A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 47. Of the various acceptions of this Title Sonne of God.

TRue it is, thata 1.1 where Sonnes of God are said to present themselves before the Lord (Ioh 1. 6. and 2. 1.) Angels are meant. Angels also are meant, where it is said,* 1.2 all the Sonnes of God shouted for joy, Job 38. 7. They are elsewhere stiledb 1.3 Sonnes of the Mighty, Psal. 89. 6. or, as many do translate it, Sonnes of God. It is manifest then that Angels are called Sonnes of God. O•…•… if Angels be not meant, thenc 1.4 men are called Sonnes of God. If either Angels or men be called Sonnes of God, how can it be ac∣counted a prerogative proper to Christ alone, to be Gods Sonne?

Answ. This Title Sonne of God, is in sacred Scripture usedd 1.5 two wayes:

• 1. Most properly by nature and eternal generation.
• 2. By meer grace and favour: God accounting them to be his Sonnes, and ac∣cepting

• them as Sonnes. In this latter respect many meer creatures are stiled Gods* 1.6 Sonnes: but in the former respect none but the second Person in sacred Trinity, who assumed our nature, and so became God-man in one person.

In this proper and peculiar respect, Angels are denied to be Sonnes of God; and Christ alone affirmed to be the Sonne of God: as is evident by the words follow∣ing, Thou art my Sonne, &c. This is most properly applied to Christ, to whom God the Father in a most proper and peculiar respect so said. That Apostrophe of the Father to his Sonne, and emphaticall expression of the relative * 1.7 THOU, sheweth that an especial Sonne is meant: such a Sonne as none is or can be, but he alone that is there meant. Of the difference betwixt Christ and other sonnes of God, See §. 15.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Venerunt An∣geli Dei. Orig. in loc.
• * 1.2

  Sancti Angeli qui sunt stabiles & d•…•…ificati. Harm. in Ps. 88
• b 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• c 1.4

  Filij Dei vel Angeli vel san∣cti intelligend•…•… sunt. Hier. comment. in Job. 1.
• d 1.5

  See §. 15.
• * 1.6

  Ille natus, nos adoptati, Ille ab aterno filius uni genitus per naturam: nos a tempore facti per gratiam. Aug. Enar. in Psa. 88.
• * 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉