Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.

Ver. 13. Man kaoweth not the price thereof] Or, the order thereof, in what manner and method God proceedeth; no, though in other things he knew as much as Homer did, of whom one saith that he was πανσοφος, και παντα τα ανθρωπεια επισταμενος, a man that knew all human affairs; or as Aristotle did, whom some have called an eagle fallen from the clouds; or as Jerome, quem nullum scibile latuit, who knew all that was knowable; or as Bishop Andrew, whom one calleth (but how truly I inquire not) a gulf of learning. Sure it is that man, sorry man, knoweth neither the price of Divine wisdom, for it is invaluable; nor the place of it, for it is investigable; nor the order of it, for that is unattainable till we come to heaven; there being a wheel within a wheel, Ezekiel 1:16, and providence shall one day be unriddled.

Neither is it found in the land of the living] That is, here upon earth, by any human wit or industry. In other texts of Scripture the time while we live in this world is called, the day, John 9:4, and the light of the living, Psalms 56:13, in opposition to death, which is called, a land of darkness, as darkness itself, Job 10:22, where they that inhabit are said to be free among the dead, Psalms 88:5, free of that company. See Isaiah 38:11. None but those that live spiritually, and have senses habitually exercised to discern good and evil, Hebrews 5:14, can see anything of the worth of this wisdom so as to seek after it as silver, and prize it above gem; for ignoti nulla cupido, men covet not what they value not. Now the cock on the dunghill knows not the price or place of this inestimable jewel, and, therefore, slights it. Those epicures especially, qui suaviter vivunt, as the Vulgate here translateth, who live in pleasure upon earth, and are wanton, James 5:5 .

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