Chap. 28. an Expo/ilion upon the Book of o B. Verf.18. 22e in the Sea, which though while it continues in its proper place, is be green and foft, yet taken out and abiding in the Ayr, quickly changeth its colour into a beautiful! red, and its foftnefs into the compaòled folidnefsof a (lone. It is very delightful! andpleafing to the eye, refemblirg a plant adorned with many fpreading bran- ches. The word (Gable) which we tranflate pearles, is no where elfe ufed in Scripture.But the wordby which we render it is well known and of frequent ufe both for medicine and for ornsrnene. The pearl or Union(fo called)becaufe the greater of them are al- wayes found tingle in a the!, whereas the letter, commonly called illargarrites are found many together, the pearl I fay ) is nothing elfe but the excellent Gensture of a thel -6(h congealed into a fair.dyaphanòus !lone, and it is the birth of that 6th or Scallop. The valueof thefe hones is according to their beauty,and bignefs, and roundnefs, greater or le(fer. Some (as that famous one which Cleopatra Qeen of Egypt diffolved and drunk) are worth many thoufands. It is faid (Rev. 21. 21.) That the twelvegates of the new ferufalem ( which fobn faw in vifion) weretwelve varlet, everyfeveralgate was of one pearl. That the grearefi glory of our fpiritual fate is fhadowed by them, is proof enough of their beauty and glory ; and yet how exceeding gloriousand beautiful! foever they are, they have neither beauty nor glory, by reafon of that beauty and glory of wifdom which excelleth, and there is no mention (hall be made, either of Coral or of Peale, in comparifon of, or in competition with this holy and heavenly wifdom. Of all which Job givesa further reafon, For the price ofwifdom is above Ra bits. Mr Broughton renders, ryifolcmes price doth pajs Carbuncle,. If a thing that is better be not of value fufficient CO make the pur- chafe, then that which is lets worth is not worthy to be mentio- ned. Rubies are (it feems) cf a higher value then Coral or Pearl, yet their price is nothing to wifdom. The word which we render price, comes from a root, which lignifies to draw our, becaufe the p; ice of a thing is that which draweth it out. He char layethdown .a due price for a commodity, draweth it out of any mans hand, houle or (hop, where it is laid up. Some read, A lit- tle wifdom is above Rubies. Which (fill hightens thevalue and ex- cellency of wifdom. Rubies are precious Roues, of a. red colour,, as
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