A practical exposition of the X. Commandments with a resolution of several momentous questions…A practical exposition of the X. Commandements with a resolution of several momentous questions…

As for the first, this Command cannot be considered, as relating to Beasts; as if they were not to be killed, because God gave man all the Beasts for his use to feed on them, Gen. 9.3. and we are to eat of whatever is sold in the shambles, by his allowance, whose is the earth and the fullness thereof, I ⟨p. 342⟩Cor. 10 25. Beside man in all these Commands is properly directed in reference to his Neighbour, and not to beasts: Yet I grant by striking a beast a man may offend, as 1. when that stroke wrongeth his Neighbour, to whom that beast belongeth. 2. when in our striking there is 1. unreasonableness, as if we would require that capacity in a be •st, that is in reasonable creatures, and so are ready to offend when they answer not our expectation. 2. when there is a breaking out into anger and passion at brutes, as when a horse rideth not well, a Dog runneth not well, a hawk flieth not well, &c. which speaketh an impotency in us, who are so easily mastered by irrational passions, which will sometimes also seize upon us even in reference to senseless and lifeless Creatures, when they do not accommodate us to our mind •. 3. when there is bitterness and cruelty in striking: Something of this the Lord reproveth by making Balaam's Ass speak and rebuke the madness of that Prophet, who unreasonably smote the Ass, and wished he had had a Sword to kill her, Numb. 22.29. whereas a just man pitieth his beast, and regardeth the life thereof, Prov. 12.10.

As for the first, this Command cannot be considered, as relating to Beasts; as if they were not to be killed, because God gave man all the Beasts for his use to feed on them, Gen. 9.3. and we are to eat of whatever is sold in the shambles, by his allowance, whose is the earth and the fulness thereof,