DISSERTATION IV. 279 to favour this sense: For the same things which are attributed to logos in some scriptures, are in other places ascribed to pnµa : Now rpm always signifies word. II. Because the same term logos is used by the Jewish writers to translate their memra, which properly and literally signifies a word, and which is much used in their theological writings. If weenquire into the origin of it, perhaps it may be this, viz. Moses relates the work of each clay in the creation, to be performed by God's speaking; Gen. i. And God said, This might give them the first hint or notion of the word, or memra, as a medium of God's manifestations and operations. And, per- haps it might be thus designed by theSpirit of God, since it ap- pears that succeeding inspired writers copied after Moses. Ps. xxxiii. 6. By the word of the Lord were theheavens made. Ps. cxlviii. 5. lie commanded, and they were created. Ps. cxlvii. 15, 18, &c. He sendeth forth his word, and melteth the ice. Ps. cv. 19. The wordof the Lord came and tried Joseph. And the frequent mention of the word of the Lord in the Old Testa- ment, which came to the patriarchs and prophets, might give the Jews further occasion to speak of the " memra," or word. Sueh ancient divine hints probably introduced this term so often into their theology, and by that means into the writings of the New Testament. III. Another reason why we interpret logos, the Word, is because this has been the most frequent translation of logos in most places, by the writers of the christian church, in all ages; which has something of weight in it, where we can see no suffi- cient ground to change. IV. Because when logos is translated word, or speech, it includes reason I But reason does not include word. V. The term word is more adapted to signify both the hu- man and divine natures of Christ; whereas reason, or wisdom, seems rather to refer chiefly to his divine nature, as will appear in the following parts of this discourse. And, indeed, where the divine nature alone is intended, I cannot think it amiss, in some cases,.to imitate some of the fathers, and former writers, and to translate it reason, or wisdom ; as in other cases it should be construed the Word. But let us more particularly consider the import of the term logos, when it signifies a word, and the reasons of the applicationof it to Christ, Logos, or word, when used inhuman affairs, is a declara, tion of our mind or will; and when it is taken for a word of command from a superior, it becomes also a medium of opera- tion as well as manifestation. And so when it isused in a divine sense, it primarily and properly denotes some declaration of the mind or will of God ; but if it be put for a word of divine effica-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=