striking and emblematical figures. He saw and determined the time of the rise of a new empire, the government of which is given to the Son of Man, which was to cover the whole earth, and flourish through eternal ages. The evidence of this prophecy was bright. The seventy weeks of Daniel were now expiring; the expectations of the Jews were big. John the Baptist appeared, as the morning star, the harbinger of the day-spring from on high, and ushered in the rising of the Sun of Righteousness. It should not diminish our veneration for this wondrous event, that it was so little regarded by men on earth. Principalities and powers in heavenly places were attentive spectators of it, and went to proclaim it, before-hand, with songs of triumph and of praise.

The manner of our Lord's birth was also Wonderful. This we have had occasion to observe, when illustrating the first branch of the text. The circumstances which more immediately preceded and accompanied this event were Wonderful. The spirit of prophecy, which had been silent for ages, was again heard: Elizabeth and Mary, Zacharias and Simeon, uttered predictions concerning it. The heavenly messengers, who had been employed in carrying on the work of redemption, from the fall to the time when the infant Saviour was ushered into light, sang their heavenly hallelujahs-Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, and good will towards men. Some of the wisest of the Gentile world came from afar, to worship him who was to bring salvation to the Gentiles, as well as to the

Jews. He that led Israel by a pillar of fire, conducted these devout pilgrims, by a miraculous star, to Bethlehem, where it hovered over the humble roof that sheltered the heavenly guest.

3. Jesus was also Wonderful in his life. At his baptism, the Holy Ghost descended upon him in a visible shape, attended with a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased and what was the whole of his public ministry, but one continued train of wonders? He gave sight to the blind, and hearing to the deaf: he made the lame man to leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb to sing. The winds and storms were obedient to his word, and death and the grave had no power over those whom he wished to set free. He walked on the sea, and the waves supported him. But time would fail me to relate the wonders of his life.

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4. He was also Wonderful in his death. had not indeed a crowd of hired mourners, as was usual in those days, to bewail him; but the frame of nature solemnized the death of its Author. If men did not tear their garments, the rocks rent their very bowels. If the inhabitants of the earth were unmoved, the earth was more feeling than they. It felt, and trembled. How would the ruler of the darkness of this world triumph in the seeming success of his schemes! He prevailed on one disciple to betray his Lord, on another to deny him, on the Jews to accuse him, and on the Roman governor to put him to death. But Jesus, on the very cross, was more than conqueror over the great

enemy of salvation. It was then that he triumphed over principalities and powers, and made a shew of them openly.

5. He was wonderful in his rising from the grave, and in his ascension to heaven. An angel, whose countenance was like lightning, and raiment white as snow, descended to roll away the stone from his sepulchre: for fear of him, the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And as to the ascension of Christ, we are told, that He led his disciples out as far as Bethany, and lift up his hands, and blessed them; and while he blessed them, he was parted from them: and, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. And behold two men stood by them, in white apparel, which also said, Ye men of Gallilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. God, says the psalmist, is gone up with a shout; the Lord, with the voice of a trumpet. The twenty thousand chariots of God, even thousands of angels, are represented in a Psalm (part of which is applied by the apostle to this wonderful event) as composing the Redeemer's triumphal procession, when he ascended on high, leading captivity captive.

V. The next title which the Redeemer has, is that of COUNSELLOR.

Some join the former title and this together, and read it thus-Wonderful Counsellor, or Wonder

ful in counsel; a title which is ascribed to God, who, in chapter xxviii. 29. of this book, is said to be Wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working but, as our Saviour in what immediately follows is called the Mighty God, we prefer the common reading. And he is justly called Counsellor, as he is fully instructed in the counsels of God the Father for he lay in his bosom from eternity; and as the execution of the plans of the divine administration is committed to him, he cannot but be well acquainted with them. Nay, they were all formed and adjusted with his approbation and consent. The counsel of peace, says the prophet Zechariah, is between them both—that is, between God the Father and God the Son, as the context sufficiently shews. Besides, our Lord, by his office and appointment, is the great Counsellor or Prophet of the church. He revealed the will of God to men, and gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of his mystical body.

VI. He is also THE MIGHTY GOD. The same expression is used in chapter x. 21. concerning Jehovah, the God of Israel. The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the Mighty God. Christ is likewise called the Almighty, Revelation i. 8.-I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. All

the perfections of the Mighty God are ascribed to the Redeemer in scripture.

1. He is eternal. In the prophecy of Micah we have the following remarkable words concerning him:-But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me, that is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting-or, as it might be rendered, from the days of eternity.

2. He is unchangeable. Jesus Christ, says the author of the epistle to the Hebrews, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.

3. He is almighty. He is frequently in the New Testament represented as the Creator of all things, and as upholding them by the word of his power. In a text already mentioned, Revelation i. 8. he is called Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the Almighty: and in Hebrews i. 8. the apostle applies these words of the psalmist to our blessed Lord-Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. And thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands: they shall perish, but thou remainest, and they shall wax old as doth a garment, and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. But in chapter xliv. 24. of this same prophecy of Isaiah, Jehovah the God of Israel says I am the Lord, that maketh all things;