Ephef. vi. 12. Ifa. lxv. 17, 18, fays, Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, &c. I create Jerufalem a rejoicing. This is a prediction of the new creation or renovation by Chrift. Bishop Lowth, in his ninth lecture on Hebrew poetry, remarks, that the Hebrew poets are conftantly alluding to the chaos and the creation, as expreffive of any remarkable change, whether profperous or adverfe, in the public affairs, of the overthrow or restoration of kingdoms and nations; and are confequently very common in the prophetic poetry, particularly when any unusual degree of boldness is attempted.

Matt. xxviii. 18. All power is given unto me in heaven and on earth. Πασα εξεσία, all power that is requifite to any purpose; Matt. x. 1; comp. with xvii. 19. Has is ufed in a limited fenfe, 1 Sam. ix. 19; Mark xii. 44; John iv. 39.

Era, dominion. In allufion to Dan. ii. 44; vii. 13, 14; Jefus preached that the kingdom of heaven was at hand, and called himself the son of man. The Jews in general, and the Apoftles, thought this was an univerfal temporal kingdom; Matt. xx. 21. Chrift teaches them, however, that his kingdom was spiritual, not of this world; Matt. xxv. 31; John xvii. 2; Matt. xxvi. 64; John xviii. 36; Acts i. 5 to 8; Ephef. iii. 10. Ev, quod attinet ad, refpecting or relating to; Rom. i. 9; I Cor. ix. 18; iii. 18; Acts viii. 21.

Ουρανώ και επι γης.

Heaven and earth are used to fignify both Jews and Gentiles, which compre

hend all mankind': fee Ephef. i. 3, 9, 10; ii. 11 to

22;

iii.

3. to 9, 14, 15; Philip. ii. 10; Coloff. i. 13, 20, 23. Eπ, with the genitive, fometimes denotes dignity and prerogative; Ephef. iv. 6; Matt. See on Coloff, i. 16, above.

ii. 22.

The injunction fubjoined to the affertion of Jefus, " all power is given to me in heaven, and on earth," is, go ye and difciple all nations, teaching them to "obferve whatsoever I have commanded you," &c. Now this clearly manifefts that the power here given to Chrift is authority to rule in his fpiritual kingdom, which will extend over all nations, will continue to the end of the world, and the final judgment, and confummation: see Acts iii. 26; iv, 12; v. 12, 31; x. 34, 38, 42, 43; xvii. 30, 31; xxvi. 23; Rom. xiv. 9, 10; 1 Cor. xv. 20 to 26, 55, 57; Ephef. i. 20 to 23; ii. 11 to 22; iii. 3 to 19; v. 5; Phil. ji. 9 to 11; Coloff. i. 12 to 23.

The nature of that power which Jefus fays, Matt. xxviii.. 18, is given unto him, is diftinctly explained, John xvii. 2, &c. Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son alfo may glorify thee; as thou haft given him power over all men, that he may give everlafting life to all whom thou haft given him. And this is (leads to) everlasting life, that they may know thee the only true God, and him whom thou haft fent, even Jefus Chrift, &c.

For HEAVEN, denoting the Jews, fee further in fect. xvi. on Haggai ii. 6; Matt. xxiv. 29, 30; Luke xxi. 26; and Heb. xii. 26.

SECT. X.

GOD of HEAVEN, meaning God of the Hebrews.

THIS title of Jehovah characterizes him as the creator of the heavens, and confequently of the earth; and completely distinguishes him from the heathen gods, which did not make the heavens and the earth; whether these be idols made by men, or the fun, moon, and stars, which, instead of making the heavens, were created by Jehovah, God of heaven. See Gen. i. 16, 17; Deut. iv. 19; Jerem. x. 1 to 16. 2 Kings xxiii. 5.

The phrase "God of heaven," occurs for the first time,

Gen. xxiv. 3. Abraham fays to his eldest fervant, I will make thee fwear by Jehovah, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, &c.

7. Jehovah God of heaven, who took me from my father's house.

Pf. cxxxvi. 26. O give thanks unto the God of heaven.

Jonah i. 9. Jonah being asked by the perfons who were in the fhip with him, of what people art thou? he said, I am an Hebrew; and I fear Jehovah, the God of heaven, who hath made the sea and land. Dan. ii. 18. That he would defire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this fecret.

19. Daniel bleffed the God of heaven.

Dan. ii. 37. The God of heaven having given thee a kingdom.

ii. 44. The God of heaven shall set up a kingdom, which fhall never be destroyed.

iv.37. I Nebuchadnezzar extol the king of heaven. v. 23. Thou, O Belfhazzar, haft lifted up thyfelf against the Lord of heaven.

Nehem. i. 4. I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

5. And faid, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven.

ii. 4. I prayed to the God of heaven.

20. The God of heaven will profper us.

Ezra i. 2; 2 Chron. xxxvi. 23. Thus faith Cyrus, all the kingdoms of the earth hath Jehovah, God of heaven, given me.

V. II. We are the fervants of the God of heaven and earth.

12. Our fathers had provoked the God of heaven. vi. 9. Burnt-offerings of the God of heaven.

10. Offer facrifices unto the God of heaven. vii. 12, 21. Ezra, a fcribe of the law of the God of heaven.

23. Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done for the houfe of the God of heaven.

Rev. xi. 13. The remnant gave glory to the God of heaven.

xvi. 11. (The enemies of pure Christianity) blasphemed the God of heaven.

SECTION XI.

HEAVEN, and HEAVEN OPENED, a SOUND, VOICE, or LIGHT, FROM HEAVEN, meaning a Symbol of the Divine Presence, and a Notification of peculiar Communications from God. A SIGN IN HEAVEN, GOING TO, COMING DOWN FROM, and BEING IN HEAVEN, expressing extraordinary Divine Communications.

GEN. xxviii. 12. The top of the ladder reached to heaven, and behold the angels of God afcending and defcending on it. Comp. ver. 13 to 16; Job xxxiii. 14 to 18.

17. This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

Ezek. i. 1. As I was by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I faw vifions of God. Here, heaven being opened, and feeing visions of God, are parallel phrafes. Comp. Acts x. 11; xi. 5. Dan. iv. 13, 23. A watcher and a holy one came down from heaven. 31, Chald. 28. There fell a voice from heaven, faying, &c.

Matt. iii. 16; Mark i. 10; Luke iii. 21; John i. 32. Lo, the heavens were opened unto Jefus, and he faw the spirit of God defcending (from heaven,