Church, which sounded so sweetly: the sound entred into the in most part of his hart, and there through the heate of deuoti∣on, truth was resolued in his bowels, and showred teares from his eyes, which were to him, as he saith, most sweet & pleasant. O blessed teares, happy Schoole, and happy wisedome, which bringeth forth such fruite: what may bee compared with her? Man knoweth not the price of it, for it is not founde in the Land of delicate liuers. The depth saith, It is not in mee: the sea also saith, it is not with me. Gold shall not be giuen for it, neyther shall siluer be weighed for the price thereof. It shall not be valued with the wedge of gold of Ophir, nor with the precious Onix, nor the Sa∣phir. The Golde nor the Christall shal bee equall vnto it, nor the ex∣change shal be for plate of fine gold. Which cōmendation of wise∣dome, thys most holy man concludeth in these words; Beholde, the feare of the Lord is wisedome, and to depart from euill, is vnder∣standing.
Thys therefore my brother, is one of those great rewards, by which thou art inuited to Vertue, seeing shee hath the key of thys treasure. After thys manner the Wiseman inuiteth vs vnto her in his Prouerbs, My sonne, sayth hee, if thou wilt receiue my words, and hide my commaundements within thee, &c. Then shalt, thou vnderstand the feare of the Lorde, and finde the knowledge of God: for the Lord giueth wisedom, out of his mouth commeth know∣ledge & vnderstanding. Thys knowledge continueth not in one & the same state, but daily is encreased by new lights & know∣ledge, as the same Wiseman testifieth. The way of the righteous, sayth he, shineth as the light, that shineth more and more vnto the perfect day: that is, vnto that blessed eternity, in which we shall no more say with the friends of Iob; A word was spoken vnto mee secretly, and mine eare hath receaued a little thereof: that is, of her diuine and hidden inspirations: but there we shall heare open∣ly, and shall see God himselfe.
Thys is that wisedome, which the sonnes of light enioy: but the wicked on the contrary, doe lyue in the horrible darknes of the Egiptians, which may be felt with hands. A figure of which thing was, that it is sayd in the Land of Goshan, where the chil∣dren of Israell dwelt, there was light: but in Egypt for three dayes space, there was such thicke darknes, that it might be felt: