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    to ascend into heaven is to obtain the complete knowledge of divine things , to come down from heaven , is to communicate that knowledge by divine authority , to come forth as an authorized teacher of heavenly truth . Dr . S . 's statement , that " from a careful examination of the scriptural use of the expressions from heaven , and being , coming , or descending from heaven , it appears that the idea intended is A divine origin , which is , of course , applied variously according to the nature of the subject , * ' is nearly coincident with Mr . Belsham's , and is sufficient for our purpose ,

    since divine origin , the idea being applied according to the nature of the case under our consideration , must mean divine authority , as Matt . xxi . 25 , " The baptism of John , was it from heaven or of men ? ' * It is objected that there is no other instance of a person being said to come from heaven , meaning to bring and communicate truth , or to teach by divine authority . Prov . xxx . 4 , as we have explained it , is an example of this use of the phrase ; but if there were none , it arises so completely from the connexion and the sense of the preceding clause , that no difficulty need be felt .

    The figurative sense of the third clause , who is in heaven , " who has received divine communications perfectly qualifying him for his office , " follows , of course , ( allowing its genuineness , which is not certain , as it is omitted by some important authorities , ) from that of the others , and Dr . S . ' s interpretation of it , " who as to his superior nature is in heaven , even whilst he speaks to you on earth , " is far more difficult and strange than any figurative one . We have now carefully examined our author ' s remarks on this very important passage , and we hope it will be perceived that he has

    done nothing to weaken the force of the criticisms of Mr . Belsham and other eminent men , who have contended for its interpretation as figurative language , but that a full consideration of the subject only confirms and establishes the justness of their views .

    With regret we pass by other portions of Dr . S . ' s volume , which certainly deserve attention . We have preferred the plan of carefully examining a few articles to that of merely touching upon many , and we venture to assure the reader ( we hope that some such will be found ) who is , upon the whole , satisfied with what we have done , so far as it goes , that we have not chosen the least difficult portions , and that , should he not possess the requisite knowledge for personal examination , he may judge of the controversial value of the whole from what has been laid before him .

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    600 Dr . J . P . Smith ' s Scripture Testimony to the Messiah .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1831, page 600, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2601/page/24/