2. The saints are called the "sons nr children of Gnd ;" they are graciously adopted into his spiritual family, begotten into his image, endued with his Spirit, and entitled to privileges unnum bered, and an inheritance that fadeth not away ; they are heirs of righteousness. salvation, of the promises. nay, of God himself ( John i :12 ; Rom. viii :14-17 1. They are the ' children or seed" of Wisdom, or Christ ; by his travail unto death, and suffering, and by the influence of his regen erating Spirit, lie begets them again ( Matt. xi :to; Is. liii :to). They are "children of light ;" be gotten of God, the purest light, by means of his pure and enlightening word ; they have the knowledge of Divine things, walk in the light of God's countenance and law ; the light of their good works shines before men ; and they are heirs and expectants of the inheritance of the saints in light (Luke xvi :8). They are "children of promise ;" by the promises of the gospel, they are quickened, supported, comforted, and secured of eternal life (Gal. iv :29). They are "children of the resurrection ;" then they shall be raised kiom the dead, fully conformed to God, and enter on the complete possession of their glorious inher itance in heaven (Luke xx :36). They are "chil dren of Zion ; of Jerusalem; of the kingdom; and of the free woman ;" they are spiritually horn, instructed and nourished in the church ; they are under the covenant of grace, have a spirit of liberty, are freed from the slavery of sin and Satan, and of the broken law ; and now, un der the gospel, are free from burdensome cere monies, and serve God with cheerfulness of heart (Ps. cxlix :2 : Matt. xiii :38 ; Gal. iv :3i ; Is. lx ;4)• 3. Christ's disciples were "children of the bride-chamber ;" they had early and peculiar in timacy with him, the glorious Bridegroom of souls (Matt. ix :15). The title son of man is given to Ezekiel, Daniel and Jesus Christ, but whether it was a title of dignity, importing their peculiar excellency, or whether a mark of our Saviour's debasement, and his delight in our na ture; or a mark of the low origin and frailty of these prophets, to be remembered by them amidst their visions, is not agreed (Ezek. ii :1 ; Dan.
vii :13 ; viii :17).
4. The wicked are "children of this world ;" they are never born from above; have no portion of felicity, but in this world ; nor do they study to fulfill any thing but its lusts (Luke xvi :8). They are represented as "sons of men," or Adam ; in him they were corrupted ; his transgressions they imitate; they have no spiritual birth (Ps. iv :2 ; xii :1 ; lvii :4). They are "children of the devil ;" they are devoted to the wickedness he introduces into the world; they cheerfully imi tate, obey and serve him (John iii :t8 ; viii :44). They are "children of darkness ;" they are in a state of darkness and condemnation; their heart is full of ignorance and their practice of things shameful and wicked (1 Thess. v :5). They are "children of disobedience and iniquity ;" their car nal mind is enmity against God; their whole prac tice is a continued rebellion against his law and a treacherous departure from him (Eph. ii:2; Is. lvii :4; Hos. ii :4; ix). They are "children of wrath ;" they are naturally full of enmity against God and heirs of his just wrath (Eph. ii :3).
5. Persons eminently wicked are called "chil dren of Belial" (Dent! xiii :13).
6. The "children of Abraham" are such as de scended from by natural generation—the Ishmaelites, Israelites, Edomites, etc.—or such as resemble him in faith and holiness (Luke iii :8; John viii :39 ; Gal. iii :7 ; Matt. iii :9).
7. The "children of the desolate" are more than of the married wife ; the converts of the long desolate Gentile world are more numerous than those of the Jewish nation, long espoused to Christ ; the converts of the church after Christ's departure to heaven are more numerous than when she enjoyed his presence on earth (Is. liv:I). See the word BARREN, where reason is adduced to show that the "children of the desolate" are the posterity of Abraham converted to Jesus un der the restored state of the Jewish church.
8. "Strange children" are heathens or wicked persons, or children born to the Jews by heathen ish women (Ps. cxliv :7 ; Neh. ix ; Hos. v :7).