George Fox specifically reprobated hunting and hawking,
which were the field diversions of his own time. He had always shewn, as
I stated in the introduction, a tender disposition to brute-animals, by
reproving those, who had treated them improperly in his presence. He
considered these diversions, as unworthy of the time and attention of
men, who ought to have much higher objects of pursuit. He believed also,
that real christians could never follow them; for a christian was a
renovated man, and a renovated man could not but know the works of
creation better, than to subject them to his abuse.
Edward Burroughs, who lived at the same time, and was an able minister
of the society, joined George Fox in his sentiments with respect to the
treatment of animals. He considered that man in the fall, or the
apostate man, had a vision so indistinct and vitiated that he could not
see the animals of the creation, as he ought, but that the man, who was
restored, or the spiritual christian, had a new and clear discernment
concerning them, which would oblige him to consider and treat them in a
proper manner.
This idea of George Fox and of Edward Burroughs seems to have been
adopted or patronized by the Poet Cowper.
"Thus harmony, and family accord,
Were driven from Paradise; and in that hour
The seeds of cruelty, that since have swell'd
To such gigantic and enormous growth,
Were sown in human natures fruitful soil.
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