Such was the beginning of that aeries of Divine Writings or dictations, which collectively are called the "Word of God." Those Divine communications were made at different times, through a period of more than a thousand years; the first at Sinai, through Moses,—according to the common chronology about B.C. 1491, and the last through the prophet Malachi, about B.C. 420. That God truly spake or dictated those Writings, and that the prophets, whose names they bear, were merely the instruments or penmen through whom they were written, is evidenced by the continual declarations of the writers themselves. Observe, for instance, the prophecy of Jeremiah. Almost every chapter opens with the words, "The Word of the Lord came unto me, saying," or, "Thus saith the Lord," or, "The Word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,"—thus continually conveying the idea that he spoke by the direct Divine dictation,—that he uttered the very words of Jehovah Himself. And at length we find this declaration, showing that he wrote also by express Divine command: "This word came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee, &c."[1] So, in the prophecy of Ezekiel, we find similar language perpetually used. For instance, after stating the circumstances of time and place, the Book opens with the words, "The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest,—and the hand of the Lord was there upon him." Then, the second chapter commences with the words, "8on of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee." The third chapter begins, "Moreover, he said unto
- ↑ Jeremiah xxxvi. 1, 2.
