3. In what Nature Christ is the only Son of God. It may be conceived, that he is so in respect of his humane Nature, for no other Sons of God were conceived of the holy Ghost, or borne of a Virgin, but he only: but we must understand, that Christ in his Incarnation hath the same Nature with us, it differs only, in the manner of receiving it: Now he is called the only Son, from the nature which he receives from the Father, and he only, and so he is the only Son of God, as he is the second Person in the Trinity, and in respect of the manner of receiving his divine Nature. This is mightily opposed by the ancient and modern Arians, who strive vehemently to carry it, that he is called in Scripture the Son of God only as he is man, and that God hath no Son that was before Jesus was borne, or conceived. Now to establish our Faith against their Heresy, we should often think of these Scriptures, where mention is made of a Son of God before Jesus was borne, or was greater then man could be: as John 3. 16. God sent his Son into the world: and God had a Son, by whom he made the world, Heb. 1. 2. Colos. 1. 16. God had a Son of whom it was said that he only revealed the Father, ⟨p. 237⟩Mat. 11. 27. now either he was, before he was incarnate, or else the Church in the Old Testament, knew not God the Father: and unto the Son he saith, Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever: then he had a Son was God as well as man, Heb. 1. 8. besides it is clear, he had many brethren as man, Heb. 2. 12. and therefore as man could not be the only Sonne.
3. In what Nature Christ is the onely Sonne of God. It may be conceiued, that he is so in respect of his humane Nature, for no other Sonnes of God were conceiued of the holy Ghost, or borne of a Virgin, but hee onely: but wee must vnderstand, that Christ in his Incarnation hath the same Nature with vs, it differs onely, in the manner of receiuing it: Now he is called the onely Son, from the nature which hee receiues from the Father, and he onely, and so he is the onely Sonne of God, as he is the second Person in the Trinity, and in respect of the manner of receiuing his diuine Nature. This is mightily opposed by the antient and moderne Arians, who striue vehemently to carrie it, that hee is called in Scripture the Sonne of God onely as he is man, and that God hath no Son that was before Iesus was borne, or conceiued. Now to establish our Faith against their Heresie, we should often thinke of these Scriptures, where mention is made of a Sonne of God before Iesus was borne, or was greater then man could be: as Iohn 3. 16. God sent his Sonne into the world: and God had a Sonne, by whom he made the world, Heb. 1. 2. Colos. 1. 16. God had a Sonne of whom it was said that hee onely reuealed the Father, ⟨p. 237⟩Mat. 11. 27. now either he was, before he was incarnate, or else the Church in the Old Testament, knew not God the Father: and vnto the Sonne he saith, Thy Throne O God is for euer and euer: then he had a Sonne was God as well as man, Heb. 1. 8. besides it is cleare, he had many brethren as man, Heb. 2. 12. and therefore as man could not bee the onely Sonne.
