1Christ is called the only begotten son of God according to his divine nature: Because according to this he alone & only was from everlasting begotten of the substance of his father, and therefore hath no brethren of this generation and nature. For of no other it is said, that the father giveth him to have life in himself: and again, that in him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily. Object. He that hath brethren, is not the only begotten. Christ hath brethren. Therefore he is not the only begotten son of god. Aunsw. The Major is to be distinguished. He that hath brethren, to wit, of the same generation and nature, he is not the only begotten. Christ hath brethren, but not of the same generation ⟨p. 465⟩and nature: because not any have been begotten from everlasting of the substance of God the father. Therefore he is the only begotten son of God in respect of his Godhead. Reply. He that hath a generation or begetting unlike to the generation of other sons, is in respect thereof said to be the only begotten: Christ according to his humanity hath a generation unlike to the generation of other sons of God. Therefore Christ is called, not in respect of any eternal, but of this temporal and miraculous generation, the only begotten. Answer. The Major is true of such a son, as hath a generation unlike in the whole kind, that is, both in nature, and in the manner of the generation. But Christ according to his humanity hath a generation divers from us, not as concerning his nature, the term or end of his generation, but only in respect of the manner. For he is true man,2 having a humane nature the same altogether with ours in kind, but borne after a singular manner of the virgin, by the operation of the holy Ghost. Wherefore according to his humanity he cannot be called the only begotten son of GOD. 1. Because according to this nature he hath brethren of the same generation and nature. Heb. 2.11.14. 2. Because neither the scripture, neither the Church useth any such form of speech. 3. Because the word, only begotten, doth not design the peculiar manner of his conception and generation, but the very nature or essence it self, which by generating, that is, by begetting and by way of birth is produced.
1CHrist is called the onelie begotten sonne of God according to his diuine nature: Because according to this he alone & onely was from euerlasting begotten of the substaunce of his father, and therefore hath no brethren of this generation and nature. For of no other it is saide, that the father giueth him to haue life in himselfe: and again, that in him dwelleth all the fulnes of the godhead bodilie. Obiect. He that hath brethren, is not the onelie begotten. Christ hath brethren. Therefore he is not the onelie begotten sonne of god. Aunsw. The Maior is to be distinguisted. He that hath brethren, to wit, of the same generation and nature, hee is not the onely begotten. Christ hath brethren, but not of the same generation ⟨p. 465⟩and nature: because not any haue been begotten from euerlasting of the substance of God the father. Therefore he is the onely begotten son of God in respect of his Godhead. Replie. He that hath a generation or begetting vnlike to the generation of other sonnes, is in respect thereof said to be the onelie begotten: Christ according to his humanity hath a generation vnlike to the generation of other sonnes of God. Therefore Christ is called, not in respect of anie eternall, but of this temporall and miraculous generation, the onelie begotten. Aunswere. The Maior is true of such a son, as hath a generation vnlike in the whole kinde, that is, both in nature, and in the manner of the generation. But Christ according to his humanitie hath a generation diuers from vs, not as concerning his nature, the terme or ende of his generation, but onely in respect of the manner. For hee is true man,2 hauing a humane nature the same altogether with ours in kinde, but borne after a singular manner of the virgin, by the operation of the holy Ghost. Wherefore according to his humanitie hee cannot bee called the onely begotten sonne of GOD. 1. Because according to this nature hee hath brethren of the same generation and nature. Heb. 2.11.14. 2. Because neither the scripture, neither the Church vseth anie such forme of speech. 3. Because the word, onelie begotten, doth not designe the peculiar manner of his conception and generation, but the verie nature or essence it selfe, which by generating, that is, by begetting and by waie of birth is produced.
- 1Christ is the only begotten sonne of God according to his Godhead only.Christ is the onely begotten sonne of God according to his Godhead onely.
- 2Why Christ according to his manhood cannot be called the only begotten.Why Christ according to his manhood cannot bee called the onely begotten.
