第54章

ConsideringthesetwosignificationsofthewordofGod，asitistakeninScripture，itismanifestinthislattersense(whereitistakenforthedoctrineofChristianreligion)thatthewholeScriptureisthewordofGod：butintheformersense，notso。Forexample，thoughthesewords，“IamtheLordthyGod，“etc。，totheendoftheTenCommandments，werespokenbyGodtoMoses；yetthepreface，“Godspakethesewordsandsaid，“istobeunderstoodforthewordsofhimthatwrotetheholyhistory。ThewordofGod，asitistakenforthatwhichHehathspoken，isunderstoodsometimesproperly，sometimesmetaphorically。Properly，asthewordsHehathspokentoHisprophets：

metaphorically，forHiswisdom，power，andeternaldecree，inmakingtheworld；inwhichsense，thosefiats，“Lettheirbelight，Lettherebeafirmament，Letusmakeman，“etc。*arethewordofGod。Andinthesamesenseitissaid，“Allthingsweremadebyit，andwithoutitwasnothingmadethatwasmade“：*(2)and“HeupholdethallthingsbythewordofHispower“；*(3)thatis，bythepowerofHisword；thatis，byHispower：and“TheworldswereframedbythewordofGod“；*(4)

andmanyotherplacestothesamesense：asalsoamongsttheLatins，thenameoffate，whichsignifiethproperlythewordspoken，istakeninthesamesense。

Secondly，fortheeffectofHisword；thatistosay，forthethingitself，whichbyHiswordisaffirmed，commanded，threatened，orpromised；aswhereJosephissaidtohavebeenkeptinprison，“tillhiswordwascome“；*thatis，tillthatwascometopasswhichhehadforetoldtoPharoah’sbutlerconcerninghisbeingrestoredtohisoffice：*(2)forthere，byhiswordwascome，ismeantthethingitselfwascometopass。Soalso，ElijahsaithtoGod，“Ihavedoneallthesethywords，“*(3)insteadof“Ihavedoneallthesethingsatthyword，“orcommandment。And，“WhereisthewordoftheLord“*(4)

isputfor“WhereistheevilHethreatened。“And，“Thereshallnoneofmywordsbeprolongedanymore“；*(5)bywordsareunderstoodthosethingswhichGodpromisedtoHispeople。AndintheNewTestament，“heavenandearthshallpassaway，butmywordsshallnotpassaway“；*(6)thatis，thereisnothingthatIhavepromisedorforetoldthatshallnotcometopass。AndinthissenseitisthatSt。

JohntheEvangelist，and，Ithink，St。Johnonly，callethourSaviourHimselfasinthefleshtheWordofGod，“AndtheWordwasmadeflesh“；*(7)thatistosay，theword，orpromise，thatChristshouldcomeintotheworld，“whointhebeginningwaswithGod“：

thatistosay，itwasinthepurposeofGodtheFathertosendGodtheSonintotheworldtoenlightenmeninthewayofeternallife；

butitwasnottillthenputinexecution，andactuallyincarnate；

sothatourSaviouristherecalledtheWord，notbecausehewasthepromise，butthethingpromised。TheythattakingoccasionfromthisplacedocommonlycallhimtheVerbofGoddobutrenderthetextmoreobscure。TheymightaswelltermhimtheNounofGod：forasbynoun，soalsobyverb，menunderstandnothingbutapartofspeech，avoice，asound，thatneitheraffirms，nordenies，norcommands，norpromiseth，norisanysubstancecorporealorspiritual；andthereforeitcannotbesaidtobeeitherGodorman；whereasourSaviourisboth。AndthisWordwhichSt。JohninhisGospelsaithwaswithGodis，inhisfirstEpistle，calledthe“Wordoflife“；*(8)and“theEternalLife，whichwaswiththeFather“：*(9)sothathecanbeinnoothersensecalledtheWordthaninthatwhereinHeiscalledEternalLife；thatis，hethathathprocureduseternallifebyhiscomingintheflesh。SoalsotheApostle，speakingofChristclothedinagarmentdippedinblood，saithhisnameis“theWordofGod，“*(10)whichistobeunderstoodasifhehadsaidhis