2. Christ is not called the Son of God, because of his Incarnation, or that wonderful manner of the production of his Humane Nature in the womb. Indeed some orthodox Divines, and so Maldonate the Papist do grant, That Christ was called the Son of God, because of that extraordinary conception, Luk. 1. 32, 35. for the Evangelist seemeth to favour such an interpretation, because when the Angel had said, The holy Ghost should overshadow the Virgin Mary, he presently addeth, Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. Now though these men hold Christ was called thus, the Son of God, because of that extraordinary and peculiar way of the production of his Humane Nature, yet they acknowledge his Sonship by eternal generation also. But it is well observed by other learned men, That it is an impudent concession to the adversaries of Christs Divine Nature, to grant Christ is ever ⟨p. 137⟩called the Son of God, but because of eternal generation. And therefore that expression, Therefore also, &c.] is not an argument from the Cause, but the Sign: That extraordinary conception was not a Cause, but a true and sure Sign, that he was the Son of God, and therefore it's said, He shall be called, not be the Son of God, which relateth to the manifestation and notification of it. And no doubt the Angel doth allude the ninth of Isaiah, where a Virgins bringing forth a Son, is made a Sign of his being Emmanuel, God with us. For if this extraordinary conception had been a cause of this filiation, he would rather he called, The Son of the holy Ghost, then of God the Father, because immediately conceived by him. Neither is that of Maldonate true, excepting against this interpretation, That a pure man might have been so conceived by the holy Ghost, and it would not follow that he was God properly. For besides that, it is a bold assertion to say so, we must take this extraordinary conception in its circumstances, as it was so promised by the Prophet, and thus it could not agree to any but to God.
2. Christ is not called the Sonne of God, because of his Incarnation, or that wonderfull manner of the production of his Humane Nature in the womb. Indeed some orthodox Divines, and so Maldonate the Papist do grant, That Christ was called the Sonne of God, because of that extraordinary conception, Luk. 1. 32, 35. for the Evangelist seemeth to favour such an interpretation, because when the Angel had said, The holy Ghost should overshadow the Virgin Mary, he presently addeth, Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Sonne of God. Now though these men hold Christ was called thus, the Sonne of God, because of that extraordinary and peculiar way of the production of his Humane Nature, yet they acknowledge his Sonship by eternal generation also. But it is well observed by other learned men, That it is an impudent concession to the adversaries of Christs Divine Nature, to grant Christ is ever ⟨p. 137⟩called the Sonne of God, but because of eternal generation. And therefore that expression, Therefore also, &c.] is not an argument from the Cause, but the Sign: That extraordinary conception was not a Cause, but a true and sure Sign, that he was the Sonne of God, and therefore it's said, He shall be called, not be the Sonne of God, which relateth to the manifestation and notification of it. And no doubt the Angel doth allude the ninth of Isaiah, where a Virgins bringing forth a Sonne, is made a Sign of his being Emmanuel, God with us. For if this extraordinary conception had been a cause of this filiation, he would rather he called, The Sonne of the holy Ghost, then of God the Father, because immediately conceived by him. Neither is that of Maldonate true, excepting against this interpretation, That a pure man might have been so conceived by the holy Ghost, and it would not follow that he was God properly. For besides that, it is a bold assertion to say so, we must take this extraordinary conception in its circumstances, as it was fo promised by the Prophet, and thus it could not agree to any but to God.
