DISSERTATION IV. 233 SECT. IILThe Sentiments of the ancient Jews concerning the Logos, viz. the Apochryphal Writers, the Tardumists, and Philo the Jew: Since Logos; or the Word, is a name frequently given to our .blessed Savióur, by the sacred writers of the New Testa- ment; since he is also called the Son of God frequently: Let us therefore enquire a little what sentiments the ancient Jews had of this matter, and what they meant by the Logos ; and in. what sense-he is the Son of God. The books of the Old Tes- tament speak of the Son of God. Ps. ii. 7. Thou art my Son; Ps. lxxxix. 27. I will make him my first-born. Prov. xxx. 4. What is his name, or what is his Son's naine? They speak also of the word and wisdom of God, which the ancient Christian fathers understood as denoting Christ ; Prov. viii. where he is called wisdom, has been cited already. See Ps. xxxiii. 6. where the heavens were nnade by the word of God. Ps. cvii. 20. God sent forth his word and healed the people, Life. Which word the seventy Jewish interpreters call the loges. Upon this account the Jewish writers of the apocryphal books, speak of the word and wisdom of God in thesame man- ner ; Ec. i. 1, 4, 5, 9, 10. " all wisdom cometh from the Lord, and is with him for ever. Wisdom hath been created before all Things : lie poured her out upon all his works. The word of God in the highest, is the fountain of wisdom. Mrs coToss asy8. ors o o-on: Bywhich, it is probable, the author does not mean the written word, but the logos, 'or word that dwells on high. Verse 10. " She is with all flesh according to his gift." Now these expressions are very much a-kin to the beginning of St. John's gospel, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word -was wills God. All things were created by him. This is the 'light that lighteth everyman who cometh into the world. So in the book of Wisdom, chapter xvi. 12. " It was neither herb, nor mollifying plaister, that restored them to health ; but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things :" Só Wisdom xviii. 15, 16, 17. "Thy almighty word* leaped down from heaven, out of thy royal throne, as a fierce man of war, into the midst of a land of destruction, and brought thy unfeigned command- ment as a sharp sword, and standing up filled up all things with death ; and it touched the heaven, but it stood upon the earth." Wisdom ix. 1. " O God of my fathers, who hast made all things with thy word." Verse 4. " Wisdom sitteth by thy throne." And chapter vii. 21, &c. " Wisdom iscalled the breath of the power of God; a pure influence flowing from the glory of the This almighty word nay& watloSuraµe,, may seem the essential divine word, or maybe referred to the glorious archangel called Logos, armedwith el- mightiness by the indwelling godhead, that is, the angel of the covenant, who -is also Jehovah, the true God. Of sthich-hereafter more particularly,
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