The Sum of Christian Religion 2, Part 2 · Subpart 16 · Section 1
1 HOW MANIE WAIES MEN ARE CALLED SONNES.
EVery ſonne is a ſonne either by nature, or by grace.A natural ſonne. A ſon by nature or a naturall and proper ſon is hee, who is partaker of his fathers nature and eſſence: or, who hath the eſſence or nature of him, whoſe ſonne he is, communicated vntounto him; and that either wholie, as Chriſt in reſpect of his Godhead: for vntounto him the father by begetting him communicated his eſſence whole and the ſame: or in part, as men, vntounto whom is communicated ſome little ſeuered portion of their fathers eſſence. Wherfore a naturall ſonne beginneth at one and the ſame time both to be, and to be a ſonne.
A ſon by grace is he, who hath the right and name of a ſonne, A ſonne by grace.not by nature, that is, not that he was procreated out of his ſubſtance, whoſe ſonne he is called, but onelie by a free gift of his and by fauour. So is he ſaid the ſon of God by grace, who not by nature, but by Gods gift, is called his ſonne. Nowe the ſonnes of god by grace are of three ſorts: ſome by grace of creation: The ſonnes of God by grace of creationſome by grace of adoption: ſome by grace of vnion. The ſonnes of God by grace of creation are Angels, and our firſt Parents before their fall. For that God ſhoulde create them, and conforme them vntounto himſelfe, that is, make them righteous and bleſſed, and that now alſo he maintaineth thoſe bleſſinges in them, it is his benefite and gift proceeding of his grace. And therefore God created them, that hee might account them for his ſonnes, and they againe acknowledge and magnifie him as their bountiful and benigne father. And although they were not borne of the ſubſtance of God: yet neither were theſe at any time, not his ſonnes, but at one and the ſame time beganne both to bee, and to bee the ſonnes of GOD. A ſonne by grace of adoption, or an adopted ſonne is he, Sonnes by grace or adoption.who not by birth, but onelie by the law and will of the adopter receiueth the right and name of a ſonne, ſo that hee is in the ſame place with him, as if he had been borne of him, whereas before hee had beene no ſonne. Wherefore an adopted ſonne beginneth not at the ſame time to be, & to be a ſon, but he ſometime was, when yet he was not a ſonne. After this ſort, that is, by adoption, are our firſt Parents, after their fall, & ſo alſo are all the regenerat the ſonnes of god. For theſe by nature are the childrē of wrath, but are adopted to be the ſonnes of god, & are made Chriſts brethren, not by any merite of their owne,Our fraternitie and brotherhood with Chriſt. but freely by & for Chriſt. Eph. 2. Furdermore, our fraternitie & brotherhood with Chriſt conſiſteth in theſe fower thinges. 1. In the likenes and ſimilitude of our humane nature. For hee is true man, procreated of the bloude of Adam, the common father of vsus all. 2. In the fatherlie louelove and bountifulnes of god towards vsus, who for Chriſts ſake embraceth vsus as his ſonnes, & heapeth vponupon vsus his benefites. 3 In our conformitie & correſpondence with Chriſt, which is wrought by the holy Ghoſt, whom hee beſtoweth on vsus. 4. In the conſummation and accompliſhment of his benefites, that is, in perfect & eternal righteouſnes, bleſſednes, and glorie. In reſpect of the three latter we are the ſonnes of God by adoption. The ſonne of God by grace of conception or vnion is Chriſt alone, The ſonne of God by grace of vnion.in reſpect of his humane nature, which by the ſpecial working of the holy ghoſt, being conceiued, formed, and ſanctified in the Virgins wombe, was perſonally vnited vntounto the word.
A TYPE OR FIGVRE OF THE SONNES OF GOD.
Euerie Sonne of God is ether
By nature, and proper: as is the WOORD onelie, who hath by birth his fathers nature and ſubſtance communicated vntounto him whole and the ſame.
By Grace, either of
Creation, as Angels, and Adam before his fall.
Conception and vnion, as Chriſt according to his humanitie.
Adoption, as Adam after his fall, and all the regenerate.