THE HORSE. 



preference to him, not only as a mere beast of bur- 

 den, but for the purpose of conveying, from place 

 to place, persons of the highest distinction. This, 

 however, may be satisfactorily accounted for. Pre- 

 viously to the art of horsemanship being known, 

 the ass, a superior race of animal perhaps to that 

 generally found in Europe, was more easily managed 

 than the horse, and better suited to the kind of 

 food usually met with for his support. He was, in 

 fact, found to answer every purpose of horses, until 

 mankind increased in numbers and in wealth, when 

 the complicated interests that were the result, 

 brought their services into use, and they were 

 trained to the art of war. But another reason 

 may be given for the late introduction of horses. 

 Their use was interdicted by the Almighty in the 

 early ages of the world — first, lest his favourite 

 people, the Israelites, should be led to idolatry, by 

 carrying on commerce with Egypt ; secondly, by 

 their dependence on a well-appointed cavalry, they 

 might cease to trust in the promised aid of Jehovah; 

 and, thirdly, that they might not be tempted to 

 extend their dominion by such means, and then, by 

 mixing with idolatrous nations, cease in time to 

 be that distinct and separate people which it was 

 His intention they should be, and without which 

 the prophecies relative to the Messiah could not be 

 fully accomplished. Thus, in the Book of Psalms, 

 the horse commonly appears only on the side of 

 the enemies of God's people ; a»d so entirely unac- 

 customed to the management of him were the 

 Israelites, at the period of their signal defeat of 



