The Gofpel of the Leprofy. 295 humbled Under it ; it will make him look up earneftly, and cleave firmly to Jefus Chrift to make him clean. It is the moft dangerous thing in the World to take up high Conceits of a Mans felf, andof the Power of Corrupt Nature. This is a fore Rule, if People think themfelves clean, and any part in them Sound, they are in a fad Con- dition. 5. In cafe the Leprofy be in the Head he is doubly unclear:, Verf. 44. The Head is the principal Part of the Body, and the Seat ofReafon. Therefore a Leprofy there muff needs be very dangerous. So in cafe Men be Corrupt in their Minds and Judgments, they are Vnclean.. Corrupt Opinions are a figs of a finful Condition ; fach are far from the Kingdom of God. Where Sin has prevailed fo far, as to blind the very Mind and Underftanding, they are more uncapable of Con- verfion than others, becaufe fo far from Convi&ion For Converfion begins in Illumination. There may be failings in the Lives of the People of God : But they difown them ; they are not fo corrupt in their Minds and Principles as to juftify themfelves in them. There be feveral other Rules in the Chapter ; fame relating to the bodily Difeafe, and fo not neceffary to feek out a. Spiritual Mean- ing of each particular Expreon : And the fame Rules in the,firft 17 Verles are repeated again in other Cafes of the Leprofy, in Clothes,.. in Skins, etc. Let us therefore proceed to a fourth Obfer,ation. Obf. 4, Note the Duties impofed upon the Leper, when thus deteaed They are five, Vert. 45. 46, 47. . To rend bis Clothes : A fign of Sorrow and Lamentation ; fo 2 Kings 6. 3o. The King's Clothes were rent, in that Famine. 2. His Head muff be bare : For the fame End, this being another outward Expreffion of Sorrow, ufual in thofe Times. 3. He mug cover bis Lips : Thus they were wont fo to exprefs their Shame, fee Mica. 3. 7 Ezek. 24. 17. He mutt keep Silence before God, as being under Shame andConfufion. 4. He snuft cry unclean, unclean : He muff give warning to others to fhun him. He may fpeak of his own Leprofie, but otherwife he mart be filent. So a. fcandalous Sinner may fpeak in Confeflion of his Sin,... he muff tell others he is unclean. He mutt not charge others with, their Failings, but load his own Confcience, and take lriisGuiltinefs home to himfelf.. 5. He (hall dwell alone : They were to be put out..of. the, camp, and excluded from the &Fella of g°,of,God's people. The Priest mutt fhut hire out and he mutt fubmit. So King Vziab did, z Chron. 26. zo. This
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