CHAPTER XIII. The next ceremonial uncleanness is that of the leprosy; concerning which the law was very large and particular; the discovery of it in this chapter, and the clean sing of the leper in the next. Scarcely any one thing in all the levitical law takes up so much room as this: I. Rules are here given, by which the priest must judge whether a man had the leprosy or no, according as the symptom was that ap a boil, v. 18--23. 3. If it was an inflammation, v. 24-28. 4. If it was in the peared. 1. If it was a swelling, a scab, or a bright spot, v. 1-17. 2. If it was head or heard, v. 29-37. 5. If it was a bright spot, v. 38, 39. 6. If it was in a bald head, v. 40-44. II. Direction is given how the leper must be disposed of, v. 45, 46. III. Concerning the leprosy in garments, v. 47–59. ND the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, A saying, 2 When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests: 3 And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh; and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean. 4 If the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and in sight be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague seven days: 5 And the priest shall look on him the seventh day and, behold, if the plague in his sight be at a stay, and the plague spread not in the skin, then the priest shall shut him up seven days more: 6 And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day; and, behold, if the plague be somewhat dark, and the plague spread not in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is but a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean. ⚫or, swelling. a Deut. 28. 27. Is. 3. 17. b Deut. 17. 8, 9. 24. 8. Mal. 2. 7. Luke 17. 14. e Num. 12. 15. NOTES TO CHAPTER XIII. V. 1-17. Concerning the plague of leprosy we may observe in general, 1. That it was rather an uncleanness than a disease; or, at least, so the law considered it; and therefore employed not the physicians but the priests about it. Christ is said to cleanse lepers, not to cure them. We do not read of any that died of the leprosy, but it rather buried them alive, by rendering them unfit for conversation with any but such as were infected like themselves. Yet there is a tradition, that Pharaoh, who sought to kill Moses, was the first that ever was struck with this disease, and that he died of it. It is said to have begun first in Egypt, from whence it spread into Syria. It was very well known to Moses, when he put his own hand into his bosom, and took it out leprous. 2. That it was a plague inflicted immediately by the hand of God, and came not from natural causes, as other diseases; and therefore must be managed according to a divine law. Miriam's leprosy, and Gehazi's, and king Uzziah's, were all the punishments of particular sins: and if generally it was so, no marvel there was so much care taken to distinguish it from a common distemper, that none might be looked upon as lying under this extraordinary token of divine displeasure, but those that really were so. 3. That it is a plague now not known in the world; what is commonly called the leprosy, is of a quite different nature; this seems reserved as a particular scourge for the sinners of those times and places; the Jews retained the idolatrous customs they had learned in Egypt, and therefore God justly caused this with some other of the diseases of Egypt to follow them. Yet we read of Naaman the Syrian, who was a leper, 2 Kings 5. 1. 4. That there were other breakings-out in the body, which did very much resemble the leprosy, but were not it; which might make a man sore and loathsome, and yet not ceremonially unclean. Justly are our bodies called vile bodies, which have in them the seeds of so many diseases, by which the lives of so many are made bitter to them. 5. That the judgment of it was referred to the priests. Lepers were looked upon as stigmatized by the justice of God, and therefore it was left to his servants the priests, who might be presumed to know his mark best, to pronounce who were lepers, and who were not. And the Jews say, "Any priest, though disabled by a blemish to attend the sanctuary, might be judge of the leprosy, provided the blemish were not in his eye. And he might" (they say)" take a common person to assist him in the search, but the priest only must pronounce the judgment." 6. That it was a figure of the moral pollutions of men's minds by sin, which is the leprosy of the soul, defiling to the conscience, and from which Christ alone can cleanse us; for herein the power of his grace infinitely transcends that of the legal priesthood, that the priest could only convict the leper, (for by the law is the knowledge of sin,) but Christ can cure the leper, he can take away sin; Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean; which was more than the priests could do, Matt. 8. 2. Some think that the leprosy signified, not so much 7 But if the scab spread much abroad in the skin, after that he hath been seen of the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen of the priest again: 8 And if the priest see that, behold, the scab spreadeth in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean it is a leprosy. 9 When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest; 10 And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising; 11 It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh; and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up: for he is unclean. 12 And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the priest looketh; 13 Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean. 14 But when raw flesh appeareth in him, he shall be unclean. 15 And the priest shall see the raw flesh, and pronounce him to be unclean; for the raw flesh is unclean: it is a leprosy. 16 Or if the raw flesh turn again, and be changed unto white, he shall come unto the priest; 17 And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the plague be turned into white, then the priest shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: he is clean. d Num. 12. 10, 12. 2 Kings 5. 27. 2 Chr. 26. 19, 20. the quickening of living flesh. e Is. 64. 6. John 9. 41. sin in general, as a state of sin, by which men are separated from God, their spot not being the spot of God's children; and scandalous sin, for which men are to be shut out from the communion of the faithful. It is a work of great importance, but of great difficulty, to judge of our spiritual state: we have all cause to suspect ourselves, being conscious to ourselves of sores and spots, but whether clean or unclean, is the question. A man might have a scab, (v. 6,) and yet be clean; the best have their infirmities; but as there were certain marks by which to know that it was a leprosy, so there are characters of such as are in the gall of bitterness; and the work of ministers is to declare the judgment of leprosy, and to assist those that suspect themselves, in the trial of their spiritual state, remitting or retaining sin. And hence the keys of the kingdom of heaven are said to be given them, because they are to separate between the precious and the vile, and to judge who are fit as clean to partake of the holy things, and who as unclean to be debarred them. Now, (1.) Several rules are here laid down, by which the priest must go, in making his judgment. [1.] If the sore were but skin-deep, it was to be hoped it was not the leprosy, v. 4. But if it was deeper than the skin, the man must be pronounced unclean, v. 3. The infirmities that consist with grace, do not sink deep into the soul, but the mind still serves the law of God, and the inward man delights in it, Rom. 7. 22, 25. But if the matter be really worse than it shows, and the inwards be infected, the case is dangerous. [2.] If the sore be at a stay, and do not spread, it is no leprosy, v. 5, 6. But if it spread much abroad, and continue to do so after several inspections, the case is bad, v. 7, 8. If men do not grow worse, but a stop be put to the course of their sins, and their corruptions be checked, it is to be hoped they will grow better; but if sin get ground, and they become worse every day, they are going down hill. [3.] If there were proud raw flesh in the rising, the priest needed not to wait any longer, it was certainly a leprosy, v. 10, 11. Nor is there any surer indication of the badness of a man's spiritual state, than the heart's rising in self-conceit, confidence in the flesh, and resistance of the reproofs of the word, and strivings of the Spirit. [4.] If the eruption, whatever it was, covered all the skin from head to foot, it was no leprosy, (v. 12, 13,) for it was an evidence that the vitals were sound and strong, and nature hereby helped itself, throwing out what was burdensome and pernicious. There is hope in the small-pox, when they come out well; so if men freely confess their sins, and hide them not, there is no danger comparable to theirs that cover their sins. Some gather this from it, that there is more hope of the profane than the hypocrites. The publicans and harlots went into the kingdom of heaven before Scribes and Pharisees. In one respect, the sudden breakings-out of passion, though bad enough, are not so dangerous as malice concealed. Others gather this, That if we judge ourselves, we shall not be judged; if we see and own that there is no health in us, no soundness in our flesh, by reason of sin, we shall find grace in the eyes of the Lord. 18 The flesh also, in which, even in the skin thereof, was a boil, and is healed, 19 And in the place of the boil there be a white rising, or a bright spot, white, and somewhat reddish, and it be showed to the priest; 20 And if, when the priest seeth it, behold, it be in sight lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil. 21 But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hairs therein, and if it be not lower than the skin, but be somewhat dark, then the priest shall shut him up seven days: 22 And if it spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean it is a plague. 23 But if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not, it is a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him 'clean. 24 Or if there be any flesh, in the skin whereof there is a hot burning, and the quick flesh that burneth have a white bright spot, somewhat reddish or white, there be in it a yellow thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry scall, even a leprosy upon the head or beard. 31 And if the priest look on the plague of the scall, and, behold, it be not in sight deeper than the skin, and that there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague of the scall seven "days: 32 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague: and, behold, if the scall spread not, and there be in it no yellow hair, and the scall be not in sight deeper than the skin, 33 He shall be shaven, but the scall shall he not shave; and the priest shall shut up him that hath the scall seven days more: 34 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall; and, behold, if the scall be not spread in the skin, nor be in sight deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean; and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean. 35 But if the scall spread much "in the skin after his cleansing, 36 Then the priest shall look on him: and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the priest 25 Then the priest shall look upon it: and, be-shall not seek for yellow hair; he is unclean. hold, if the hair in the bright spot be turned white, and it be in sight deeper than the skin, it is a leprosy broken out of the burning: wherefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy. 37 But if the scall be in his sight at a stay, and that there is black hair grown up therein, the scall is healed, he is clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean. 38 If a man also or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots, 26 But if the priest look on it, and, behold there be no white hair in the bright spot, and it be no lower than the other skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days: 27 And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day; and if it be spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him un-he is bald; yet is he clean. clean: it is the plague of leprosy. 39 Then the priest shall look: and, behold, if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh be darkish white; it is a freckled spot that groweth in the skin: he is clean. 28 And if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not in the skin, but it be somewhat dark; it is a rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean; for it is an inflammation of the burning. 29 If a man or woman have a 'plague upon the head or the beard; 30 Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and f Ex. 9.9. 15. 26. g 1 Cor. 5. 5. Joh 34. 31. Prov. 28. 13. 1 Pet. 4. 3. i 2 Cor. (3.) If the person suspected were found to be clean, yet he In reading these several sorts of ailments, it will be good for us, (1.) To lament the calamitous state of human life, which lies exposed to so many grievances. What troops of diseases are we beset with on every side; and they all entered by sin. (2.) To give thanks to God, if he has never afflicted us with any of these sores: if the constitution is healthful, and the 40 And the man whose hair is fallen off his head, 41 And he that hath his hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his face, he is forehead bald; yet is he clean. 42 And if there be in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white reddish sore; it is a leprosy sprung up in his bald head, or his bald forehead. 43 Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the rising of the sore be white reddish in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh, m ver. 4-6. n ver. 7. 27. 2 Tim. 2. 17. 3. 13. o Ec. 7. 20. Rom. 7. 22, 23. Jam. 3.2. head is pilled. body lively and easy, we are bound to glorify God with our bodies. V. 38-46. We have, 1. Provisoes, that neither a freckled skin nor a bald head, should be mistaken for a leprosy, v. 38, 41. Every deformity must not forthwith be made a ceremonial defilement. Elisha was jeered for his bald head, (2 Kings 2. 23,) but they were the children of Bethel who turned it to his reproach, that knew not the judgments of their God. 2. A particular brand set upon the leprosy, if at any time it did appear in a bald head, v. 44. The plague is in his head, he is utterly unclean. If the leprosy of sin have seized the head, if the judgment be corrupted, and wicked principles, which countenance and support wicked practices, be embraced, it is an utter uncleanness, from which few are ever cleansed. Soundness in the faith keeps the leprosy from the head, and saves conscience from being shipwrecked. (3.) Directions what must be done with the convicted leper. When the priest, upon mature deliberation, had solemnly pronounced him unclean, (1.) He must pronounce himself so. v. 45. He must put himself into the posture of a mourner, and cry, Unclean, unclean. The leprosy was not itself a sin, but it was a sad token of God's displeasure, and a sore affliction to him that was under it. It was a reproach to his name, put a full stop to his business in the world, cut him off from conversation with his friends and relations, condemned him to banishment till he was cleansed, shut him out from the sanctuary, and was, in effect, the ruin of all the comfort he could have in this world. Heman, it would seem, either was a leper, or alludes to the melancholy condition of a leper, Ps. 88. 8, &c. He must therefore, [1.] Humble himself under the mighty hand of God, not insisting upon his cleanness, when the priest had pronounced him unclean, but justifying God, and accepting the punishment of his iniquity. He must signify this by rending his clothes, uncovering his head, and covering his upper lip; all tokens of shame and confusion of face, and very significant of that self-loathing and self-abasement which should fill the hearts of penitents, the language of which is self-judging. Thus must we take to ourselves the shame that belongs to us, 44 He is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague is in his head. 45 And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, 'unclean. 46 All the days "wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled: he is unclean: he shall dwell alone, without the camp shall his habitation be. 47 The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it be a woollen garment, or a linen garment, 57 And if it appear still in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a spreading plague: thou shalt burn "that wherein the plague is with fire. 58 And the garment, either warp, or woof, or whatsoever thing of skin it be, which thou shalt wash, if the plague be departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and shall be clean. 59 This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp or woof, or any thing of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean. CHAPTER XIV. 48 Whether it be in the warp, or woof; of The former chapter directed the priests how to convict a leper of ceremonial uncleanlinen, or of woollen; whether in a skin, or in any *thing made of skin; 49 And if the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a plague of leprosy, and shall be showed unto the priest: 50 And the priest shall look upon the plague, and shut up it that hath the plague seven days: ness; no prescriptions are given for his cure; but, when God had cured him, the AND the LORD be the law of the leper in the 51 And he shall look on the plague on the seventh day if the plague be spread in the garment, either the priest: : in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, or in any work that is made of skin; the plague is a fretting leprosy; it is unclean. 52 He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, wherein the plague is for it is a fretting leprosy it shall be burnt in the fire. 53 And if the priest shall look, and, behold, the plague be not spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; 54 Then the priest shall command that they wash the thing wherein the plague is, and he shall shut it up seven days more: 55 And the priest shall look on the plague, after that it is washed ; and, behold, if the plague have not changed his colour, and the plague be not spread, it is unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire; it is fret inward, whether it be bare within or without. 56 And if the priest look, and, behold, the plague be somewhat dark after the washing of it; then he shall rend it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof: p Is. 1. 5. q 2 Sam. 13. 19. Ezra 9. 3. Job 1. 20. Jer. 36. 24. Joel 2. 13. r Lev. 10. 6. 21. 10. Ez. 24. 17, 22. Mic. 3. 7. Job 42.6. Ps. 51, 3, 5. Is. 6. 5. 64. 6. Rom. 3. 23. 1 Cor. 6. 11. u Prov. 30. 12. Num. 5 2. 12. 14. 2 Kings 7. 3. 15. 5. 2 Chr. 26. 21. Pa. 38. 11. Lam. 1. 1. Luke 17. 12. 1 Cor. 5, 5-13. 2 Thes. 3.6. 1 Tim. 6. 5. Rev. 21. 27. 22. 15. to Josh. 7. 21. Ec. 9. 8. 1s. 61. 10. 64. 6. Zech. 3.3, 4. Jam. 5. 2. Jude 23. Rev. 4. 4. 16. 15. • work of. ↑ vessel, or, instrument. c. 14. 44. y c. 11. 33. Deut. 7. 25, 26. Is. 30. 22. Acts 19. 19, 20. 3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp: and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper, 4 Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and 'cedar-wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over drunning water. 6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar-wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: 7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy fseven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose 'into the open field. 8 And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days. Ez. 24. 13. Heb. 6. 4-8. 2 Pet. 1. 9. 2. 20, 22. ↑ bald in the head thereof, or, in the forehead thereof. a 1s. 33. 14. Matt. 3. 12. 25. 41. Rev. 21. 8. a Matt. 8. 2, 4. Mark 1. 44. Luke 5. 12, 14. 17. 14. or, sparrows. b Num. 19. 6. Heb. 9. 19. c Ps. 51. 7. d ver. 50. e Num. 19. 18, 19. Is. 52. 15. Ez. 36. 25. John 19. 34. Heb. 9. 13, 21. 12. 24. 1 John 5. 6. f 2 Kings 5. 10, 14. Ps. 51. 2. ↑ upon the face of the field. g c. 13. 6. c. 11. 25. Eph. 5. 26. Heb. 10. 22. 1 Pet. 3. 21. Rev. 1. 5, 6. and with broken hearts call ourselves by our own name, it was a sign and a miracle in Israel, an extraordinary punishUnclean, unclean; heart unclean, life unclean; unclean by ori- ment inflicted by the divine power, as a token of great ginal corruption, unclean by actual transgression; unclean, and displeasure against a person or family. 1. The process was therefore worthy to be for ever excluded from communion with much the same with that concerning a leprous person. The God, and all hope of happiness in him. We are all as an un- garment suspected to be tainted was not to be burned immeclean thing, (Is. 64. 6 ;) unclean, and therefore undone, if infi-diately, though it may be, there would have been no great loss nite mercy do not interpose. [2.] He must give warning to of it; for in no case must sentence be given merely upon a others to take heed of coming near him. Wherever he went, surmise, but it must be showed to the priest. If, upon search, he must cry to those he saw at a distance, "I am unclean, un- it was found that there was a leprous spot, (the Jews say, no clean, take heed of touching me.' Not that the leprosy was bigger than a bean,) it must be burned, or, at least, that part of catching, but by the touch of a leper ceremonial uncleanness the garment in which the spot was, v. 52, 57. If the cause of was contracted. Every one therefore was concerned to avoid the suspicion was gone, it must be washed, and then might be it; and the leper himself must give notice of the danger. And used, v. 58. 2. The signification also was much the same, to this was all that the law could do, in that it was weak through intimate the great malignity there is in sin: it not only defiles the flesh; it taught the leper to cry, Unclean, unclean, but the the sinner's conscience, but it brings a stain upon all his Gospel has put another cry into the lepers' mouths, (Luke 17. employments and enjoyments, all he has, and all he does. To 12, 13,) where we find ten lepers crying with a loud voice, them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure, Tit. 1. 15. Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. The law only shows us our And we are taught hereby to hate even the garments spotted by disease, the Gospel shows us our help in Christ. (2.) He the flesh, Jude 23. Those that make their clothes servants to must then be shut out of the camp, and afterward, when they their pride and lust, may see them thereby tainted with a But the ornacame to Canaan, out of the city, town, or village, where he leprosy, and doomed to the fire, Is. 3. 18-24. lived, and dwell alone, (v. 46,) associating with none but those ment of the hidden man of the heart is incorruptible, 1 Pet. 3. 4. that were lepers like himself. When king Uzziah became a The robes of righteousness never fret, nor are motheaten, leper, he was banished his palace, and dwelt in a several house, 2 Chr. 26. 21. And see 2 Kings 7. 3. This typified the purity which ought to be preserved in the Gospel church, by the solemn and authoritative exclusion of scandalous sinners that hate to be reformed from the communion of the faithful; Put away from among yourselves that wicked person, 1 Cor. 5. 13. V.47-59. This is the law concerning the plague of leprosy in a garment, whether linen or woollen. A leprosy in a garment, with discernible indications of it, the colour changed by it, the garment fretted, the nap worn off, and this in some one particular part of the garment, and increasing when it was shut up, and not to be got out by washing, is a thing which to us now is altogether unaccountable. The learned confess that V. 1-9. Here, NOTES TO CHAPTER XIV. I. It is supposed that the plague of the leprosy was not an incurable disease. Uzziah's indeed continued to the day of his death, and Gehazi's was entailed upon his seed; but Miriam's lasted only seven days: we may suppose that it often wore off in process of time; though God contend long, he will not contend for ever. II. The judgment of the cure, as well as that of the disease, was referred to the priest. He must go out of the camp to the And we leper, to see whether his leprosy was healed, v. 3. may suppose the priest did not contract any ceremonial 9 But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head, and his beard, and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean. 10 And on the eighth day he shall take two he-lambs without blemish, and one ewe-lamb "of the first year without blemish, and three tenth-deals of fine flour for a meat-offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil. 11 And the priest that maketh him clean shall present 'the man that is to be made clean, and those Num. 6. 9. 8. 7. the daughter of her year. k c. 2. 1. Num. 15. 4, 15. uncleanness, by coming near the leper, as another person would. It was in mercy to the poor lepers that the priests particularly had orders to attend them, for the priests' lips should keep knowledge; and those in affliction had need to be instructed, both how to bear their afflictions, and how to reap benefit by them; had need of the word in concurrence with the rod, to bring them to repentance: therefore it is well for those that are sick, if they have these messengers of the Lord of Hosts with them, these interpreters, to show unto them God's uprightness, Job 33. 23. When the leper was shut out, and could not go to the priests, it was well that the priests might come to him. Is any sick? Let him send for the elders, the ministers, Jam. 5. 14. If we apply it to the spiritual leprosy of sin, it intimates that when we withdraw from those who walk disorderly, that they may be ashamed, we must not count them as enemies, but admonish them as brethren, 2 Thes. 3. 15. And also that when God by his grace has brought those to repentance, who were shut out of communion for scandal, they ought with tenderness, and joy, and sincere affection, to be received in again. Thus Paul orders concerning the excommunicated Corinthian, that when he had given evidences of his repentance, they should forgive him, and comfort him, and confirm their love towards him, 2 Cor. 2. 7, 8. And ministers are intrusted by our Master with the declarative power of loosing as well as binding; both must be done with great caution and deliberation, impartially and without respect of persons, with earnest prayer to God for direction, and a sincere regard to the edification of the body of Christ; due care being always taken that sinners may not be encouraged by an excess of lenity, nor penitents discouraged by an excess of severity. Wisdom and sincerity are profitable to direct in this case. III. If it were found that the leprosy was healed, the priest must declare it with a particular solemnity. The leper or his friends were to get ready two birds caught for this purpose, (any sort of wild birds that were clean,) and cedar-wood, and scarlet, and hyssop; for all these were to be used in the ceremony. 1. A preparation was to be made of blood and water, with which the leper must be sprinkled. One of the birds (and the Jews say, if there was any difference, it must be the larger and better of the two) was to be killed over an earthen cup of spring water, so that the blood of the bird might discolour the water. This (as some other types) had its accomplishment in the death of Christ, when out of his pierced side there came water and blood, John 19. 34. Thus Christ comes into the soul for its cure and cleansing, not by water only, but by water and blood, 1 John 5. 6. 2. The living bird, with a little scarlet wool, and a bunch of hyssop, must be fastened to a cedar-stick, dipped in the water and blood, which must be so sprinkled upon him that was to be cleansed, v. 6, 7. The cedar-wood signified the restoring of the leper to his strength and soundness, for that is a sort of wood not apt to putrefy. The scarlet wool signified his recovering a florid colour again, for the leprosy made him white as snow. And the hyssop intimated the removing of the disagreeable scent which commonly attended the leprosy. The cedar the stateliest plant, and hyssop the meanest, are here used together in this service, (see 1 Kings 4. 33;) for those of the lowest rank in the church may be of use in their place, as well as those that are most eminent, 1 Cor. 12. 21. Some make the slain bird to typify Christ dying for our sins, and the living bird Christ rising again for our justification. The dipping of the living bird in the blood of the slain bird intimated that the merit of Christ's death was that which made his resurrection effectual for our justification. He took his blood with him into the holy place, and there appeared a lamb as it had been slain. The cedar, scarlet, and hyssop, must all be dipped in the blood; for the word and ordinances, and all the operations of the Spirit, receive their efficacy for our cleansing from the blood of Christ. The leper must be sprinkled seven times, to signify a complete purification; in allusion to which David prays, Wash me thoroughly, Ps. 51. 2. Naaman was bid to wash seven times, 2 Kings 5. 10. 3. The living bird was then to be let loose in the open field, to signify that the leper, being cleansed, was now no longer under restraint and confinement, but might take his liberty to go where he pleased. But this being signified by the flight of a bird toward heaven, was an intimation to him henceforward to seek the things that are above, and not to spend this new life to which God had restored him, merely in the pursuit of earthly things. This typified that glorious liberty of the children of things, before the LORD, at the door of the taber- offer him for a "trespass-offering, and the log of where he shall kill the sin-offering and the burnt- Num. 8. 11, 21. Eph. 5. 26, 27. Jude 24. m c. 5. 18. 6. 6. n Ex. 29. 24. o c. 7. 7. his body and his clothes, and shave off all his hair, (v. 8,) Lastly, When the leper was pronounced clean, he must wash day must do it again, v. 9. The priest having pronounced him clean from the disease, he must make himself as clean as must still tarry seven days out of the camp, and on the seventh defilements, and he must take time to do this. Thus they who ever he could from all the remains of it, and from all other of the blood of Christ upon their consciences, must with the utmost care and caution cleanse themselves from all filthiness have the comfort of the remission of their sins, by the sprinkling both of flesh and spirit, and thoroughly purge themselves from their old sins: for every one that hath this hope in him, will be concerned to purify himself. the eighth day, after the former solemnity performed without the trespass-offering, the lamb for which was offered first, v. 12. of the trespass-offering, and the priest shall put it Tupon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot: 15 And the priest shall take some of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand: 16 And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD: 17 And of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass-offering. 18 And the remnant of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed; and the priest shall make ran atonement for him before the LORD. 19 And the priest shall offer the sin-offering, and make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed from his uncleanness; and afterward he shall kill the burnt-offering. 20 And the priest shall offer the burnt-offering and the meat-offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean. 21 And if he be poor, and "cannot get so much; then he shall take one lamb for a trespass-offering to be waved, to make an atonement for him, and one tenth-deal of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat-offering, and a log of oil; 22 And two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get; and the one shall be a sinoffering, and the other a burnt-offering. 23 And he shall bring them on the eighth day for his cleansing unto the priest, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, before the LORD. 24 And the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass-offering, and the log of oil, and the priest pc. 8. 23. 9 ver. 14. r c. 4. 26. 5. 6. c. 5. 7. 12.8. • his hand reach not. t for a waving. t ver. 12. ver. 14, 17. ver. 22. c. 15. 14, 15. which was first waved, and then sprinkled before the Lord, was in like manner put in the same places upon the blood. "The blood," (says the learned Bishop Patrick,) "seems to have been a token of forgiveness; the oil, of healing;" for God first forgiveth our iniquities, and then healeth our diseases, Ps. 103. 3. See Is. 38. 17. Wherever the blood of Christ is applied for justification, the oil of the Spirit is applied for sanctification; for these two are inseparable, and both necessary to our acceptance with God. Nor shall our former leprosy, if it be healed by repentance, be any bar to these glorious privileges. Cleansed lepers are as welcome to the blood and the oil as consecrated priests. Such were some of you, but ye are washed. When the leper was sprinkled, the water must have blood in it, (v. 5;) when he was anointed, the oil must have blood under it, to signify that all the graces and comforts of the Spirit, all his purifying dignifying influences, are owing to the death of Christ: it is by his blood alone that we are sanctified. (2.) Beside this, there must be a sin-offering and a burntoffering, a lamb for each, v. 19, 20. By each of these offerings, it is said, the priests shall make an atonement for him. [1.] His moral guilt shall be removed; the sin for which the leprosy was sent, shall be pardoned, and all the sins he had been guilty of in his afflicted state. Note, The removal of any outward trouble is then doubly comfortable to us, when at the same time God gives us some assurance of the forgiveness of our sins. If we receive the atonement, we have reason to rejoice, Rom. 5. 11. [2.] His ceremonial pollution shall be removed, which had kept him from the participation of the holy things. And this is called making an atonement for him, because our restoration to the privileges of God's children, typified hereby, is owing purely to the great Propitiation. When the atonement is made for him, he shall be clean, both to his own satisfaction, and to his reputation among his neighbours; he shall retrieve both his credit and his comfort; and both these true penitents become entitled to both ease and honour, by their interest in the atonement. The burnt-offering, beside the atonement that was made by it, was a thankful acknowledgment of God's mercy to him: and the more immediate the hand of God was both in the sickness and in the cure, the more reason he had thus to give glory to him; and thus, as our Saviour speaks, (Mark 1. 44,) to offer for his cleansing all those things which Moses commanded for a testimony unto them. V. 21-32. We have here the gracious provision which the law made for the cleansing of poor lepers. If they were not able to bring three lambs, and three tenth-deals of flour, they | shall wave them for a wave-offering before the LORD. 25 And he shall kill the lamb of the trespassoffering, and the priest shall take some of the "blood of the trespass-offering, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot: 26 And the priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his own left hand: 27 And the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before the LORD: 28 And the priest shall put of the oil that is in his hand upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the place of the blood of the trespassoffering: 29 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make an atonement for him before the LORD. 30 And he shall offer the one of the turtle-doves, or of the young pigeons, such as he can get; 31 Even such as he is able to get, the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, with the meat-offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed before the LORD. 32 This is the law of him in whom is the plague of leprosy, whose hand is not able to get that which pertaineth to his cleansing. 33 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 34 When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession; 35 And he that owneth the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, It seemeth to me there is as it were a plague in the house; Ps. 72. 12-14. Matt. 11. 5. Gen. 12. 7. 13. 17. 17. 8. Deut. 32. 49. y Am. 6. 11. Prov. 3. 33. Ps. 91. 10. Prov. 3. 33. Zech. 5.4. must bring one lamb, and one tenth-deal of flour; and instead of the other two lambs, two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, v. 21, 22. Here see, 1. That the poverty of the person concerned would not excuse him, if he brought no offering at all. Let none think that because they are poor, God requires no service from them, since he has considered them, and demands that which it is in the power of the poorest to give. "My son, give me thy heart, and with that the calves of thy lips shall be accepted instead of the calves of the stall." 2. That God expected from those who were poor only according to their ability; his commandments are not grievous, nor does he make us to serve with an offering. The poor are as welcome to God's altar as the rich; and if there be first a willing mind, and an honest heart, two pigeons, when they are the utmost a man is able to get, are as acceptable to God as two lambs; for he requires according to what a man has, and not according to what he has not. But it is observable, that though a meaner sacrifice was accepted from the poor, yet the very same ceremony was used for them as was for the rich; for their souls are as precious, and Christ and his Gospel are the same to both. Let not us therefore have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ with respect of persons, Jam. 2. 1. V. 33-53. This is the law concerning the leprosy in a house. Now that they were in the wilderness, they dwelt in tents, and had no houses, and therefore this law is made only an appendix to the former laws concerning the leprosy, because it related, not to their present state, but to their future settle ment. The leprosy in a house is as unaccountable as the leprosy in a garment; but if we see not what natural causes of it can be assigned, we may resolve it into the power of the God of nature, who here says, I put the leprosy in a house, (v. 34,) as his curse is said to enter into a house and consume it with the timber and stones thereof, Zech. 5. 4. Now, 1. It is supposed that even in Canaan itself, the land of promise, their houses might be infected with a leprosy. Though it was a holy land, that would not secure them from this plague, while the inhabitants were many of them so unholy. Thus, a place and a name in the visible church will not secure wicked people from God's judgments. 2. It is likewise taken for granted, that the owner of the house will make the priest acquainted with it, as soon as he sees the least cause to suspect the leprosy in his house; (v. 35,) It seemeth to me there is as it were a plague in the house. Sin, where that reigns in a house, is a plague there as it is in a |