This is an ilustrious prophecy of the incarnation of Christ, with an enumeration of those characters in which he stands most nearly related to mankind as their saviour; and of others by which his infinite majesty and Godhead are shown. He shall appear as a child, born of a woman, born as a Jew, under the law, but not in the way of ordinary generation. He is a Son given-the human nature, in which the fullness of the Godhead was to dwell, being produced by the creative energy of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin. See Matt. i. 20, 21, 23, 25, and Luke i. 35, and chap. vii. 14, and the notes on those passages. As being God manifested in the flesh, he was wonderful in his conception, birth, preaching, miracles, sufferings, death, resurrection, and ascension; wonderful in his person, and wonderful in his working. He is the Counsellor that expounds the law; shows its origin, nature, and claims; instructs, pleads for the guilty; and ever appears in the presence of God for men. He is the mighty God; God essentially and efficiently prevailing against his enemies, and destroying ours. He is the Father of eternity; the Origin of all by ing, and the Cause of the existence, and particularly the Father, of the spirits of all flesh. The Prince of peace-not only the Author of peace, and the Dispenser of peace, but also he that rules by peace, whose rule tends always to perfection, and produces prosperity. Of the increase of his government-this Prince has a government, for he has all power both in heaven and in earth: and his government increases, and is daily more and more extended, and will continue till all things are put under his feet. His kingdom is ordered-every act of government regulated according to wisdom and goodness; is established so securely as not to be overthrown; and administered in judgment and justice, so as to manifest his wisdom, righteousness, goodness, and truth. Reader, such is that Jesus who came into the world to save sinners! Trust in HIM! Chap. ix. 8-chap. x. 4. This whole passage reduced to its proper and entire form, and healed of the dislocation which it suffers by the absurd division of the chapters, makes a distinct prophecy, and a just poem, remarkable for the regularity of its disposition and the elegance of its plan. It has no relation to the preceding or following prophecy; though the parts, violently torn asunder, have been, on the one side and the other, patched on to them. Those relate principally to the kingdom of Judah, this is addressed exclusively to the kingdom of Israel. The subject of it is a denunciation of vengeance awaiting their crimes. It is divided into four parts, each threatening the particular punishment of some grievous offense-of their pride, of their perseverance in their vices, of their impiety, and of their injustice. To which is added a general denunciation of a farther reserve of Divine wrath, contained in a distich, before used by the prophet on a like occasion, chap. v. 25, and here repeated after each part. This makes the intercalary verse of the poem; or, as we call it, the burden of the song.

"Post hoc comma (cap. ix. 4) interponitur spatium unius lineae, in Cod. 2 et 3: idemque observatur in 245. in quo nullum est spatium ad finem capitis ix." Kennicott, Var. Lect.

"After this clause (ver. 4) is interposed the space of one line in Cod. 2 and 3. The same is likewise observed in Cod. 245, in which no space exists at the end of ver."

Is. 9:1-7 The Syrians and Assyrians first ravaged the countries her mentioned, and that region was first favoured by the preaching of Christ. Those that want the gospel, walk in darkness, and in the utmos danger. But when the gospel comes to any place, to any soul, ligh comes. Let us earnestly pray that it may shine into our hearts, an make us wise unto salvation. The gospel brings joy with it. Those wh would have joy, must expect to go through hard work, as the husbandman before he has the joy of harvest; and hard conflict, as the soldier before he divides the spoil. The Jews were delivered from the yoke of many oppressors; this was a shadow of the believer's deliverance from the yoke of Satan. The cleansing the souls of believers from the powe and pollution of sin, would be by the influence of the Holy Spirit, a purifying fire. These great things for the church, shall be done by the Messiah, Emmanuel. The Child is born; it was certain; and the church before Christ came in the flesh, benefitted by his undertaking. It is prophecy of him and of his kingdom, which those that waited for the Consolation of Israel read with pleasure. This Child was born for the benefit of us men, of us sinners, of all believers, from the beginnin to the end of the world. Justly is he called Wonderful, for he is bot God and man. His love is the wonder of angels and glorified saints. He is the Counsellor, for he knew the counsels of God from eternity; an he gives counsel to men, in which he consults our welfare. He is the Wonderful Counsellor; none teaches like him. He is God, the mighty One Such is the work of the Mediator, that no less power than that of the mighty God could bring it to pass. He is God, one with the Father. A the Prince of Peace, he reconciles us to God; he is the Giver of peac in the heart and conscience; and when his kingdom is fully established men shall learn war no more. The government shall be upon him; he shal bear the burden of it. Glorious things are spoken of Christ' government. There is no end to the increase of its peace, for the happiness of its subjects shall last for ever. The exact agreement of this prophecy with the doctrine of the New Testament, shows that Jewis prophets and Christian teachers had the same view of the person an salvation of the Messiah. To what earthly king or kingdom can thes words apply? Give then, O Lord, to thy people to know thee by ever endearing name, and in every glorious character. Give increase of grac in every heart of thy redeemed upon earth.

Is. 9:8-21 Those are ripening apace for ruin, whose hearts ar unhumbled under humbling providences. For that which God designs, i smiting us, is, to turn us to himself; and if this point be not gaine by lesser judgments, greater may be expected. The leaders of the people misled them. We have reason to be afraid of those that speak well of us, when we do ill. Wickedness was universal, all were infected with it. They shall be in trouble, and see no way out; and when men's way displease the Lord, he makes even their friends to be at war with them God would take away those they thought to have help from. Their ruler were the head. Their false prophets were the tail and the rush, the most despicable. In these civil contests, men preyed on near relation who were as their own flesh. The people turn not to Him who smite them, therefore he continues to smite: for when God judges, he wil overcome; and the proudest, stoutest sinner shall either bend or break __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew