An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, fortieth, forty-first, and forty-second,…

Hence note, First; The Lord hath given man some creatures more to serve his pleasure, than his necessities.

Whatever service the Hawk doth to man in catching the prey, the Partridge, or Pheasant, or other fowl, man might serve himself of them (as many do) some other and cheaper way, and not by hawking. The Moralists could say (speaking of such like creatures) Man was loved by the supreme Maker of all things, ¹even to his delight and content. God hath given such swift wings to the Hawk, not only to set forth his own power, but for mans pleasure. ⟨p. 470⟩Hawks are for the sport and delight of Princes and great men; and seeing God hath made some creatures for the delight, more than for the necessity, for the pleasure, more than for the need of man; O how should man take heed of displeasing God! Doth the great God of heaven and earth provide Hawks for mans pleasure, and shall man take no care to please God! 'Tis lamentable to consider, how most men displease God by oaths and profanations of his Name, while they are taking that kind of pleasure. And I may say, there is no kind of sport which the indulgence of God hath allowed man, wherein God is more provoked and dishonoured, than in this: What swearing, what cursing, is there in following this Game; If Hawks and Spaniels please not men in the pursuit of their pleasures, how is the Name of God rent and torn, to his high displeasure! How vain is that man, who takes pleasure in sin, or who sins in taking his pleasure! He makes his short pleasure-time a seed-time (without repentance) of his everlasting pains and sorrows.

Whatever service the Hawk doth to man in catching the prey, the Partridge, or Phesant, or other fowl, man might serve himself of them (as many do) some other and cheaper way, and not by hawking. The Moralists could say (speaking of such like creatures) Man was loved by the supream Maker of all things, ¹