by Thomas Boston
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6
THESE words bear a joyful intimation or declaration of a great privilege afforded to the children of men; in which the prophet himself shares as one of them, and so is the more feelingly touched with it; and therefore God has employed men to preach Christ to men, that the glad tidings may be brought by such as have equal need of and interest in them with themselves. "For unto us a child is born," &c.
The words are thus plainly connected with the preceding; for the discovery of which we must look back to ver. 2: where the prophet speaks of the light of the gospel breaking up in a dark world by Jesus Christ, as is clear from Matth. 4:12–16. See the case of sinners before Christ appears to them; they are all in darkness, in a blind, uncomfortable, and dangerous condition. (1.) Some are walking in that darkness, they are bestirring themselves for happiness, and to mend their condition, but they see not their way. Such were the Jews, and all formalists. (2.) Some sitting in that darkness, thickest darkness, pining away in their sin, and not aiming to mend their condition, but like condemned malefactors in a dungeon. Such were the Gentiles, and all profane, carnal persons, having no view but to this world's happiness.
Christ coming unto them, their darkness is dispelled. They that walk, see light which they so much wanted; it breaks up to them in their way. Those that sit, it shines in on them, makes its way into their dungeon. Both see where they are, and how to get their condition mended, how hopeless soever it was.
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Table of Contents
THE BIRTH, GIFT, GOVERNMENT, AND GLORIOUS NAMES OF JESUS CHRIST, AS SAVIOUR OF SINNERS
CHRIST PRESENTED TO MANKIND SINNERS
CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, GIFTED TO SINNERS
THE GOVERNMENT ON CHRIST'S SHOULDER
CHRIST'S NAME ABOVE EVERY NAME
CHRIST'S NAME WONDERFUL
CHRIST THE COUNSELLOR
CHRIST THE MIGHTY GOD
CHRIST THE EVERLASTING FATHER
CHRIST THE PRINCE OF PEACE