The Sum of Christian Religion 2, Part 2 · Subpart 16 · Section 3
3 Why Chriſt is called the onelie begotten and firſt begotten ſonne of God.
Chriſt is the onelyonly begotten ſonne of God according to his Godhead onelyonly.CHriſt is called the onelie begotten ſonne of God according to his diuine nature: Becauſe according to this he alone & onelyonly 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 hauehave 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 onelyonly begotten. Chriſt hath brethren, but not of the ſame generation and nature: becauſe not any hauehave been begotten from euerlaſting of the ſubſtance of God the father. Therefore he is the onelyonly 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 vsus, not as concerning his nature, the terme or ende of his generation, but onelyonly in reſpect of the manner. For hee is true man,Why Chriſt according to his manhood cannot bee called the onelyonly begotten. 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 onelyonly 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.
The firſt begotten (not the firſt created) hee is called according to both natures.Chriſt called the firſt begotten according to both natures. According to his godhead both in reſpect of time, and of worthines: becauſe he, before all, was begotten from euerlaſting of the father; and is perfect God; and all were made by him; and by, and for him are deliuered, and receiue the right of ſonnes. According to his humanitie alſo he is called the firſt begotten in reſpect of his worthineſſe onelie and right, 1. Becauſe he was begotten after a ſingular manner. 2 Becauſe he hath his ſubſiſtence in the perſon of the Word, to the vnitie whereof the humanitie was aſſumed. 3. Becauſe he hath by his merite purchaſed the right of ſonnes for others. 4. Becauſe in gifts, workes, maieſtie, authoritie, he vnſpeakablie excelleth all the ſonnes of God, euen Angels themſelues, and it Lord and head of thē all. VntoUnto Chriſt therefore in reſpect of his humanitie agreeth this which of old was ſignified by the type of the firſt born. For after the deceaſe of the father, the firſt-born took two portiōs of his fathers goods, when as the reſt had each but one. Now the cauſe of that right was his office and function: For hee ſucceeded into the roome of his father, ſo that hee had authoritie ouer his family and the reſt of his brethren, and did beare rule ouer them. Gen. 27. & 29. & 37. So Chriſt the ſonne of GOD hath alſo right according to his humanitie, ouer the reſt of his bretheren, and all the ſonnes of God, and he but one hath receiued moe and more excellent giftes than hauehave all the reſt: becauſe hee is the Lord of his fathers houſe, the reſt are his miniſters. Nowe becauſe wee cannot beleeue, that Chriſt is the only begotten ſon of God, and much leſſe can beleeue in this only begotten ſon of God, vnleſſe withal we beleeue that Chriſt is true God, euen that euerlaſting Word of the ſame ſubſtaunce, dignitie, power, and nature with the father; it remaineth therefore that herein brieflie we deale againſt the heretiques who impugne it.