MAN. Concerning the Creation and Fall of the first Man, there are many Questions proposed, which may be found discussed in the Articles ADAM and EVE. Gen. i. 27.It is said in Genesis for Example, that Man was created Male and Female; that is to say, according to some, that he was created an Hermaphrodite; or that the Man and Woman were created growing together at their Sides; but the most simple and most natural Meaning, that this Text of Moses will admit of, is this, that God created Man and Woman as he created other Animals, by Pairs or Couples, the Male and Female of every Species. But whereas other Animals were created altogether, and by one fiat alone, God created Man and Woman separately, and at some Distance of Time from one another. The Woman was created in Paradise, and taken out of Adam’s Side while he was asleep, and the other Creatures, Gen. ii. 20, 21, 22, &c.both Male and Female, were made immediately from the Mass of inanimate Matter.
The Man was created after the Image and Likeness of his Creator. This Resemblance consists chiefly in the Qualities of his Soul. He was created free, intelligent, immortal, capable of Virtue, Justice, Wisdom and Happiness. By his Sin he lost a great Part of this Resemblance; at least it was much weakened, diminished, and altered. We may also say that he has some Resemblance to God, by the Dominion that God has given him over the other Creatures. He has appointed him, as it were, a Vice-God upon Earth. Lastly, this Resemblance may also have Regard to that Likeness, that was found between Jesus Christ incarnate, and Man in the State of Innocence. When Jesus Christ took our Nature upon him, he made in some Respect Man like himself, by his becoming like to Man.
When Man received from God the Breath Gen. ii. 7.of Life, he became a living Soul. Inspiravit in faciem ejus spiraculum vitæ, & factus est homo in animam viventem. He received from God Life and Respiration, and became a living, rational, and immortal Creature. Some understand this of the Life of Grace, of the holy sanctifying Spirit, which God gave to Adam.
Man is sometimes taken for Mankind in general, for all human Nature, and sometimes particularly for Adam.
Deut. xxxiii. 1. Josh. xiv. 6.A Man of God generally signifies a Prophet, a Man devoted to God and his Service. Moses is called in a peculiar Manner the Man of God. David, Shemaiah, and the other Prophets, are also called in this Manner. Son of Man denotes Man in General. Quid est homo quod memor es ejus, aut filius hominis, Psal. vii. 5.quoniam visitas eum? The Sons of Men are taken in the same Sense. The Lord or the Angels speaking to Men, often gives them the Name of Son of Man. Thus the Ezek. ii. 1. & passim. Dan. viii. 17.Lord calls Ezekiel; Fili hominis, sta super pedes tuos. And the Angel Gabriel speaks in the same Manner to Daniel. Jesus Christ frequently calls himself Son of Man.