ful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, Father of Eternity, and Prince of Peace. (4.) His kingdom is everlasting and univei'sal. (5.) The consequences of his \dvent and dominion are such as flow only from the dominion of God. In the eleventh chapter we have an- other description of the perfection of his person and. of his king- dom, which is applicable only to the person and kingdom of God. It is only where God reigns that the peace, holiness, and blessedness which attend the coming of the predicted deliverer, are ever found. The same argument may be drawn from the pro- phetic account of the Messiah and of his kingdom contained in the latter part of Isaiah, from the fortieth chapter to the sixty-sixth. This Messiah was to effect the redemption of his people, not merely from the Babylonish captivity, but from all evil ; to secure for them the pardon of sin, and reconciliation with God ; the preva- lence of true religion to the ends of the earth ; and, finally, the complete triumph of the kingdom of light over the kingdom of darkness. This is a work which none other than a diyine person could effect.
The prophet Micah (v. 1-5) predicted that one was to be born in Bethlehem, who was to be, (1.) The Ruler of Israel, ^. e., of all the people of God. (2.) Although to be born in time and made of a woman, his " goings forth have been from of old, from- ever- lasting." (3.) He shall rule in the exercise of the strength and majesty of God, i. e., manifest in his government the possession of divine attributes and glory. (4.) His dominion shall be uni- versal ; and (5.) Its effects peace ; i. g., perfect harmony, order, and blessedness.
The prophet Joel does not bring distinctly into view the person of the Redeemer, unless it be in the doubtful passage in ii. 23. He goes through the usual round of Messianic predictions ; foretells the apostasy of the people, reproves them for their sins, threatens divine judgments, and then promises deliverance through a " teacher of righteousness " (according to one interpretation of ii. 23), and then the effusion of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh. The gift of the Holy Ghost is everywhere represented as the charac- teristic blessing of the Messianic period, because secured by the merit of the Redeemer's death. That He thus gives the Holy Spirit is the highest evidence of his being truly God.
In Jeremiah xxiii., the- restoration or redemption of God's people is- foretold. This redemption was to be effected by one who is declared to be, (1.) A descendant of David. (2.) He is called the Branch, a designation which connects this prophecy with those
494 PAET L — THEOLOGY. [Ch. VH. — DivmiTY op Chbist
of Isaiah in which the Messiah receives the same title. (3.) He was to be a king. (4.) His reign was to be prosperous, Judah and Israel were to be again united ; i. e., perfect harmony and peace Avei'e to be secured. (5.) This deliverer is called Jehovah, our Righteousness. In the tliirty-third chapter, the same deliver- ance is predicted, and the same name is here given to Jerusalem Avhich in the former passage was given to the Messiah. In the one case it is symbolical, in the other significant.
In Daniel ii. 44, it is foretold that die kingdom of the Messiah is to be everlasting, and is destined to supersede and absorb all other kingdoms. In vii. 9-14, it is said that one like unto the Son of Man was brought unto the Ancient of Days ; and a dominion, glory, and kingdom given unto Him ; that all people, nations, and languages should serve Him ; his dominion is to be an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. In ix. 24-27, is recorded the prediction concerning. the seventy weeks, and the coming and work of the Messiah, which work is truly divine.
The first six chapters of the prophecies of Zechariah are a series of visions, foreshadowing the return of the Jews from Baby- lon, the restoration of the city, and the rebuilding of the temple ; the subsequent apostasy of the people ; the advent of the Mes- siah ; the establishment of his kingdom, and the dispersion of the Jews. From the ninth chapter to the end of the book, the same events are predicted in ordinary prophetic language. Jerusalem is called upon to rejoice at the advent of her king. He was to be meek and lowly, unostentatious and peaceful, and his dominion universal. In chapter xi. He is represented as a she])herd who makes a last attempt to gather his flock. He is to be rejected by those whom He came to save, and sold for thirty pieces of silver. For this enormity the people are to be given up to long desolation ; but at last God will pour upon them the Spirit of grace and sup- plication, and they shall look upon me, saith Jehovah, whom they have pierced, and mourn. This shepherd is declared to be God's fellow, associate, or equal. His kingdom shall triumph, shall be- come universal, and hoKness shall everywhere prevail.
In Malachi iii. 1-4, it is predicted (1.) That a messenger should appear to prepare the way of the Lord. (2.) That the Lord, i. e., Jehovah, the messenger of the covenant, i. e., the Mes- siah, should come to his temple. (3.) At his advent the wicked shall be destroyed, and the Church saved. ^
1 On this subject see Hengstenberg's Ckristohgy ; Smith's Messiah; AUix's Jvdgmtnt qf the Jewish Church.