QUESTION I. 407 1t may be said concerning this name Son of man as is said before concerning the name Son of God, viz. As there are some few places where the Son of God, chiefly denotes his sublime relation to God distinct from his office ; so there nay be a place or two where the Son of man chiefly signifies Christ's ,relation to human nature, and his derivation from mankind, istinct from Lis office. Yet as the most general sense of the turd Son of God is to denote that eminent, that peculiar Son of. God who was to be the Messiah, or Saviour ; so the most general sense of the word Son of man is to denote. that eminent and peculiar? Son of man who was the seed of the woman, and was appointed to that office of a Saviour. First, I shall mention one text, for I can think of but one in the New Testament, where the Son of man may be supposed chiefly or only to signify Christ's relation to mankind, without includinghis office or referring to it. Mat. xvi. 13. Whom do Men say that I, the Son of mart am y that is, whom do men say that I Jesus am; who appear in the common form of mankind ? and verse 16. Peter gives his opinion, Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God; that is, Thou art the Messiah, who Lest Q sublime and glorious relation to God, who art by way of emi- nence God's own Son. Yet even this text may be also explained so as to include the Messiahship, or the office of Christ thus, " Whom do men say that I am? What do men think concerning me, who am indeed the great Son of man, the Messiah, who was to come? What do they think of my person, who am the Messiah by office ?" But in the next place let it be observed, that there are a multitude of scriptures wherein this word is plainly and certainly used to signify that eminent Son of man, who is the promised Messiah. I shall mention only these four, wherein it is evident that the scripture bath chief respect to his office ;. and where the mere signification of his human nature cannot answer the end and design of the text. I. Mark ix. 12. Elias verily cometh first and restoreth all things, 4c. And it is writtenof the Son of man, that he must suer manyr things, and be set at nought ; which refers to the prophecies of Isaiah, David andDaniel concerning the Messiah; Is. fill. Dan. ix. and Ps. xxii. II. Luke xvii. 22. The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of thedays of the Son of man, andye shall not see it ; and they shall say to you, See here, or see there; Go not after them, nor follow them. Which is parallel to Mat. xxiv. 23. If any man shall say to you, Lo here zs Christ, or there, believe it not ; for there _shall arise false Christs, Sc. Then it follows both in Luke and Matthew, As the lightning cometh, 1Cc. so shall the coning of the Son of man be ; and as it was in the days of Noah: and, Like adds also, in the days of Lot, thus shall it
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