William Metcalfe

“ It is in them we have presented to our contemplation an unlimited source of knowledge. In them is recorded, for our edification, a Revelation of the will of the Almighty. Here we find those Sacred Precepts according to which we are commanded to regulate our lives, so that we may become the children of God. Here we have unfolded to us the astonishing work of Creation, and the still more wonderful operation of Redemption and Salvation for all that believe. Here also we are taught to know aright the nature and divine attributes of the Creator, and the Immortality of our own Souls. ”

“ For our own part, we believe most sincerely, that this law was engraven not only on the table of stone on Mount Sinai, but that the finger of God has written it also on our hearts; that there hence exists within us, whilst uncorrupted by the world, a repugnancy to killing animals, and also an aversion to feeding on their flesh! Had God intended us so to live, he would not have imparted the milk of kindness to our bosoms. ”

“ She calls upon her followers peremptorily to renounce all those pleasures of sense, worldly examples, and unhallowed practices, that are prejudicial to their physical well being, or injurious to the spiritual interests of immortal souls. And shall Christianity hold out to us these blessed truths of our holy religion in vain? Shall we continue rebellious to her purifying and heavenly doctrine of self-denial Shall we be unwilline to take up oar cross; to die daily to an indulgence in the pleasures of an overexcited sensation, whether arising from eating flesh or drinking wine? ”

“ It is this which pre-eminently distinguishes the devout and sincere professor, from the common mass of mankind. Let us bear in mind, that to us, most especially my Christian Friends, the world turns for such an example; that to us pure and undefiled religion calls for such a conduct; to the consistency of our practise with the clemency and humanity of our profession, as believers in the Bible Testimony, that it is good neither to eat flesh nor drink wine, bleeding Christianity looks as her only refuge. ”

“ Every one will be apt, on the first thought, to wonder how so horrible a rile,—an ordinance so repugnant to some of the finest and the strongest feelings of human nature, as that of sacrificing innocent animals, could ever have been tolerated among mankind, and especially by the then most civilized portion of them, for a single moment: much more, how it could have been so extensively and constantly practised among the various nations of antiquity, as history seems to indicate was the fact. ”

“ The most inveterate devotee to the fashionable habit of flesh eating, will not surely contend that God, in this text, commanded men to eat flesh, and yet accompanied that precept with a clause in which he declares he will require the "blood of your lives" for every beast slain? If he had intended us to feed on flesh would he have accompanied the grant with such a clause?—Would he, as our Creator, have implanted in our bosoms a feeling of commiseration so hostile to his purpose?—Sympathies so potent for the suffering victim? ”

“ We are not indeed to expect that immediate and complete success is to crown our infantile exertions in this self-sacrificing cause. The storm and the whirlwind of human prejudices and erroneous sentiments must first pass by before the still small voice of Christian clemency, meek-eyed mercy and child-like humanity can be beneficially heard. ”

“ But when we read of certain animals being allowed, and others interdicted, we do not so clearly see, nor with such facility understand that we are thereby prohibited from easing, or allowed to eat their fruit or produce, that is to say, their milk. The cause of this "slowness of heart to believe," and unwillingness to admit the force of this important truth is obvious;—in the present depraved state of human appetite and human feeling we behold mankind every where around us, like so many beasts of prey, tearing and devouring with the greatest avidity, the mangled limbs of butchered animals ”

“ In brief, Christian Friends, we think it must be no difficult matter to see that the superstructure erected in defence of gratifying an unnatural, inhuman, and carniverous appetite is built on a "sandy foundation" and cannot stand;—already, in fact, it is shaken to its very basis, and in a few more revolving years, as the light of moral, physiological and religious truth becomes more general on the subject, it must inevitably sink into its merited oblivion, and become a mere matter of history, at which to wonder. ”

“ Let us again enquire whether there is any thing like reasonableness in concluding that living animals, of flesh and blood, were actually let down from Heaven in a sheet, when we are assured that flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven?—Again let us ask, What instruction did Peter derive from this vision? "Of a truth" says he "I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but that in every nation, he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him." Thus as the testimony appears to us, Peter learned not to call any man common or unclean. ”

“ In a state of war, this precept, and indeed every similar institution of God,are entirely superceded by the murderous declarations of man. Theft is no longer stealing. Killing, in such case, is not murder. In national warfare it is declared to be just and honorable to plunder and to kill, and he who proves to be the most barbarous and successful, acquires the greatest share of renown. What then is the influence which the commandment before us has had in staying man from murder?— The poet has given us a powerful, eloquent and just picture of man's reckless disregard of this Divine Law ”

“ Strange as it may appear, there are, nevertheless, those to be found among professors of Christianity who have seemingly thus judged of the ways of the Almighty. Professing to believe in Revelation and in the immutability of its Author, they yet contend, particularly when reasoning in support of the carniverous habit of feeding on the mangled bodies of butchered animals, that an error, of a most serious nature, must have been committed, when man was directed to sustain his physical existence by mere vegetable food! ”

“ Who can conceive that the beautiful structure raised by Solomon, and consecrated to the worship of Jehovah could not be deemed an appropriate place for the manifestation of the Divine Purity, until it became filled with the fumes of burning victims and defiled with the filth, and blood and garbage which must obviously be the concomitants of such butchery?Would such a scene as the Temple must have presented, if living sacrifices were really made, be calculated to inspire a congregation with devotional feelings? ”

“ This primeval law of Divine Revelation was undoubtedly given to direct the families of mankind in the selection of their appropriate food. That food, according to the precept, was to be wholly vegetable. The productions of the earth alone were to be to them for meat. These, the Creator of all things deemed fully sufficient to sustain his new formed creature, man. ”

“ It appears indeed from the narrative of the facts as recorded in the first chapter of his Prophesy, that vegetable food in not only the most nutritive,—for their countenances were fairer and fatter in flesh than all those that eat the portion of the Kings meat;—but that it contributes exceedingly to strengthening the intellectual faculties of man, for "in all matters of wisdom and understanding they were found by the King, ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in his realm." ”

“ The system of temperance which we thus religiously practise, furnishes us with strength and activity sufficient to support the most laborious occupations, secures one of the all important blessings of life, the possession of health,—and qualifies us for the enjoyment of a more perfect mode of being and intellectual delights, than ever falls to the participation of the "Wine-bibber or the glutton." ”

“ Let us ever remember that all religion which does not produce its appropriate effect upon the life is futile and useless—mere vanity and vexation of spirit, instead of life, and peace in the Holy Spirit. ”

“ We are of the number of those who do not believe that the Israelites, in their integrity, ever offered living animals in sacrifice, or that Jehovah commanded any such rituals; and we think our principles are borne out by Scripture Testimony.—A satisfactory theory of the origin and nature of sacrificial worship is among the great desiderata of modern religious science; and surely it must be agreeable to every intelligent and candid mind, to contemplate so curious a subject in a light which invites and gratifies the understanding rather than excites feelings of horror. ”

“ The diet at first prescribed was declared by Infinite Wisdom 'to be very good' and it would be derogatory to his character to suppose he had erred. We cannot otherwise believe therefore, but we are justified in concluding that the dietetic principles presented to our consideration, in this first law of God to man, are adapted to ournature, preservative of our health, calculated to prolong our days upon earth, to give vigor and energy both to our physical and mental faculties, and are worthy of all acceptation. ”

“ Our purpose was nothing less than to introduce principles of religion and knowledge among a free people, which we believed to be essential to the happiness of all men here, and indispensible to their peace and everlasting salvation hereafter. ”

“ What certainty have we, Christian Friends, that not to kill men is the only true and proper sense, morally speaking, in which it ought to be understood? It is certain they could not eat flesh without killing. You will observe that the language of the precept however is altogether indefinite. 'Thou shalt not kill'—what? Who has authority or presumption to limit this precept to killing men? ”

“ The promises made to them as the blessings of obedience were "the dew of heaven and the fatness of the earth;" and it is, my Christian Friends, an important and remarkable fact, though neither generally known nor acknowledged, that whenever Jehovah prescribes or appoints a diet for mankind he never mentions the flesh of animals as constituting any part of that which "is good for food." ”

“ Were not the regulations of this original Law such as were calculated to preserve the healthy to support the vigor, sustain the power, and secure the physical happiness of the human race? Have after ages ever disputed the reality of the enjoyments of the primitive race of men, especially whilst they continued in their integrity? ”

“ But do not all animals which fall a sacrifice to the butcher's knife suffer a violent death? Are we not then, as Christians, enjoined to abstain from eating such things, as a necessary part of our "obedience unto the faith?" ”

“ The prohibitions there given are respecting the animals that give milk, not fit for the use of man. In consequence of such animals not ruminating, their milk is crude and unwholesome; hence they were not to be touched in the operation of milking, nor should they be domesticated for such a purpose. Strange as it may appear so men of our times, it is nevertheless an important truth, in relation to the People of Israel, that the milk and the fleece were the principle objects for which herds and flocks were kept by them, and the Patriarchs who preceded them. ”

“ These are precisely the circumstances then, in which we are placed; we differ from others, and should be ready to point out the cause; hence the duty of searching after truth devolves upon us imperiously, not only that we may be able to display our views with clearness and perspicuity, to the edification of our brethren, but also that we ourselves, by our efforts to benefit others, may progressively approximate to the perfection of that wisdom which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ”

“ The Serpent is described by Naturalists as one of the most watchful of all animated existences; and the Dove as an innocent and inoffensive creature, that feeds only on the productions of the vegetable world. Such then it appears to us, should the followers of the meek and humble Jesus be;—such the circumspection of character, and such the dietetic conduct of all his faithful followers. ”

“ We have long discontinued the very fashionable habit, of feeding on the flesh of butchered animals, and have confined ourselves wholly to vegetable productions. We have long resisted the allurements of the intoxicating bowl, and have been contented to satisfy our thirst from the limpid stream. ”

“ Let us remember that the most convincing argument is the spectacle of a pure and consistent example;—that while controversy, uninfluenced by prayer, has a natural tendency to irritate and inflame, to increase the obstinacy of prejudice, and rivet the stubbornness of self-will, devotion will frequently soften, kindness will conciliate, and affection will reclaim. ”

“ Is it not as plain as language can express it, that we are here allowed to eat of every moving thing that liveth, without any restraining self denial, or any needless mortification of our bodily appetites! ”

“ We will attempt to meet this conclusion by and by; in the meantime we cannot overlook the fact that the history of all nations, in all ages that are gone by, abundantly evinces that this precept has had a very inefficacious effect in regulating and directing the conduct of mankind. Wars have existed between man and man, and between nations of men. Individuals have been, and still are trained up, educated, and supported by the public, for the very purpose of murdering their fellow beings ”

“ With such ends and purposes in view we crossed the waters of the mighty deep; with such views we disembarked on the shores of this fertile land, and the blessing of the Father of all Spirits has been on our every religious effort. Our labours, though not attended with that display which some Christian professors have experienced, have yet been crown ed with signal success, and with the Psalmist we can truly say, in relation to our progress, "It is the Lord's doings, and it is marvellous in our eyes." ”

“ She exhorts her believers to be humane and merciful, as their Father in the heavens is merciful; to mortify the fleshly mind, which is ever contrary to the mind of Christ; to keep the body under subjection to the precepts of the Gospel; not to live to the flesh, but in all things, whether they eat or drink, or whatsoever they do, that it be done to the glory of their Heavenly Father. ”

“ An illustrious expounder of the Sacred Scriptures has justly remarked; "Eating the flesh of animals, considered in it itself, is something profane; for the people of the most ancient time never ate the flesh of any beast or fowl, but only seeds, especially bread made of wheat, also the fruits of trees, esculent plants, milk, and what is produced from milk, as butter &c. To kill animals and to eat their flesh was unlawful and seemed as something bestial ”

“ Our aim is not violently to snatch the fatal knife frorn the bloody hands of the butcher, nor ruthlessly to tear the feast of death from the teeth of the riotous eaters of flesh.—Our high object is to instruct ”