350 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IV.
cularly for the word of threatening. Amongst the Protestants, few judge the essential Word, or Son of God, Jesus Christ, to be in- tended. Jacobus Cappellus and Gomarus I have only met withal that are positively of that mind. Among the rest, some take it for the word of God preached in general, as Calvin; some for the threatenings of God, with the Rhemists; and some peculiarly for the gospel. Crellius waives all these, and contends that it is the decree of God which is designed; which when he comes to the explanation of, he makes it the same with his threatenings. I shall inquire with what diligence I can into the true and direct meaning of the Holy Ghost herein.
First, I grant that the name here used, 6 Aéyos rod Ocod, “the word of God,” is ascribed sometimes to the essential Word of God, and sometimes to the enunciative word, or the Scripture, as inspired and written. That the Son of God is so called we shall show after- wards; and that the declaration of the will of God by the penmen of the Scripture is so termed, is obvious and acknowledged by all but only our Quakers. But testimonies are full, many, and preg- nant to this purpose: Luke v. 1, “ The multitude pressed on him to hear riv Aéyor rod Oot,”—“ the word of God;” where the word of God is directly distinguished from him that spake it, which was Jesus Christ. Chap. viii. 11, “The seed is 6 Adyog rot @e0d,”—“ the word of God;” that is, the word preached by Jesus Christ, the good sower of that seed, as the whole chapter declares. Chap. xi. 28, “ Blessed are those that hear riv Adyov rod Ozod, nal QuAcooovres airéy,’—* the word of God, and keep it;” that is, preserve it in their hearts, and obey it being heard. Mark vii. 13, “ Making void riy Abyor ro @eod,”—“ the word of God by your traditions.” The word of God, that is, in his institutions and commands, is directly opposed to the traditions and commands of men, and so is of the same gene- ral nature. Actsiv. 31, “They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake out riv Adyor rod Ocod,’—“the word of God,” the word which they preached, declaring Jesus Christ to be the Son of God. When Philip had preached the gospel at Samaria and many be- lieved, it is said, Acts viil. 14, that “ the apostles heard that Samaria had received riv Adyov rod Oeod,’— the word of God,” or believed the doctrine of the gospel preached unto them, Chap. xii. 24, ‘0 d: Aoyog TOY Oot yiSave xa! exrndivero,’—“ But the word of God grew and multiplied ;” that is, upon the death of Herod it was more and more preached and received. 1 Cor. xiv. 36, “ Did the word of God go out from you, or came it to you alone?” In like manner is it used in many other places. I have instanced in these to obviate the vain clamours of those men who will not allow the Seripture, or gospel as preached, to be called the word of God. So 6 Aéyog abso~ lutely, “the word,” and “the word of the gospel,” “the word
VER. 12, 13.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 351
preached,” “the word of Christ,’ are common notations of this de- clared word of God.
Secondly, It is granted that the attributes and effects that are there ascribed unto the word of God may, in several senses, be ap- plied to the one and the other of the things mentioned. That they are properly ascribed unto the eternal Son of God shall be after- wards declared. That in some sense also they may be applied unto the written word, other places of the Scripture, where things of the same nature are ascribed unto it, do manifest. Isa. xlix. 2; Ps. xlv. 5, ey. 19, evil. 20, exlvii, 15, 18; Isa. x]. 8, lv. 11, are cited by Grotius to this purpose, whereof yet more do clearly confirm the assertion. For though the word of God be mentioned in them, yet in some of the places the essential Word of God, in most of them his providential word, the word of his power, is unquestionably intended. But see Hos. vi. 5; 1 Cor. xiv. 24, 25.
Thirdly, It must be acknowledged, that if the things here men- tioned be ascribed unto the written word, yet they do not primarily and absolutely belong unto it upon its own account, but by virtue of its relation unto Jesus Christ, whose word it is, and by reason of the power and efficacy that is by him communicated unto it. And on the other hand, if it be the Son, or the eternal Word of God, that is here intended, it will be granted that the things here ascribed unto him are such as for the most part he effects by his word in and upon the hearts and consciences of men. Hence the difference that is between the various interpretations mentioned in the issue concurs in the same things, though the subject primarily spoken of be variously apprehended. Now that this is the word of God’s will, his enun- ciative word, his word written, spoken, preached, is by very many contended and pleaded on the ensuing reasons:—