In the last 400 years, English merchant and writer Thomas Tryon (1634-1703) (note 1) is the first Christian theologian to make vegetarianism a faith-and-compassion-based mandate for all (Tryon 1697/1683), declaring that “killing, violence, and oppression whatsoever, either of man or beast … is all contrary to the spirit of Jesus Christ” and God’s principle of eternal love (Tryon 1697: 247) (Tryon is also the first person in history to use the term “animal rights [Tryon 2022/1684]).
Below please find an excerpt from Tryon’s 1697/1683 book The Way to Health, Long Life and Happiness, concerning how violence, whether directed against humans or animals, is all contrary to the eternal love of God and the true light of Christ.
No man did ever strike, oppress, use violence to, or kill either man or beast from the excitement and power of this friendly principle, for all contention, strife, and cruelty is as contrary to the nature and operation of this principle as light is to darkness, but from this divine fountain in man does proceed that great law of doing unto all creatures, as a man would be done unto, which cannot therefore admit that any violences or injuries should be done unto God's creatures, either superior or inferior. This our great and blessed Law-giver, Jesus Christ did demonstrate whilst he was in the human property; for all his practices, examples, discourses, and preachings unto mankind were tending to lead them into peace, meekness, and unity (Tryon 1697:247).
Primary Sources:
Tryon, Thomas (1697/1683). The Way to Health, Long Life and Happiness. London: Unknown Publisher. https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Way_to_Health_Long_Life_and_Happines/cQ83AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1
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