The first part of this verse wears very much the aspect of a _truism._ But it is not said, "They are plain to him that understandeth _them;_" but simply to him that "_understandeth._" It seems to signify, who has the understanding necessary to the apprehension of Divine truth--spiritual discernment. "He who is spiritual _discerneth all things._" "They are all plain" to him who _thus_ understandeth. It may further be observed, how very much depends, in the prosecution of any science, for correct and easy apprehension of its progressive development to the mind, on the clear comprehension of its _elementary principles._ The very clearest and plainest demonstrations, in any department of philosophy, will fail to be followed and to carry conviction--will leave the mind only in wonder and bewildering confusion, unless there is a full and correct acquaintance with principles or elements, or a willingness to apply the mind to its attainment. So in Divine science. There are, in regard to the discoveries of the Divine Word, certain primary principles, which all who are taught of God know, and which they hold as principles of explanation for all that the Word reveals. They who _are_ thus "taught of God," perceive with increasing fulness the truth, the rectitude, the unalloyed excellence of all the dictates of Divine wisdom. All is "plain"--all "right." The darkness that brooded over the mind is dissipated. They "have an unction from the Holy One, and know all things" (1 John ii. 20).--_Wardlaw._ When a man gets the knowledge of himself, then he sees all the _threatenings_ of God to be _right_. When he obtains the knowledge of God in Christ, then he finds that all the _promises_ of God are _right_--yea and amen.--_Adam Clarke._ _MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.--Verses_ 10, 11. WISDOM BETTER THAN WEALTH. +I. Wisdom is to be preferred to wealth because it belongs to a higher sphere.+ The wisdom by which men succeed in finding gold and silver reveals the superiority of mind over matter. The apparatus of the miner or digger reveals that his thought, by which he is enabled to find the precious metal, is more than the metal itself. The precious stones which the merchant gains by trading are inferior to the wisdom he puts in operation to gain them, even though it is a wisdom which is only devoted to gaining money. The mental power which he puts forth shows that he is possessed of intelligence, which, belonging to the region of mind, belongs to a higher sphere than material wealth. When the wisdom is that spoken of in the text, the wisdom which springs from the very Fountain of goodness, it is not only preferable because it is the offspring of mind, but because it belongs to the higher region of spiritual purity.