have appointed a father over thee; then thou shouldst exceedingly please Me, and all thy life would pass away in joy and peace.
Thou hast yet many things to part with, which unless thou wholly resign thou shalt not attain to that which thou desirest.
"I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest become rich;" that is, heavenly wisdom, which treadeth under foot all lower things.
Set little by earthly wisdom, and study not to please others.
3. I said, that mean things must be bought with things which seem precious and of great esteem among men.
For true heavenly wisdom doth seem very mean, of small account, and almost forgotten among men, as having no high thoughts of itself, nor seeking to be magnified upon earth. Many indeed praise it with their lips, but in their life they are far from it; yet is it the precious pearl, which is hidden from many.
