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logos of Plato , as well as that of the Gnostics , and might intend , in opposition to them , to speak of the true logos , viz . that of the Scriptures . " A
comparative estimate of these various contributions will probably be furnished in the Synopsis of that accomplished critic , who seems abundantly qualified , in his Transatlantic retreat , to illuminate the old world from the
rising eminence of the new . In the warfare of opinions , the arena is open to all who are willing to contend in the amphitheatre , according to the
laws of honour and equity , animated by the love of truth , whose " fair guerdon" is the prize of victory : even Teucer , a simple archer of old , advanced with his bow to the front of
battle , with impunity , behind the shield of Ajax : Errare potest : litigiosus esse non mlt . Grotius and Gilbert Wakefield , in tlieir annotations on the exordium of John , supply abundance of authorities to ascertain the acceptation of Logos in the Hebrew Scriptures , in the writings of the Pagan Philosophers , and of the Christian Fathers . The
observation of Lactantius is appropriate and conclusive in this respect : " The Greeks use the term logos more aptly than we can use the term word or
discourse ; because their logos signifies both discourse and reason ; since it is both the voice and wisdom of God . " " Apollo , " says Suidas , " is Jupiter ' prophet , and delivers to men the oracles which he receives from his Father . " YiarpQc ; itpo ^ TYjq * $ - * Ao £ * a £ Aio ^ . AESCHYLUS IER .
Qusc Phasbo Pater ommpotens—Praedixit , &c . —JEn . iii . It is well known that the Hebrew idiom was prone to adopt the term denoting the substance , instead of that which expresses the quality inherent la any object . The Evangelist , agreeably to this figure of speech ,
personifies the Logos of the Supreme —© £ o $ vjvo \ oyo <; , The Logos was God , instead of , It was divine , the Sreiog Xoyoq of Grecian philosophy . The same Evangelist writes " XAvzZ ^ ol 6 ( daoq , instead of rxvEVjArOLTiKOi ; , ( j ! o ( l is a spirit , or rather , without a figure , spiritual : God is love , instead of lovely : God is light , instead of luminous . lli / tvfAoc i ^ iv ^
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AXrjOeia . Likewise in a Greek epi , gram , 'EXm ^ «/ . ocvOpwnoKri ( jlovvj Seoq « o " 6 X ^ ** ££ - *]/—Hope in mankind , the only gracious God . The concrete , or attribute , is thus personified by the name of the substantive or being to whom it belongs . By this figure of metonymy , the heart is placed for the affections which it contains . Homer
is said to delight in the use of the metaphor , in order to give energy and animation to his poetic diction . ( Arist . Rhetoric . ) The poet describes Iris as the messenger of Jove , and as a God :
Kp oyt&y Ev vt ( f > £ i ' rypt £ e re $ a $ fxspOTrcov ay 6 $ u « ijroy . II . xi .
When he brings Over tlie earth a cloud , will therein set His triple-coloured bow , whereon to look , And call to mind his covenant . Par . Lost , B . ii . Iris is derived from a Greek word signifying to speak . In the book of Revelation , the first verse of the tenth chapter contains a magnificent
representation of an angel descending from heaven , clothed in a cloud , and a rainbow upon his head . These analogies , ( in the Jewish Scriptures and the Greek literature . ") thouerh thev satisfy Greek literature , ) though they satisfy
not the judgment , amuse the fancy , in tracing the kindred imagery and mythology of the ancients . The Targums or Chaldee Paraphrasts frequently substitute the Word of Jehovah for
the Hebrew Jehovah . That of Onkelos on Gen . xxviii . 21 , has , " the word of Jehovah shall be ray God /' The Minerva of Athens was Wisdom personified— * " Paterno edita vertice Pallas . Proximos illi tamen occupavlt Pallas honores . ( Hor . Carm . ) Orta autem simul est cum mente divina
quamobrem lex vera- —recta est ratio summi Jovis . ( Cicero de legibus . ) This logos , the Evangelist observes , " tabernacled in us , " or in human nature , ( see Jos . Mede ' s Works , ) of which he partook , who is termed the express image or character of the Divine perfection ; and who was rendered unto us Wisdom , as we have the mind of Christ . Faith cometh by hearing the word of God : the voice is the principal vehicle of intelligence : vox consoimraenti . A voice from heaven announced the advent of Messiah . In reading Ben David ' s minute re-
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408 Mr . Evans on the Proem of John * s GospeL
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1826, page 408, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2550/page/28/
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