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§. 31. Of these phrases, He saith, Saith the Lord.
THat which the Apostle affirmed in these generall words, finding fault with them, he proveth by a divine testimony, which he first hinteth in this phrase, He saith, and then largely expresseth in the very words of Scripture.
Of this indefinite phrase, he saith, see v. 5. §. 15. and Chap. 13. v. 5. §. 69. There are indeed two severall Greek words, whereof a 1.1 one is used in the fifth verse, and b 1.2 another in this, yet both of them do signifie the same thing; and are used in the* 1.3 same sense, both there and here: even as much as this usuall propheticall phrase, Thus saith the Lord. There is also a third verb used in the same sense and translated, said, Heb. 1. 13. and 4. 3. and 10. 5. and 13. 5.
Besides this indefinite assertion of the Author of the testimony following, he is in the testimony it self three severall times (as the Apostle hath quoted it) yea four times (as the Prophet sets it down, Ier. 31. 31, 32, 33, 34.) expresly named under this phrase, saith the Lord. Yea, in that Chapter out of which this testimony is taken, he is twenty times named. Three times is this phrase, saith the Lord, used, Zec. 1. 3.
Pen-men of holy Scripture were diligent and frequent in expressing the primary and principall Author of what they delivered, or wrote, upon these and other like gr•…•…unds.
- 1. To shew their warrant, that they might not be thought to speak of themselves, Ier. 26. 15.
- 2. To put the glory of being Authors thereof, from themselves, Dan. 2. 28.
- 3. To gain the greater authority to what they delivered, Mic. 4. 4.
- 4. To rouse up peoples attention to hearken more diligently thereto, Ier. 13. 15.
- 5. To move people to give more credence thereunto, Exod. 19. 9.
- 6. To work in people the greater reverence to the word delivered, 2 Chro. 20, 15, 18.