anything lower than the divine name. The prophet conceives of Messiah as
the earthly representative of divinity, as having God with and in Him as
no other man has. We are not to force upon the prophet the full new
Testament doctrine of the oneness of the incarnate Word with the Father,
which would be an anachronism. But we are not to fall into the opposite
error, and refuse to see in these words, so startling from the lips of a
rigid monotheist, a real prophecy of a divine Messiah, dimly as the
utterer may have perceived the figure which he painted. Note, too, that
the word 'mighty' implies victorious energy in battle. It is often
applied to human heroes, and here carries warlike connotations, kindred
with the previous picture of conflict and victory. Thus strength as of
God, and, in some profound way, strength which is divine, will be the
hand obeying the brain that counsels wonder, and all His plans shall be
effected by it.

But these are not all His qualities. He is 'the Father of Eternity'--a
name in which tender care and immortal life are marvellously blended.
This King will be in reality what, in old days, monarchs often called
themselves and seldom were,--the Father of His people, with all the
attributes of that sacred name, such as guidance, love, providing for
His children's wants. Nor can Christians forget that Jesus is the source
of life to them, and that the name has thus a deeper meaning. Further,
He is possessed of eternity. If He is so closely related to God as the
former name implies, that predicate is not wonderful. Dying men need and
have an undying Christ. He is 'the same yesterday, and to-day, and for
ever.'

The whole series of names culminates in 'the Prince of Peace,' which He
is by virtue of the characteristics expressed in the foregoing names.
The name pierces to the heart of Christ's work. For the individual He