The Institution of Christian Religion

as if he should have said, that the name of the Son which was obscure in time of the law, should now become famous and every where known abroad.¹ Wherewith agreeth that saying of Paul, that now by Christ we are the children of God, freely and with boldness to cry Abba, Father. But were not the holy fathers in the old time also accounted among the children of God? Yea: and bearing them bold upon that interest, they called upon God by name of their Father. But because sins the only begotten son of God was brought fourth into the world, the heavenly fatherhood is become more plainly known: therefore Paul assigneth this, as it were, a privilege to the kingdom of Christ. But yet this is steadfastly to be holden, that God never was father either to Angels or men, but in respect of the only begotten son: and that men specially, whom their own wickedness maketh hateful to God, are his children by free adoption, because he is the son of God by nature. And there is no cause why Seruettus should cavil, that this hangeth upon filiation or becoming a son, which God had determined with him self: because our purpose is not hear to speak of the figures how the expiation was showed in the blood of beasts: but because they could not in deed be the children of God, unless their adoption were grounded upon the head, it is with out reason to take that from the head which is common to all the men bres. I go yet further: Whereas the Scripture calleth the Angels the sons of God,² whose so great dignity did not hang upon the redemption to come: yet must it needs be, that the son is in order before them, which maketh the father to be their father. I will repeat it again shortly, & add the same of mankind. Sith from at their first beginning both Angels and men were created, with this condition, that God should be common father to them both, if that saying of Paul be true, that Christ was alway the head and the first begotten of all creatures,³ to have the first degree in all: I think I do rightly gather that he was also the son of God before the creation of the world.

as if he shoulde haue saide, that the name of the Sonne whiche was obscure in time of the lawe, shoulde nowe become famous and euery where knowen abroade.