DISSERTATION VII. 381 to his mediatorial office, than to his godhead, so Imust declare, I am much inclined to that sentiment. Let it be also observed that I use the name Word in this dissertation in his divinest sense, viz. to signify a power in the divine nature as, I think, it is several times used in scripture, and not in that inferior sense, for the soul of the Messiah, as it seems to have been used by some Jewish writers, and, perhaps, with some countenance from scripture also. Though we must not imagine, that the Word. and Spirit in the divine nature are exactly the same, as mind and will, or in- telligence and power, in a created spirit, yet this is not a mere arbitrary illustration, or a similitude invented by fancy, for there seems to be a reasonable and sufficient foundation for it in the sacred writings ; this will appear if we consider what follows : The second person in the Trinity is supposed by learned writers to be represented in several places in scripture under the name of divine wisdom, or understanding, and that not only in that glorious chapter ; Prov. viii. whereit is generally agreed to havethis sense, but also in the ninth chapter, where f° Wisdom . built her house, sends forth her maidens, and cried' to the sim- ple, turn in hither." There are also other texts applied by some interpreters to Christ, or the divineWord, viz. Jer. x. 12. and li. 15. and Prov. iii. 19, 20. where God is said to form or estab- lish the world by his understanding or wisdom, as in other places, " God created all things by his Word ;" John i. 3. or by Jesus Christ ; Eph. iii. 9. And our Saviour himself is supposed to call himself the wisdom of God, referring to his pre-existent state ; Luke xi. 49. " Therefore said the wisdom of God, I wilt sendprophets, &c. And again, referring to his incarnate state; Luke vii. 34, 35. " The Son ofman came eating and drinking, and ye say, behold a glutton and a wine-bibber, &c. But wisdom is justified of all her children." Let it be noted too, that the ancient Jews represented the word of God, and the wisdom of God, in such a personal man- ner, as appears in the books of Ecclesiasticus and Wisdom, in the Apocrypha, which some divines have applied tothe Messiah. See more in the discourse on the Logos. It is manifest also, that the Spirit of God is represented as a divine active power. Luke i. 35. " The Spirit of God shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee." And our Saviour is said to be anointed with the Spirit, winch is explained ; Acts x. 38. " Jesus was anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power." And whereas in some texts it is said, Christ wrought his miracles by the Spirit of God.; in other places it is called the finger of God. And Luke v_ 17. when Christ wrought miraculous cures, it is said the power of the Lord was present to heal. So the apostle preached ; 1 Cor. ii.
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