Now the appellation here given to the Scriptures is deserving of particular attention. They are called, " the word of God," and " the sword of the Spirit."
They are called with great propriety, " the word of God ;" first, because they were inspired by him. They were indeed written by men ; but men were only the agents and instruments that God made use of : they wrote only what God by his Spirit dictated to them : so that, in reality, the whole Scripture was as much written by the finger of God, as the laws were, which he inscribed on two tables of stone, and delivered to his servant Moses. And to this the Scriptures themselves bear witness ; for in them it is said, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God6;" and again, " Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost f."
But they are called the word of God, not merely as being inspired by him, but also as being a revelation of his mind and will to man. In them his eternal counsels are opened to the world. In them he has declared in what way he will be reconciled to his offending creatures. In them he has displayed all the riches of his grace ; and exhibited all his perfec- tions as united and glorified in the person of Christ. In short, whatever could lead to the establishment of truth, or the refutation of error g, to the correc- tion of sin, or the promotion of righteousness, all is contained in that inspired volume, in which there is nothing superfluous, nothing defective : which there- fore may be wholly, and exclusively, called, " the word of God."
But there is yet another, and a very important, ground of this appellation, namely, that the Scrip- tures are the voice of God to every individual of man- kind. It is thought by some, that the Scriptures are a mere record of transactions that passed many hundred years ago ; and that, however true and authentic they may be, they are no otherwise interest- ing to us, than as matters of curiosity and pleasing
e 2 Tim. iii. 1G. '2 Pet. i. 21.
8 2 Tim. iii. 16. Dpoc eXeyxpv. VOL. XVII. K K