Children

Psal. lxxxii. 6. Job i. 6. ii. 1.CHILDREN, Sons of God. By this name the Angels are sometimes described: for example, Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among Psal. lxxxix. 6.them. And in the Psalms, Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord? Good Men, in opposition to the wicked, are likewise called by this name, the Children of Seth’s family, in opposition Gen. vi. 2.to the Race of Cain. The Sons of God saw the daughters of men and they were fair; and they took them wives of all that they chose.

Judges, Magistrates, and Priests are likewise termed Children of God. I said ye are Gods, and the children of the Most High. He speaks to Judges. And in another place, directing himself to Priests, he says, Give unto Psal. xxix. 1.the Lord, O ye Children of the mighty, give unto the¹ Lord glory and strength. All this in the way of opposition to the sons of men, who are the common part of Mankind, ordinary People, Men in general.

Wisd. v. 5. Hos. i. 10. See John xi. 52.The Israelites are elsewhere called Sons of God, in opposition to the Gentiles, whereas before it was said unto them, ye are my people, they shall be called the children, the sons of God. Sometimes the Elect, the Blessed, have this name given them. How is he numbred among the children of God, and his lot is among the Saints!

John i. 12. Rom. viii. 14.In the New Testament, Believers are commonly called children of God by vertue of their adoption, and the prerogatives which Christ acquired for them, by assuming human flesh, and communicating this quality to us by Baptism, and a participation in the merits of his death. He hath given us, says S. John, power to become the sons of God. And St. Paul in several places extols the advantages of being adopted to be the Sons of God, which adoption we have received by the holy Spirit. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God---the Spirit it self beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And in another place, Gal. iii. 26.Ye are all the children of God by faith, &c.

Children, Sons of Men. This name is given to the Men of Cain’s family, who lived before the Deluge, and in particular to the Giants, those violent and corrupt Men, who before the Deluge had corrupted their ways, and drew down the most terrible effects of God’s anger upon the Earth. Afterwards the impious, the wicked, bad Israelites, were called the Sons of Men: Psal. iv. 3. Psal. xii. 1. Ps. lvii. 4.For example, How long will ye love vanity, O ye Sons of men? And, The faithful are minished from among the children of men. And, The sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows. But very often, by the Sons of Men, mankind are to be understood without any odious notion. What is man, Ps. viii. 4. Psal. xi. 4. Ps. cxlv. 12.that thou art mindful of him; or the son of man, that thou visitest him? And, His eye-lids try the children of Men. And again, To make known to the sons of men his mighty Acts.

Children, or Sons of Belial. See Belial. Children sacrificed to Moloch. See Moloch.

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