II.
Perhaps these three persons of our ancestors,
being in an image the consubstantial representatives of humanity, are,
as also Methodius thinks, types of the Holy and Consubstantial
Trinity,
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the innocent
and unbegotten Adam being the type and resemblance of God the Father
Almighty, who is uncaused, and the cause of all; his begotten
son
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shadowing
forth the image of the begotten Son and Word of God; whilst Eve, that
proceedeth forth from Adam,
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signifies the person and procession
of the Holy Spirit.
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[Such is the fact, no doubt, as to the ancestors of the Jewish race;
the fatherly character of Abraham, the filial character of Isaac, and
the missionary offices of Jacob—whose wisdom and organizing
faculties are so conspicuous—interpreting, in some degree,
“the Holy and Consubstantial Trinity.” This seems to
be hinted, indeed, in the formula, “I am the God of Abraham, and
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Isaac’s
submission to be sacrificed upon Mount Moriah, and Jacob’s
begetting and sending forth the twelve patriarchs, singularly identify
them as types of the Atoning Son and the regenerating Spirit, whose
gifts and mission were imparted to the twelve Apostles.]
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[Abel.]
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[Note the single procession. The formula of the Hebrews, however,
above noted, supplies a type of the
Filioque
and the
ab
utroque
in the true sense of those terms.]
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[Recur to chap. v. of
The Banquet
, p. 333,
supra
.]