If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as [for] hid treasures;
Ver. 4. If thou seekest her as silver.] Opulentissima metalla quorum in alta latent venae, saith Seneca, a Your richest metals lie lowest. Viscera terrae extrahimus, ut digito gestetur gemma, quam petimus, saith Pliny; b We draw out the very bowels of the earth, that we may get the gem that we desire. Shall we not do as much for this pearl of price, the knowledge of God and his will, of ourselves, and our duties? Beg we must; Pro 2:3 but with it we must dig too, Pro 2:4 and continue to do so, searching for her as for hid treasures. Ora et labora, for else "the talk of the lip only brings want." Pro 14:23 What man, finding a rich mine of gold or silver, is content with the first ore that offers itself to his view, and doth not dig deeper and deeper till he become owner of the whole treasure? So here, "Then shall ye know, if ye follow on to know the Lord," Hos 6:3 if ye cease not till ye get all the dimensions of knowledge mentioned by the apostle, Eph 3:18 till ye see that blissful sight. Eph 1:18-19
a Seneca, Epist. 23.
b Lib. ii. cap. 65.