Job 9.25. Now my Days are swifter than a Post, &c.
A Post rides swiftly, he makes haste: So the Life of Man, or Time of a Man's Life, swiftly passeth 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 (saith my Author) is an excellent Emblem of Time.* 1.1 There are many Conside∣rations in Post-riding, which shews 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 hath Change of Horses at every Stage, that so 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 hath 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't. 9. All give way to him that rides Post; he must not be hindred. 10. He stays not to salute, much less, like other Tra∣vellers, 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, 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.