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| Chapter LXXVIII
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Chapter
LXXVIII.
He next proceeds further to object against
himself4007
what is said on
behalf of man, viz., that the irrational animals were created on his
account, saying: “If one were to call us the lords of the
animal creation because we hunt the other animals and live upon their
flesh, we would say, Why were not we rather created on
their account, since they hunt and devour us? Nay,
we require nets and weapons, and the assistance of many persons,
along with dogs, when engaged in the chase; while they are immediately
and spontaneously provided by nature with weapons which easily bring us
under their power.” And here we may observe, that the gift
of understanding has been bestowed upon us as a mighty aid, far
superior to any weapon which wild beasts may seem to possess. We,
indeed, who are far weaker in bodily strength than the beasts, and
shorter in stature than some of them, yet by means of our understanding
obtain the mastery, and capture the huge elephants. We subdue by
our gentle treatment those animals whose nature it is to be tamed,
while with those whose nature is different, or which do not appear
likely to be of use to us when tamed, we take such precautionary
measures, that when we desire it, we keep such wild beasts shut up; and
when we need the flesh of their bodies for food, we slaughter them, as
we do those beasts which are not of a savage nature. The Creator,
then, has constituted all things the servants of the rational being and
of his natural understanding. For some purposes we require dogs,
say as guardians of our sheep-folds, or of our cattle-yards, or
goat-pastures, or of our dwellings; and for other purposes we need
oxen, as for agriculture; and for others, again, we make use of those
which bear the yoke, or beasts of burden. And so it may be said
that the race of lions, and bears, and leopards, and wild boars, and
such like, has been given to us in order to call into exercise the
elements of the manly character that exists within
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