Cosmas Indicopleustes, on Isa 38:18

“For hell shall not confess to thee, neither shall death praise thee: nor shall they that go down into the pit, look for thy truth.”

“For they that are in the grave cannot praise thee, nor can the dead celebrate thee; nor can they that are in the grave hope for thy mercy. The living shall praise thee, even as I also do; meaning: For if Thou hadst not granted me still to live, how could I have been converted, or have repented and been saved, or have hope of Thy mercy, since the dead who are in the grave can do nothing of this kind, but in Thy compassion Thou hast graciously granted me this”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.