---
title: 'Ashbel Green on Kindness to Animals'
type: post
author: 'R. Andrew Myers'
date: 2025-08-04
url: https://confessional.org/blog/2025-ashbel-green-on-kindness-to-animals
---

# Ashbel Green on Kindness to Animals

“The inferior animals, in various ways, feel the effects of man’s transgression. This is a subject both curious and difficult, into which we cannot now enter, — it may hereafter claim some attention. We have seen that we have the divine permission to use the inferior animals for food. We have also a right to avail ourselves of the strength and labour of such of them as can be employed, to diminish or assist the toil of man. But all mere sporting with the lives or feelings of any of these animals — the infliction upon them of unnecessary pain or suffering, either while they live, or when we take their lives — all this is unwarranted by our common Creator — It is wanton, wicked cruelty, contrary to God’s revealed will, and to every dictate of humanity. It ought to be remembered, that in the fourth commandment, provision is made for the rest of labouring beasts, as well as of man; and I have dwelt a short time on this topick, although it has carried me a little beyond the answer, because I think it is far less regarded than it ought to be; and because the cultivation of humane and tender feelings toward the brute creation, is very important to youth — connected far more intimately, I am persuaded, with moral sensibility and moral obligations, than is generally supposed.” — [**Ashbel Green**](/authors/ashbel-green), *Lectures on the Shorter Catechism*, Vol. 1 (1829), pp. 188-189