"Counsellor, The mighty God." " Imo cotisultator Dei fortis ; id est, qui in omnibus negotiis consilia a Deo poscet, per Prophetas sci- licet, ut jam sequetur;" — "Yea, 'he who asketh counsel of the mighty God;' that is, who in all his affairs asks counsel of God, namely, by the prophets."
And is not this boldness thus to correct the text, " Coimsellor, The mighty God," "Yea, he who asketh counsel of the mighty God?" What colour, what pretence, what reason or plea, may be used for this perverting the words of the text, our annotator not in the least intimates.
The words are evidently belonging to the same person, equally parts of that name whereby he is to be called ; and the casting of them, without any cause, into this construction, in a matter of this importance (because it is to be said), is intolerable boldness. It is, not without great probability of truth, pleaded by some, that the first two words should go together, " The wonderful Counsellor," as those that follow do ; — not that '<.•??', " admirabilis," is an epithet, or an adjective, it being a substantive, and signifying a wonder or a miracle ; but that the weight of what is said being laid much upon the force of " Counsellor," setting out the infinite wisdom of Christ, in all his ways, purposes, and counsels concerning his church, this other term seems to be suited to the setting forth thereof. But this corruption of the text is the more intolerable in our annotator, be- cause, in the close of his observations on this place, he confesses that all the things here mentioned have a signification in Christ, much more sublime and plain than that which he hath insisted on ; so that had he been any friend to the deity of Christ he would not have endeavoured to have robbed him of his proper name, " The mighty God," in this place. But this was necessary, that the rabbinical ac- commodation of this place to Hezekiah might be retained.
That this place, then, is spoken of Christ we have evinced, nor can it be waived without open perverting of the words; and he is here called " The mighty God," as was before declared.
Grotius proceeds to apply the residue of this glorious name to Hezekiah : " The everlasting Father," or, as it is in the Vulgar Latin, " Pater futuri secuh." " In Hebrteo non est futuri. Pater seculi est qui multos post se relicturus sit posteros, et in longum tempus ;" — "In
320 VINDICI^ EVANGELIC.E.
the Hebrew the word future is not; the 'father of the age' is be who leaves many of his posterity behind him, and that for a long time."
About the Vulgar Latin translation we do not contend. Of the meaning and use of the word o?)]} I have spoken already. When it is applied to God, it signifies " eternity." But the word here is not I^^iy/ but ^^, properly "eternity/' when applied to God: Ps. x. 16, *' The Lord is King "^Vl o?)]}^" — "seculi et seternitatis, for ever and ever." Instances might be multiplied to this purpose. That this should be, " Hezekiah shall leave many children, and that for a long season," credat Apella. What sons he left, besides one, and him a wicked one for the most part of his days, is uncertain. Within one hundred and thirty years, or thereabout, his whole posterity was carried captive. How exceedingly unsuited this appellation is to him is evident. " The Father of eternity ;" that is, one that leaves a son behind him, and a possibility for his posterity to continue in the condition wherein he was for one hundred and thirty years ! Many such everlasting fathers may we find out. What in all this is peculiar to Hezekiah, that this should so emphatically be said to be his name?
The next is, " Princeps Pacis;" — " The Prince of Peace." " Prin- ceps pacificus, et in pace victurus f — " A peaceable prince, and one that should live in peace."
L On how much better, more noble and glorious account this title belongs to Christ, is known. 2. The Prince of Peace is not onl}^ a peaceable prince, but the author, giver, procurer, establisher of peace. 3. Neither did Hezekiah reign in peace all his days. His kingdom was invaded, his fenced cities taken, and himself and chief city de- livered by a miraculous slaughter of his enemies.
" Of the increase of his government, and of peace no end;" which he reads according to the Vulgar Latin, " Multiplicabitur ejus im- perium, et pacis ejus non erit finis." Literally, "For the multiplying of his kingdom, and of peace no end." As to the first part, his ex- position is, " Id est, durabit per annos 29 ;" — " His kingdom should continue for twenty -nine years." Who would believe such gross darkness should cover the face of so learned a man? " Of the in- crease of his government there shall be no end ;" that is, he shall reign nine and twenty years! This might almost twice as properly be spoken of his son Manasseh, who reigned fifty-five.
And now let him that hath a mind to feed on such husks as these go on with his annotations in this place; I am weary of considering such trash. And let the pious reader tremble at the righteous judg- ment of God, giving up men trusting to their own learning and abili- ties, refusing to captivate their hearts to the obedience of the truth, to such foolish and childish imaginations, as men of common sense must needs abhor.