The Life of Man Compared to a Swift Post

    THE LIFE OF MAN COMPARED TO A SWIFT POST

    "Now my days are swifter than a Post"&c. Job 9:25.

    PARALLELS.

    I. A Post rides swiftly, he makes haste; so the life of man, or time of a man's life swiftly passes away.

    II. A Post ought to make no stay; so the days of man's Life stay not; the hour-glass of time runs continually, and never stands still.

    A Post, says Mr. Caryl, is an excellent emblem of time. There are many considerations in Post-riding, which, shows how exceeding speedy time must be, to which it is here compared. "1. A Post rides upon fleet or speedy horses. 2. He rides his horses upon their speed. A man may have speedy horses, and go softly; but a Post spurs on. 3. A Post has change of horses at every stage; so that he may keep upon the speed. 4. He hath horses standing ready for change; they are not to fetch out of the Field, or to be made ready, when he comes to his stage; it is but leaping into the saddle, and away. 5. He that rides Post makes no long meals, much less feasts; he takes a bit, and is gone. 6. He lies not long in bed, he scarce goes to bed till he comes to his way's end. 7. A Post has extraordinary pay for his service, and that to cause him to make the more speed. 8. Sometimes he rides upon pain of death, with a halter about his neck; no Man will loiter when his Life lies on it. 9. All give way to him that rides Post; he must not be hindered. 10. He stays not to salute, much less, like other travellers, to gaze and view the country, towns, buildings, gardens, by or through which he passeth."

    All these things laid together, evince, that a Post makes great speed; yet saith Job 9:25, "My days are swifter than a Post." A Post may by one means or another be stayed; but the days of Man's Life stay not. The Post may stay whilst, he changes horses, &c., but the chariot of time, viz., the sun, stayeth not to change horses. The sun is the measure of time, and that makes no stop, hath no stage, or baiting-place.