208. 'And knowest not that thou art wretched' signifies that they do not know that all the things that they know and think concerning the truths and goods of the Church have no coherence at all, and are fences (maceria). By wretchedness here is signified no coherence; thus by 'wretched' one who thinks incoherently about the things of the Church. This is because those of whom these things are said, at one time deny God, heaven, eternal life and the holiness of the Word, and at another time acknowledge them. Therefore what they build up with one hand they pull down with the other. Thus they are like those who build a house and presently demolish it; or like those who clothe themselves with beautiful garments and presently strip them off. Their houses therefore are rubble, and their garments are rags. Although they are ignorant of the fact, all the things that they think about the Church and heaven are like that. These things are understood by 'wretchedness' in the following places also:-
Thy wisdom and knowledge has led thee aside, when thou hast said in thy heart, I and none besides me; therefore shall wretchedness fall upon thee Isa. xlvii 10, 11.
Wretchedness shalt come upon wretchedness, the king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with stupefaction Ezek. vii 26, 27.
The 'king' who 'shall mourn', and the 'prince' who 'shall be clothed with stupefaction', are those who are in the truths of the Church.
What is right is not in their mouth, wretchedness is in the midst of them Ps. v 10.
Similar things are signified by fences (maceria) (Jer. xlix 3 [AV hedges]; Ezek. xiii 10-12; Hos. ii 6 [H.B. 8]).
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