44, The Excellency of Wifdom. S E x M. filver be weighed for the price thereof; it II. cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx or the faphir. The gold and chry/lal cannot equal it, and the ex- change of it 'hall not be for jewels of fine gold. No mention (hall be made of coral, or of pearl, for the price of wifdom is above rubies: the topaz of Ethiopia 'hall not equal it, nei- fihall it be valued with pure gold. To Rate the comparifon rightly, it would be proper to inquire into the grounds upon which thefe things are valued with which wifdom is compared, and preferred to them; and it feems to be this, that in the prefent Bate of human nature commerce is neceffary, con- lifting in an exchange of the produce of the earth in different parts of it, and the fruits of mens induftry. Since the comfort and con - veniency of life cannot be fufficiently provid- ed for by the fingle care and labour of one ; and we are all fenfible ofthis, fora great many hands are employed about even that with which we are fed and cloathed; and fince no one part of the earth is fo compleatly furnifhed with all which may be ufeful, but it may be the better for what others can fpare ; which reafon determines diftant nations to traffick; on this account, I fay, commerce is necef- fary ; and to make it more eafy and advanta- geous,
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