A09339:1523
A Golden Chain
A golden chain: or The description of theology containing the order of the causes of salvation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view whereof is to be seen in the table annexed. Hereunto is adjoined the order which M. Theodore Beza used in comforting afflicted consciences.A golden chaine: or The description of theologie containing the order of the causes of saluation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view whereof is to be seene in the table annexed. Hereunto is adioyned the order which M. Theodore Beza vsed in comforting afflicted consciences.
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1600Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1600
AN EXPOSITION OF THE CREED. I believe in God. &c.AN EXPOSITION OF THE CREED. I beleeue in God. &c.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Hitherto we have showed how Christ is the son of God: now let us come to the second point, namely that he is the only son of God. And he is so termed because he is the son of the father, in a special manner, so as nothing can be the son of God as he is. Angels indeed are termed the sons of God, but that is only in respect of their creation:1 & all that believe in Christ are sons of God by adoption, being received into the family of God which is his church by the merit of Christ, whereas by nature they were the children of wrath. Christ also as he is man (I say not his manhood which is a nature and no person) is the son of God by the grace of personal union, and not by nature or adoption. Lastly Christ as he is the second person in trinity, th• eternal word of the father, coeternal and consubstantial with him, is also the son of God. But how? neither by creation, nor adoption, nor by the virtue of personal union, but by nature; as he was begotten of the very substance of the father before all world: and therefore he is called the proper and only begotten son of God.2 It may be objected on this manner. If the father beget ⟨p. 275⟩the son, he doth it either willingly, or against his will: if willingly, then the son is begotten by the free will of the father, and no son by nature. Ans. The father did communicate to the son his whole godhead willingly without constraint, yet not by his will; and therefore he is the Son of the father by nature, not by will. It may be further said, that if Christ be the son of God by nature, as he is the essential word of the father, and by personal union as he is man, then is he not one but two sons. Ans. As he is but one person, so is he but one son: yet not in one but in two respects: two respects make not two things, whereas one and the same thing not altered but still remaining one may admit sundry respects.
Hitherto we haue shewed how Christ is the sonne of God: now let vs come to the second point, namely that he is the onely sonne of God. And he is so tearmed because he is the sonne of the father, in a speciall manner, so as nothing can be the sonne of God as he is. Angels indeede are tearmed the sonnes of God, but that is onely in respect of their creation: