Note 26 — I.

Origen’s words are almost literally the same—“Si adsideamus litterae et secundum hoc vel quod Judaeis, vel quod vulgo videtur, accipiamus quæ in lege scripta sunt, erubesco dicere et confiteri quia tales leges dederit Deus: videbuntur enim magis elegantes et rationabiles hominum leges, verbi gratia vel Romanorum vel Atheniensium, vel Lacedaemoniorum.” Homil. vii, in Levit. Again, the same erudite father says, “What person in his senses will imagine that the first, second, and third day, in connection with which morning and evening are mentioned, were without sun, moon and stars, nay that there was no sky on the first day? Who is there so foolish and without common sense as to believe that God planted trees in the garden eastward of Eden like a husbandman, and planted therein the tree of life, perceptible to the eyes and senses, which gave life to the eater thereof; and another tree which gave to the eater thereof a knowledge of good and evil? I believe that everybody must regard these as figures, under which a recondite sense is concealed.” Lib. iv, cap. ii, περὶ ἀρχῶν. Huet, Origeniana, p. 167. Comp. Davidson, Sacred Hermeneutics, Edinburgh, 1843, p. 99, &c. It must, however, not be supposed that this sort of interpretation, which defies all rules of sound exegesis and common sense, is confined to the ancient Jewish Rabbins or the Christian fathers. The Commentary on Genesis and Exodus by Chr. Wordsworth, D.D., Canon of Westminster, may fairly compete in this respect with any production of bygone days. Will it be believed that Dr. Wordsworth actually sees it “suggested by the Holy Spirit Himself,” that Noah drunk, exposing his nakedness, and mocked by his own child, Ham, is typical of Christ who drank the cup of God’s wrath, stripped Himself of His heavenly glory, and was mocked by his own children the Jews? But we must give the Canon’s own words. “Noah drank the wine of his vineyard; Christ drank the cup of God’s wrath, which was the fruit of the sin of the cultivators of the vineyard, which he had planted in the world. Noah was made naked to his shame; Christ consented for our sake to strip Himself of His heavenly glory, and took on him the form of a servant. ( Phil. ii, 7 .) He laid aside his garments, and washed his disciples’ feet ( John, xiii, 4 .) He hid not his face from shame and spitting. ( Isa. 1, 6 .) When he was on the Cross, they that passed by reviled Him. ( Matt. xxvii, 39 .) He was mocked by His own children, the Jews. He deigned to be exposed to insult for our sakes, in shame and nakedness on the Cross ( Heb. xii, 2 ), in order that we might receive eternal glory from His shame, and be clothed through His weakness with garments of heavenly beauty.” (Commentary on Genesis and Exodus, London, 1864, p. 52.) ↑