could do without them: And are they not most obedient fervants, not for a short term only, but all their lives if we chufe; fubmitting to our greatest drudgeries, without ever repining?

If we are of the opinion that the brutal creation have no futurity of any kind, what a fad thing then is it to make their fhort existence a miserable one? On the other hand, if we think with others, they will be