Considering these two significations of the WORD OF GOD, as it is taken in Scripture, it is manifest in this latter sense, where it is taken for the doctrine of Christian religion, that the whole Scripture is the word of God: but in the former sense, not so. For example, though these words, _I am the Lord thy God, &c._ to the end of the Ten Commandments, were spoken by God to Moses; yet the preface, _God spake these words and said_, is to be understood for the words of him that wrote the holy history. The _word of God_, as it is taken for that which he hath spoken, is understood sometimes _properly_, sometimes _metaphorically_. _Properly_, as the words he hath spoken to his prophets: _metaphorically_, for his wisdom, power, and eternal decree, in making the world; in which sense, those fiats, _Let there be light_, _Let there be a firmament_, _Let us make man, &c._ (_Gen._ i.) are the word of God. And in the same sense it is said (_John_ i. 3) _All things were made by it, and without it was nothing made that was made_: and (_Heb._ i. 3) _He upholdeth all things by the word of his power_; that is, by the power of his word; that is, by his power: and (_Heb._ xi. 3) _The worlds were framed by the word of God_; and many other places to the same sense: as also amongst the Latins, the name of _fate_, which signified properly _the word spoken_, is taken in the same sense. [Sidenote: Secondly, for the effect of his word.] Secondly, for the effect of his word; that is to say, for the thing itself, which by his word is affirmed, commanded, threatened, or promised; as (_Psalm_ cv. 19) where Joseph is said to have been kept in prison, _till his word was come_; that is, till that was come to pass which he had foretold to Pharaoh’s butler (_Gen._ xl. 13) concerning his being restored to his office: for there, by _his word was come_, is meant, the thing itself was come to pass. So also (_1 Kings_ xviii. 36) Elijah saith to God, _I have done all these thy words_, instead of _I have done all these things at thy word_, or commandment; and (_Jer._ xvii. 15) _Where is the word of the Lord_, is put for, _Where is the evil he threatened_. And (_Ezek._ xii. 28) _There shall none of my words be prolonged any more_: by _words_ are understood those _things_, which God promised to his people. And in the New Testament (_Matth._ xxiv. 35) _heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away_; that is, there is nothing that I have promised or foretold, that shall not come to pass. And in this sense it is, that St. John the Evangelist, and, I think, St. John only, calleth our Saviour himself as in the flesh _the word of God_, as (_John_ i. 14) _the word was made flesh_; that is to say, the word, or promise that Christ should come into the world; _who in the beginning was with God_; that is to say, it was in the purpose of God the Father, to send God the Son into the world, to enlighten men in the way of eternal life; but it was not till then put