How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
They always think they can improve upon Nature and mend what God has made. (10.18)
Many events in this book lament the evil of men who treat animals with cruelty. Here, this kind of cruelty is compared to "playing God"—daring to change something God has made. It's the worst kind of offense, and the theme of power and how it can be abused is something that comes up repeatedly in this story.
Quote #2
Master said, God had given men reason, by which they could find out things for themselves; but He had given animals knowledge which did not depend on reason, and which was much more prompt and perfect in its way, and by which they had often saved the lives of men. (12.15)
When Beauty saves John Manly and Squire Gordon from driving across a broken bridge, Beauty tells us what Squire Gordon says afterward, which is basically that God's gifts to horses saved them all. It's an indirect way of thanking God for their survival, and it shows that Squire Gordon sees a connection between religion and the natural world.
Quote #3
Why don't they cut their own children's ears into points to make them look sharp? […] What right have they to torment and disfigure God's creatures? (10.9)
Here's a good example of how this story talks about animals in relation to Christianity: Horses and other animals are considered God's creatures. So changing their physical appearance on a whim is not only cruel, it goes against God's intentions. Pretty awful any way you think about it.