Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 3.pdf/76

 truth—that power is the understanding. As the horse is a nobler, more courageous, active, and fiery animal than others of the brute creation, possessing a greater degree of warmth and fervour, sleeping but little, and ever distinguished by the superiority of his instinct, so is he a fitting symbol of the noble understanding with which man is gifted, and bears this meaning in every passage throughout the Holy Word. The sublime and beautifully descriptive passage in Job (xxxix. 19), "Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. He saith among the trumpets. Ha, ha! and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting."