The Gofpel of Cleanfingfrom the Leprofy. 3 y 5 Prieft mutt judge, and it is this Word which cannot err nor lye, that í]1a11 judge of thee at that Day. It belongs alfo to Minifters in an inferiour Way to judge ofMen, todifcern between the Clean and the Unclean, and to retain or re-, wit Sins Minifterially, fohn 20. 23. Thefe are the preparatory Dire- &ions for the Purification of the Leper. 2. The Executive Part follows from Verf. 3. &c. and it confifts main- ly in two Things. r. The Sacrifice of two Birds and their Ceremonies, to Verf to. 2. ASacrifice of three Lambs with their Appurtenances and Cere- monies, from Verf. to to 2t. t. The fivfl part of the Purification of the Leper, is by two Birds, and the Ceremonies belonging to them, from Verf 3. to Verf. to. The Materials here required are two living clean Birds, together with Cedar, Scarlet and Hyffop, Verf. 4. The Birds are thought to be Sparrows. The Hebrew Word Ziphor fignifies a Bird in general, any winged Fowl: Deut. ç. 17. They are forbidden to make the likenefs of any winged Fowl that flieth in the Air. Pfal. 8. 8. The Fowls of the Air. And is fome- times ufed particularly concerning a Sparrow, Pfaff. 84. 3. and 102. 7. We may underftand it here in the largeft Senfe for any clean Birds. Thefe two Birds and the Herbs are the Ingredients that mnft all concur to make up the Matter of this cleanfing Sacrifice. The two Birds were not two Sacrifices ; for one of them was not Rain, but difmifled : But they did both make up one Sacrifice : Some of the Mysteries whereof, could not be reprefented by one Bird, and therefore two were appointed, the one to die, and the other to live. They had another Ordinance of the like Nature, and of the fame Importance with this, viz. the two Goats on the yearly Feaft of Ex- piation, Levit. t 6. whereof the one was (lain, the other did efcape being fent away into the Wildernefs : Therefore called the Scape Goat. But why were there two Birds, and what was the Myftery of this? Anf It fhadowed forth both the Natures and Eliates of our Lord Jefus Chrift. t. Both his Natures ; his eternal Deity and his mortal Humanity; are here prefigured and reprefented. The Rain Bird, reprefents his Humane Nature capable of Death and Suffering. Theother Bird his Divine Nature, which was and is immortal and impafïible. As both thefe Birds were neceffary, and muff be ufed in this Sacrifice : So Chrift our Sacrifice muff be both God and Man. We are not deán- Sfz fed
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