The Preface.

...have some way or other provided for us, let it be shown what it is, or where it is to be sought for, if not in that sacred volume of Oracles? The "sacred volume of Oracles" refers to the Holy Bible, which the author views as the collection of God’s direct communications or "oracles" to humanity. And I pray, was it in vain, or only in respect to our eternal salvation, that God said of his Law: “This is your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the Nations, which shall hear all these statutes and say: Surely this is a wise and understanding people.” (Deuteronomy 4:6.) Or did David ☞ The hand symbol, or manicule, was used in early books to point the reader toward particularly important passages. boast in vain? “I have more understanding than all my teachers; because your testimonies are my meditations.” (Psalm 119:99.) Or did the son of Sirach Referring to the Book of Sirach, also known as Ecclesiasticus, an ancient Jewish work found in the biblical Apocrypha. say in vain: “The Word of God most High is the fountain of wisdom”? (Ecclesiasticus 1:5.) Or was it in vain that Solomon called God, “the guide unto wisdom, and the corrector of the wise”? (Wisdom of Solomon 7:15.) The "Wisdom of Solomon" is another book from the Apocrypha, traditionally attributed to King Solomon. See here a corrector! But how does he correct, except by overriding original: "dashing over" our empty thoughts original: "vain cogitation" with his word? And to what purpose, I pray, is all that is frequently mentioned...