The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-09-25
Irenaus, Eve and the Virgin Mary.

In regard to the Interpretation of the
Old Testament, it must be admitted that,
in accordance with the custom of his
times, Ircneus gave the reins to his
Imagination, INDUCING in the most un-
constrained observation Of analogles to
Christian doctrines. And for this he adj
duces the authority Of the ancient pres
byter he so often quotes. From him he
learned not to rcproach the patriarchs
and prophets with those sins for which
the Scriptures reprovcs them, for they
we're rcmittcd by the advent of Christ,
while in regard to those which the Scrip
lures only mention, but Go not blame,
we should not imputc sin, but seek a
type, for none of these are IDLY told, OF
without some spiritual significance. The
wonder is that when his adversaries
sought to establish then views by arbi-
trary ailegorical interpretations. he did
not see that in indulging himself in such
interpretations, which were also arbrita-
ry, he was not helping rather than op-
posing them. TO one Of his analogics
We shall advert particularly, as has been
recently supposed to present some
thing forshadowing the doctrine of
the Immaculate Conception. We mean
the analogy between the circum-
stances Ut Ewes temptation and
cum annunciation OF the Virgin Mary.
1rcnHus was not singular in his day in OBJ
serving this analogy, which is in some re-
spects so oblivious, that it has at all times
been noticed even by those who have
failed to perceive any special doctrinal
significance in it. We shall translate the
words ct 1renGus as nearly as we can from
the edition of the Jesuit Feuartlcnt:
when the Lord was coming to his own,
His own creature bearing Him which was
borne by Himself, and was making re-
capitulation of that dlsobcdience, which
was III respect to tree by that obedience
which was on the tree, that seduction being
undonc by which the Virgin Eve, already
destined to a husband, was ill-scduccd,
the Virgil in Mary, already betrothed to Il
husband, was we'll evangelical through
the truth by an angel. For as the one
was seduced by the discourse of an angel,
that she might get rid of God, going
contrary to his word, so the other,
by the discourse of an angel was
evangelical, that she might bear God, be-
ing obedient to his word. And as the one
was seduccd that she might get rid of God,
SO tn other was persuaded to sbey Got:
of tho Virgin Eve the Virgin Mary might
become the advocate, Ono doubt, parakle-
tos, counselor, is ncant;> and as the human
race was bound to death by means OF Il
virgin, so by means Of a virgin it might he
loosed, virginia. disobedience being bal
ancing an even scale by virginia. obedience.
For the sin heretofore of the first created
was receiving cmendation by the chastise-
ment of the first begottcn, the wisdom of
the serpent being vanquished in tie SIM
plicity IF the dove, while the bonds were
united by which we were bound to death"
The same analogy is drawn out less con-
ciscly IN iii.33. There are, however, a
few differences. The assumption that
Eve was IL virgin at the time of the tall is
there justified by another pure assum D.
ton, that the newly formed couple were
as yet immature. The Virgin Mary. by
her obedience, became cause of salvation,
as Eve, by disobedience, became cause
of death. The obedience, however, is
represented as a consequence Of prcdesti-
nation, which has clang of Calvanism
about it which seems strange in so great
IN advocate Of tree will as our author
was. God predistinated the animal man
first, to wit, that he might be saved by
the spiritual man. As the Saviour pre-
existed, it behooved that what might be
saved should be created, that the word
Saviour should not be void of
meaning. Consequently the Virgin
Mary is found obedicnt, saying, "Be it
unto me according to my word" This
seems to negative the idea Of any merit
on her part. If she is said to have loosed
througl ~~faith what Eve had bound
through unbeliet, the way in which the
untying of the knot is explained implies
that Mary was herself entangled in the
knot in manner quite inconsistent with
tho notion in reference to which tho an
alogy is relied on. The recircling back
OF Mary upon Eve is tancifully illustrated
by the loosing of what is tied into knot.
This can only be effected by the turning
back of enc of the fastenings into anoth.
er, whereby there is loosening of the
knotted cords. Mary must therefore
have been herself entanglcd in the knot
united 10y her being turned back upon
Eve