The summe of Christian religion: deliuered by Zacharias Vrsinus in his lectures vpon the Catechism autorised by the noble Prince Frederick, throughout his dominions: wherein are debated and resolued the questions of whatsoeuer points of moment, which haue beene or are controuersed in diuinitie. Translated into English by Henrie Parrie, out of the last & best Latin editions, together with some supplie of wa[n]ts out of his discourses of diuinitie, and with correction of sundrie faults & imperfections, which ar [sic] as yet remaining in the best corrected Latine.

1 HOW MANIE WAIES MEN ARE CALLED SONNES.

EVery sonne is a sonne either by nature, or by grace.* 1.1 A son by nature or a naturall and proper son is hee, who is parta∣ker of his fathers nature and essence: or, who hath the essence or na∣ture of him, whose sonne he is, communicated vnto him; and that either wholie, as Christ in respect of his Godhead: for vnto him the father by begetting him communicated his essence whole and the same: or in part, as men, vnto whom is commu∣nicated some little seuered portion of their fathers essence. Wher∣fore 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,* 1.2 not by nature, that is, not that he was procreated out of his sub∣stance, 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:* 1.3 some by grace of adoption: some by grace of vnion. The sonnes of God by grace of creation are Angels, and our first Parents be∣fore their fall. For that God shoulde create them, and con∣forme them vnto himselfe, that is, make them righteous and blessed, and that now also he maintaineth those bles∣singes 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 acknow∣ledge and magnifie him as their bountiful and benigne fa∣ther. 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,* 1.4 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 adop∣ted to be the sonnes of god, & are made Christs brethren, not by any merite of their owne,* 1.5 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 vs all. 2. In the fatherlie loue and bountifulnes of god towards vs, who for Christs sake embraceth vs as his sonnes, & heapeth vp∣on vs his benefites. 3 In our conformitie & correspondence with Christ, which is wrought by the holy Ghost, whom hee be∣stoweth on vs. 4. In the consummation and accomplishment of his benefites, that is, in perfect & eternal righteousnes, bles∣sednes, and glorie. In respect of the three latter we are the sonnes of God by adoption. The sonne of God by grace of con∣ception or vnion is Christ alone,* 1.6 in respect of his humane nature, which by the special working of the holy ghost, being con∣ceiued, formed, and sanctified in the Virgins wombe, was personally vnited vnto 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 com∣municated vnto him whole and the same.
• By Grace, either of
  • Creation, as Angels, and Adam before his fall.
  • Conception and vnion, as Christ accor∣ding to his humanitie.
  • Adoption, as Adam after his fall, and all the regenerate.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A natural sonne.
• * 1.2

  A sonne by grace.
• * 1.3

  The sonnes of God by grace of creation
• * 1.4

  Sonnes by grace or adoption.
• * 1.5

  Our fraternitie and brother∣hood with Christ.
• * 1.6

  The sonne of God by grace of vnion.