Sirach 1:2

Ben Sira, Ecclesiasticus
Deuterocanon

1 All wisdom is from the Lord, and with him it remains forever. 2 The sand of the sea, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity—who can count them? 3 The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth, the abyss, and wisdom —who can search them out? 4 Wisdom was created before all other things, and prudent understanding from eternity.

Alexander Epistles on Arianism 1:1

Patristic

Wherefore I do not think that he is to be reckoned among the pious who presumes to inquire into anything beyond these things, not listening to this saying: Seek not out the things that are too hard for you, neither search the things that are above your strength. For if the knowledge of many other things that are incomparably inferior to this, are hidden from human comprehension, such as in the apostle Paul, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him. As also God said to Abraham, that he could not number the stars; and that passage, Who can number the sand of the sea, and the drops of rain. How shall any one be able to investigate too curiously the subsistence of the divine Word, unless he be smitten with frenzy? Concerning which the Spirit of prophecy says, Who shall declare his generation? And our Saviour Himself, who blesses the pillars of all things in the world, sought to unburden them of the knowledge of these things, saying that to comprehend this was quite beyond their nature, and that to the Father alone belonged the knowledge of this most divine mystery. For no man, says He, knows the Son, but the Father: neither knows any man the Father, save the Son. Of this thing also I think that the Father spoke, in the words, My secret is to Me and Mine.

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