Christ the Wonderful Counsellor

    CHRIST THE WONDERFUL COUNSELLOR

    "And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor" &c. Isa 9:6.

    COUNSELLOR is a word of a double signification, respecting two ranks of men. (1.) Such as appertain to the high courts of princes called Counsellors of state. (2.) Such as appertain, to the high courts of judicature, who are called Counsellors at law. These two ranks of men have their proper work and business peculiarly appropriated to them, &c. The first of these ranks of men are in Counsel with the king, to make and establish laws; therefore called elders, or senators, &c. 2. The proper work and business of the second rank or order of men is to unfold and plead law; therefore called barristers or Counsellors, &c. Many things belonging to each station, do very fairly agree to the Son of God, who therefore is not unfitly called Wonderful, Counsellor, &c., 'Lu 2:47. Wonderful, because the greatest and wisest that ever was. Counsellor, because his place, work, and circumstances agree thereto, as appears in these following considerations.

    METAPHOR

    I. SOME Counsellors are of a noble extraction, well descended, which gives them advantages above others. Such have a double advantage. 1. In respect of honour. 2. In respect of education. Men basely or meanly born and descended, are seldom or never advanced to the honour of Counsellors in the highest courts, especially of parliaments.

    PARALLEL

    I. THE Lord Jesus is of a high and sublime extraction, well descended; according to the flesh of the blood royal, of the lineage and stock of David, the king of Israel: and in respect of his Divinity, the eternal Son of God. Possessor of heaven and earth; he is Lord of the angels, and King of saints and nations: and also King of all the kings of the earth; "He that comes from above, is above all," Eph 4:6. "The second man is the Lord from heaven," 1Co 15:47. "The only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth," Joh 1:14; having the advantage of the greatest honour, the highest education, being by the Father, brought up with him, and daily his delight.

    METAPHOR

    II. A Counsellor is brought up to useful learning for so great an employ or office; men who are illiterate being unfit for it.

    PARALLEL

    II. Jesus Christ is qualified and fitted every way with heavenly learning, for the highest undertaking of this kind whatsoever, Joh 1:1-2; having been with God, and also is God, knows every thing, that is done in heaven and earth; knows the tempers and manners of all people. He hath rules of judgment above others, he hath received the gift of oratory from the greatest Master of tongues and languages in the world. The Son doeth whatsoever he seeth the Father do. The Lord God hath given him the tongue of the learned, &c., so that he can understand without an interpreter, and speak without human assistance, Isa 1:4.

    METAPHOR

    III. A Counsellor is a man of worth, otherwise unfit for that function, or to appertain to any court.

    PARALLEL

    III. Jesus Christ is a man of worth, most fit to be Counsellor in the high court above, and that in these four following respects. 1. In respect of his great wisdom. 2. The knowledge of all laws and customs amongst men. 3. Of his long standing and experience. 4. As he is united to the Ancient of days; who is the centre of all perfection.

    METAPHOR

    IV. A Counsellor of state is, or ought to be a man of a high and heroic spirit, not concerned about trifles and things of an inferior nature, but mostly taken up with the more weighty and more considerable matters of the law.

    PARALLEL

    IV. The Lord Jesus was a man of great and noble spirit, not busied about low and inferior things, of a mean consideration; but about matters of the most weighty moment, to establish principalities and thrones in heaven, to reform, nations and kingdoms, to reclaim the whole world, and bring heaven and earth into an amicable correspondence. "That he might gather together in one, all things in himself, whether they be things in heaven, or things on earth," Eph 1:10.

    METAPHOR

    V. A Counsellor of state, is chosen to that high sphere and dignity; he comes not in himself, but by choice.

    PARALLEL

    V. Christ, the great Counsellor, was elected, and chosen by God himself to act in this high sphere and capacity, called the man of his right-hand, Ac 2:34. His elect, in whom his soul delighteth, "One chosen out of the people," Ps 89:19.

    METAPHOR

    VI. A Counsellor of state is admitted into the king's court; takes his place at the council-table, and his chief business lies there.

    PARALLEL

    VI. Jesus Christ was admitted into the high court of heaven, took the place there at the right-hand of the Majesty on high, in the presence and view of all the angels, and the seven spirits that are before the throne. "He is entered into heaven, and is set down at the right-hand of God," Eph 1:20; Heb 12:2; 8:1.

    METAPHOR

    VII. A great and wise Counseller of state, is made acquainted with the most secret purposes of the king himself, without whose counsel and consent there is nothing acted, nor brought to light.

    PARALLEL

    VII. Christ, that great and wise Counsellor, is made acquainted with the great and wise purposes of the great and wise King of heaven and earth; nothing is hid from him as God: without him there was nothing created or done. "No man hath seen God at any time, save the only begotten that is in his bosom of the Father, he hath declared him," Joh 1:18. "He brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel," 1Ti 6:16.

    METAPHOR

    VIII. A Counsellor of state is one, who is thought worthy to be the king's familiar and companion.

    PARALLEL

    VIII. The Lord Jesus is God's familiar and companion. "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and the man that is my fellow," Ecclesiastes 13:7. "Who being in the form of God, thought it no robbery to be equal with God," Php 2:6.

    METAPHOR

    IX. A Counsellor of state is one of the highest ranks of men, none above him but the king himself.

    PARALLEL

    IX. The Lord Christ is of the highest rank, not of men only, but is indeed exalted above all his fellows, whether men or angels; hath no superior (as Mediator) but the Father. "The head of every man is Christ." "He is the Head of all principalities and powers. The Father is greater than I. The head of Christ is God," 1Co 11:3; Col 2:10; Joh 5:28.

    METAPHOR

    X. A Counsellor of state is concerned in the agitating of great affairs, such as immediately concern the king, and the good of all his subjects; as the issuing out of proclamations, and the approving of other ministers to be employed in the king's business.

    PARALLEL

    X. Jesus Christ is concerned in the agitating of the greatest affairs of heaven and earth such as immediately concern God himself, and the good of all his people; the proclamations and tenders of grace, peace, and pardon, come through his hands; he hath the approbation of all ministers that are employed in the business of the great King, either in matters civil, military, or ecclesiastical, viz., kings, princes, rulers, deputies, judges, generals of armies, apostles, bishops, ambassadors, and the like. All suitors to God for favour, whether ministers or people, for the soul or the body, their petitions come to the hands of Christ. "By him we have access to the Father; of him all receive, even grace for grace," Joh 1:16; Ro 5:2.

    METAPHOR

    XI. A wise, worthy, and good Counsellor of state, though he be a subject and favourite to the king, yet he is a great glory to a kingdom, and it is the more respected for his sake.

    PARALLEL

    XI. Christ is the delight of the Father, and as a wise, worthy, and good Counsellor, he is a glory to heaven itself, and heaven is more longed for, for his sake. This is generally acknowledged by all that have the knowledge of him, or interest in him, Ps 73:25.

    So much may suffice concerning Christ, as compared to a Counsellor of state; I shall now speak concerning him under the other acceptation of the word, viz., Counsellor at law, &c.

    METAPHOR

    I. A Counsellor at law is a public officer belonging to a court of judicature.

    PARALLEL

    I. The Lord Jesus Christ is a public officer belonging to heaven, the highest court of judicature, "I am not of this world; glorify me, with the same glory, that I was glorified before the world was," &c., Joh 17:16, and Joh 17:5.

    METAPHOR

    II. A Counsellor at law gives advice and counsel, from whence he derives the denomination of being called a Counsellor.

    PARALLEL

    II. The Lord Jesus gives me the best advice and counsel, and most worthily deserves the title of Counsellor. "I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel," Ps 16:7. "Go thy way, sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon thee," Joh 5:14. "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed," &c., Re 3:18.

    METAPHOR

    III. A Counsellor at law makes known the law to those that are ignorant or unlearned, he being the mouth, as it were, of the law.

    PARALLEL

    III. Jesus Christ makes known the law of God to those that are ignorant and unlearned; he illustrates all the parts of it, and showeth to what degree it extends, &c. He also shows what are the privileges of keeping it, and what are the damages of breaking it: "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive you," &c. Matthew 6:14 &c., Joh 14:15.

    METAPHOR

    IV. A Counsellor at law resolves doubtful cases, which other men cannot.

    PARALLEL

    IV. Christ resolves doubtful cases that other men cannot, in that he saith, "Son, be of good cheer; Daughter, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee," &c., Mt 9:1-9,22.

    METAPHOR

    V. Counsellors at law make conveyances of estates; and most men think these conveyances not sufficient, unless made by such able men as they.

    PARALLEL

    V. The Lord Jesus makes over the heavenly mansions to men; and no man can have a good title to this heavenly inheritance, unless Christ makes the conveyance. "As the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given the Son to have life in himself, and hath power to give eternal life to as many as are given unto him," Joh 5:26.

    METAPHOR

    VI. Counsellors at law have great respect amongst men, espepecially those who do most need them, and make use of them.

    PARALLEL

    VI. Jesus Christ hath great respect amongst men; the Turks own him for a great prophet, the papists for the Son of God, but his own disciples, that see an excellency in him, and an absolute necessity of him, make use of him, own him to be their Saviour.---"Yea, and doubtless I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord," &c. Php 3:8.---"He is the chiefest among ten thousand," Song 5:10.

    METAPHOR

    VII. A Counsellor at law puts an end to controversies, by non-suiting, or overthrowing the party which is on the adversaries' side.

    PARALLEL

    VII. The Lord Jesus puts an end to controversies, by non-suiting, or overthrowing the devil and all other adversaries of the soul, in their own plea:---"I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not," Lu 22:32.---"My grace is sufficient for thee," &c. 2Co 12:9.---"And the dragon and his angels were thrown out of heaven," &c. Re 12:9.---"To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil," 1Jo 3:8.

    METAPHOR

    VIII. A Counsellor at law makes contracts in great and weighty cases between parties.

    PARALLEL

    VIII. So Christ makes contracts between the great God and his people, in that weighty case that concerns their salvation; and mediates and seals the covenant between them; for which cause he is called, "The Mediator of the New Covenant," Heb 12:24. See Mediator.

    METAPHOR

    IX. A Counsellor at law discovers flaws in evidences, to undeceive the over-credulous.

    PARALLEL

    IX. Christ hath discovered flaws in evidences, to undeceive those that have been mistaken about their right to the heavenly inheritance. "Thou sayest I am rich, and increased in goods, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art wretched, and poor, and blind, and miserable, and naked," Re 3:17. "Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God," Joh 3:3.

    METAPHOR

    X. A Counsellor at law is of general use to men, since their tempers have been corrupted, their manners vitiated, and a necessity of multiplying laws to corrupt them, &c.

    PARALLEL

    X. So Christ is of general use to men, since the nature of mortals hath been so generally corrupted by the fall, by which means there is a necessity of him not only as a Priest to offer sacrifice for us, but also as a Prophet or Counsellor, to expound the obligations to holiness, and the spirituality of the laws of God to us; for want of which many go on in their errors, until they forfeit all privileges, fall under the strokes and penalties of the law, and become miserable for ever through ignorance, unbelief, and disobedience.

    METAPHOR

    XI. A Counsellor at law is a pleader of causes, which is none of the least part of his work.

    PARALLEL

    XI. Jesus Christ is a Pleader of causes, which is none of the least part of his work: for which see Advocate opened.

    There are many disparities; Christ excels all other Counsellors in many respects. See Advocate.

    INFERENCES.

    I. Sinners may learn from hence, whither to go in all doubtful cases for counsel in all cases relating to their spiritual condition.

    II. If thou dost not know the way to heaven, go to Christ by prayer, and take the directions of his word.

    III. If thou dost not know how matters stand between God and thy soul, go to Christ, read his word, that will inform thee whether thy condition be good or bad: if any sin is lodged in thee or beloved, and spared by thee, he tells thee thou wilt miscarry for ever.

    IV. If thou refusest to take his counsel, but rather followest the counsel of thine own heart, or the counsel of wicked relations, neighbours, or great ones of the earth, who labour to draw thy heart from God, from following the couusel of Christ, thou art uudone.

    V. Take heed when thou knowest what Christ's counsel is, thou dost not reject it like the Pharisees, who refused to be baptized with the baptism of John.

    VI. Happy are all such who take the counsel of Christ, Christ gives soul counsel, wise counsel, right counsel, early counsel, needful counsel, chief counsel, safe counsel, counsel that will enrich the souls of men, counsel that will make them good, great, and renowned and happy for ever: say then with David, "Thou shalt guide me by thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory," Ps 73:24.