The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 180

HOMILETICS. Ver. 6.-The signi.fir,a,ncy of the names of Cfhrist. Five names of the Redeemer e.re here declared by lsaiah, in addition to the name given him in eh. vii.-viii., viz. Immanuel. Names of Christ e.re always worthy of the deepest and most attentive consideration, for each reveals some portion of his nature, each exhibits some aspect of him, so to speak, which is distinct from other aspects; and it is only by meditating upon all, that we approximate to a full and complete conception of his manifold excellences. Very specially worthy of consideration are the five names here put forth, which may be viewed either separately or in their connection. And first separately- !. THE NAME OF "WoNDERFUL." 1. Wonderful is the Son in his eternal relation to the Almighty Father, an unchanging relation of mutual love and tenderness, differenced by the fact of derivation, and the sense on the one hand of bestowal, and on the other of acceptance and dependence. Wonderful, wholly transcending our utmost reach of thought, is that eternity of pre-existence which he enjoyed with the Father and the Holy Spirit, not only before the world was, but before it had pleased the Divine Nature to bring into existence any other being besides itself. 2. Wonderful, again, is he in that repeated act of creation, so clearly assigned to him (John i. 31 ; Heh. i. 2), whereby he brought out of nothing (Heb. xi. 3) the entire existing universe- angels and archangels, principalities and powers, cherubim and seraphim; matter arranged and unarranged; sun, moon, stars, planets, satellites, nebulie; man, animals; -all of them "the work of his hands," created by him out of non-existence. 3. Even more wonderful is he in his dealings with the children of men-in his patience with them, his regard for them, his mediatorial office towards them, his inward revelation of himself to them, his constant presence with them, his sacramental communication of himself ta them, all unworthy as they are. 4. Wonderful is he in his life on earth, which even unbelievers cannot but admire; wonderful in his triumph over death and the grave; wonderful in his ascension into heaven in the sight of men ; wonderful in his appearances to St. Paul and St. Stephen ; wonderful in the might wherewith he still sustains his Church, so that even the very " gates of hell" cannot prevail against it. II. THE NAME OF "CouNSELLOR." As the "Logos," or" Reason," no less than the ",vord" of God, the Son was identified by the ancient Fathers with the "Wisdom" of the Book of Proverbs, of whom it is said, "I Wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge. . . . Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding. . . . 'l'he Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.... When he appointed the fom,dations of the earth, then I was by him, as one brought up with him; and I was Jaiiy his delight, rejoicing always before him" (Prov. viii. 12-30). He was thus, in some sort, the Counsellor of the Triune Synod which presided over the world and dire.cted all its affairs. But, further, he was the Counsellor of man. The Logos was "tho irue Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John i. !:l). Our natural reason and conscience come from him, for he has implanted them in us, to counsel us aright. All revealed light is also from him, for he is the Word and the Truth. He counsels us from within, by the inward monitor who tells us what is right; he counsels us from without, by his apostles, his evangelists, his Church, his living ministers. Do we lack wi~dom generally? let llB uk of him, and he will pour light  J i-0 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHE1.' ISAIAH. [ OR, IX, 1.--21,