B.C. 1490. It is evident that medical science been reduced to a system, from the nice discri had at this time mination of infectious dis orders, and the symptons by which they were characterised. Kitto. b Michaelis. Clarke. thetic aid."Thomson. and warmed thereby. When I told him that in the countries with a view to which I questioned him the people, for want of linen and from poverty, had always worn, and still wear, woollen stuffs next the skin, he stated it as his opinion that there the disagreeable effect just mentioned must take place in a still higher degree than in countries where, according to our German fashion, which would there be a luxury, a linen shirt is worn between the woollen clothes and the body. He added, that dead wool was usually manufactured into sacks and horse-cloths; and he expressed his wish for a statute, in the style of Moses, which should discourage the use of dead wool, or inflict a punishment on those who either sold it, or knowingly manufactured it into human clothing. I am likewise informed by Hamburghers, that in their neighbourhood many frauds are committed with dead wool, from its being sold for good wool; in consequence of which the stuffs made of it not only become very soon bare, but full first of little depressions, and then of holes." 53-59. (53) the.. spread, the same rule as in the case of persons. (54) shut.. more, see on v. 5. (55) not.. colour, sign of passing away. it.. inward, within the substance of the material, as a dry rot. (56) dark, faint. then he, etc., shall pronounce it to be departing. (57) if..still, after washing, etc. (58) then.. time,a to ensure perfect cleanness (59) this, i.e. fr. v. 47. a "Acc. to the Jews, the first washing was to The remedy for clothes-leprosy.-The best remedy was, in the put away the plague; the language of Moses, to destroy the leprous article: for that would second was to soon make every one careful to manufacture nothing either for cleanse it." himself, or for sale, that might be pronounced leprous; and people would soon observe where the fault lay, when they were losers, and found no sale for their goods, in consequence of former purchasers having suffered by them. The prohibition of dead "Even from the wool, although the legislator be ever so fully satisfied that it is body's purity, the entirely to blame for the effects in question, is not sufficient of mind receives a itself; for it will still be privately manufactured and then denied, secret sympa particularly where there is no board of survey. But where the stuff, in which leprous symptoms make their appearance, is destroyed in spite of the owner, every one will become attentive to guard against such a loss. Moses therefore enjoined, first, that the place on which there were marks of leprosy that no washing could obliterate, should be torn out; and then, if the leprosy met) think that still recurred a second time, that the whole piece should be burnt. the clothes-lep-With regard to leather and linen, I can say nothing with hisrosy, as well as torical certainty: because I know no great wholesale manufacthat in man, was turer or merchant in either line, and I do not choose to trouble caused by the presence of mi- my reader with conjectures, because they may occur to himself, nute insects or just as well as to me. Perhaps, however, my book may find some readers better acquainted with such persons than I can be here in Gottingen, and who may hereafter communicate with me on the subject; for which purpose, I particularly request the attention of my readers in Holland, where I am inclined to think the best judges may be found. Now that the origin of the evil has been traced in wool, there will be no great difficulty in carrying on the investigation further. Only I must deprecate closetaccounts and learned conjectures. It is only from those who are acquainted with the manufacture or sale of linen, leather, and furriery, on a large scale, that I look for any useful information. "Some (as Cal worms, which gnawed the tex ture, and left the stains." b Michaelis. CHAPTER THE FOURTEENTH. a b B.C. 1490. ing of the leper a Ma. viii. 2-4; 1—7. (1) spake, concerning the restoration of the leper. (2) the cleanslaw. .cleansing, the rule binding both him and the priest. (3) go.. camps, since the leper may not enter. (4) then, if it be healed. birds, prob. small birds, some say sparrows, see marg. A. V. cedar, or juniper (as Juniperus oxycedrus), to Lu. xvii. 14. serve as a handle by wh. to hold the bird and hyssop. scarlet, by wh. to tie bird and hyssop to cedar. hyssop, see on Ex. xii. 6 Nu. xix. 6. 22. (5) running, lit. living, fresh drawn fr. fountain. (6) cedar, etc. see v. 4. (7) seven, Naaman washed seven times in Jordan.d The two birds.-I. The first bird is a type of Christ. 1. As captured from the air, it suggests the Lord Jesus, who came down from the realms of light and glory; 2. As a clean bird, it suggests the pure and holy Jesus; 3. As a defenceless bird, it is a type of Him who said, "I have trod the winepress alone, and there was none to help;" 4. As a bird slain, it suggests the Saviour, who died "for man the creature sin." II. The second bird is a type of our own soul. 1. As it was plunged in the blood of the first bird, so must we be washed in the blood of Christ, or go polluted for ever; 2. In that it was free to go after it had been dipped in the blood, so it is a type of our souls after we have washed in the Lamb's blood: we can go where we will, and do what we will; for our will has been changed, and we shall not will that which is wrong; 3. As the bird flew away, so must we fly upwards to heaven. c Ps. li. 7; He. ix. 19; Jo. xix. 29, 30. d 2 K. v. 10, 14. Nature's happy commoners, that haunt in woods, in meads, and flowery gardens, rifle the sweets, and taste the choicest fruits." -Rowe. "The birds, great "He providently caters for the Shakespeare. sparrow." e Dr. Talmage. a whole breastful of texts, each one of which is a song of God to the believing soul! I heartily thank God for them! The two birds.-Interpreters have not been able to determine "Oh, what beauin what parts of Scripture the Hebrew term tsippor ought to be tiful messengers translated sparrow. Some suppose that Moses intends this bird those are that sit in the law concerning the purification of the leprosy: "Then on two legs, fly with two wings, shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed, and send out of two birds alive." One of these birds was to be killed over one little throat running water; and the living bird, after certain ceremonies described in the law, was ordered to be let loose into the open field. The same ceremonies were commanded to be observed in cleansing the leprous house. Jerome and many succeeding interpreters render the word used in the law, sparrows. But it is evident from an attentive perusal of the fourth verse that it signifies birds in general. "Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed, two birds alive and clean." Now, Cyril, Opera i. if the sparrow was a clean bird, there could be no use in com- 352; T. E. Hanmanding a clean one to be taken, since every one of the species kinson, 256. was ceremonially clean; but if it was unclean by law, then it could not be called clean. The term here must therefore signify birds in general, of which some were ceremonially clean, and some unclean; which rendered the specification in the command proper and necessary. From the terms of the law it appears that any species of clean birds might be taken on such occasions, domestic or wild; provided only they were clean, and the use of them conceded by the laws of Moses to the people. f Dr. Paxton. a 1 Jo. iii. 3. 8-11. (8) he.. shall, etc.," "there must be a co-operation b Wordsworth. of man's will and work with Divine grace." (9) seventh. ."Because we B.C. 1490. off, a second time. (10) eighth, the cleansing being complete, his consecration follows. three.. deals, i.e. ab. 10 pints. God in that sim-10g, ab. pt. (11) door. . congregation, lit. entrance of plicity we ought, the tent of meeting. could not serve fewer cere light, the less shadow. In the dant ceremonies, Law were abun therefore we Homiletic hints.-Putting off the old man and putting on the have these helps. Hence it is that new. Marked-I. By putting away sources of uncleannessthe nearer to shaving, washing, bathing. II. By reconsecration to God, and perfection, the seeking, anew, Divine aid. III. The great change acknowledged monies; as it by the priest and people in the presentation at the door of the were, the more tabernacle. Leprosy in England from 1184 to 1191.-The leprosy was at this period, and long after, a cruel epidemic in our country, possibly brought by the crusaders from the Holy Land, and spread in the Gospel far here by filth and bad diet. It was supposed to be infectious, and fewer, in heaven was shunned as the plague; so that had it not been for these pious institutions-i.e. the lazar-houses, multitudes must have perished "Blessed is the under this loathsome disorder. Among other wild fancies of the memory of those age, it was imagined that the persons afflicted with leprosy, a who have kept disease at that time (1327, Edward II.) very common, probably spotted from the from bad diet, had conspired with the Saracens to poison all world! yet more springs and fountains; and men being glad of any pretence to blessed and more get rid of those who were a burthen to them, many of these unof those who happy people were burnt alive on the chimerical imputation. have kept them- Every one of the lazar-houses had a person called a fore-goer, selves unspotted who used to beg daily for them. none at all."-T. Adams. themselves un dear the memory in the world!"Mrs. Jameson. a C. Simeon, M.A. b Delitzsch. the sunbeams, 12-16: (12) wave, etc., see on Ex. xxix. 24. (13) place, see Ex. xxix. 11. sin.. priests, etc., see on Le. vii. 7. (14) tip, etc., see Ex. xxix. 20. (15) pour.. hand, that all of the log of oil may be distributed to its proper uses. (16) sprinkle.. Lord, towards the sanctuary. "Holiness is The cleansing of the leper.-These ceremonies set forth in a something of God, wherever it striking manner-I. The ends for which the blood and spirit of is. It is an efflux Christ are to be applied to our souls. 1. The blood of Christ must from Him, and be applied to purge away our guilt; 2. His spirit must be applied lives in Him; as to renovate our nature. To this end we must-(1) Seek His inalthough they fluence; (2) Submit to His operations. II. The manner of this gild this lower application, in order to render it effectual. It must be-1. Parworld, and ticular; 2. United; 3. Orderly; 4. Believing. Address :-Those spread their golden wings who are (1) Conscious of their leprous state; (2) Desirous of over us, yet they deliverance from it." are not so much here where they shine as in the sun from whence they flow." Cudworth. - The purification of the leper.-As leprosy, regarded as a decomposition of the vital juices, and as putrefaction in a living body, was an image of death, and like this introduced the same dissolution and destruction of life into the corporeal sphere which sin introduced into the spiritual; and as the leper fr. this very reason was not only excluded from the fellowship of the sanctuary, but If you look for cut off from intercourse with the covenant nation which was heaven accord- called to sanctification; the man, when recovered from leprosy, ing to Christ's was first of all to be received into the fellowship of the covenant promise, you nation by a significant rite of purification, and then again to be earth according still further inducted into living fellowship with Jehovah in His to His revealed sanctuary. Hence the purification prescribed was divided into will. two acts, separated from one another by an interval of seven days. must walk on 17-23. (17) tip, etc., see Ex. xxix. 20. (18) pour, lit. give. B.C. 1490. a 2 Co. viii. 12 and.. atonement, see on iv. 26. (19) sin-offering, see vv. b Delitzsch. If heaven is may wel The cleansing of the leper.-In this way the man cleansed from leprosy was reconciled to Jehovah, and reinstated in the covenant really your privileges and covenant grace (vv. 19, 20). It was not till all this home, pray that had been done that the priest could proceed to make expiation for you come, if in the him with the sin-offering, for which the ewe-lamb was brought, "on path of duty, all account of his uncleanness;" i.e. on account of the sin which the winds and still adhered to him as well as to all the other members of the waves of afflictions, which, covenant nation, and which had come outwardly to light in the under God, are uncleanness of his leprosy; after which he presented his burnt- designed to send offering and meat-offering, which embodied the sanctification of you thither. all his members to the service of the Lord, and the performance of works well-pleasing to Him." 24-32. (24-27) see on vv. 12-15. (28-31) see on vv. 16— 18. (32) law, etc., the special and exceptional law for the poor man. a Hooker. b Dr. Guthrie. earth is death." -Bailey. The majesty of law. Of law there can be no less acknowledged than that her seat is the bosom of God, her voice the harmony of "It is time that something the world. All things in heaven and earth do her homage-the should be done very least as feeling her care, and the greatest as not exempted for the poor, the from her power; both angels, and men, and creatures, of what sole quality on condition soever, though each in different sort and manner, yet all, with uniform consent, admiring her as the master of their peace and joy.a Love in the law of God.-There is the same love in the Law as the most genein the Gospel, the difference is only in expression; as when I rous spirits; it COWS industry, warn one against venturing into the roaring flood, and when, on and casts resohis leaping madly in, I follow to save him. In the law love lution itself into warns, in the cross it redeems. Both are, as I undertake to show, despair."-Addithe true mirror of Him who thus defines His own character, "God is love," "Fury is not in Me." "Poverty palls son. xlv. 7. 33-38. (33) spake, etc., here follows a prospective law. of the house Divine legislation has respect to the future. (34) when a Am. iii. 6; Is. possession, through unbelief they entered not into Canaan. I put, etc., God is often said to do what He permits. Either way b Ps. xxxii. 5. it might be a Divine visitation. (35) seemeth, fr. certain e Pr. iii. 33; Zec. sigas. (36) afterward, etc., the cleared house admitted the v. 3, 4. closer inspection. (37) behold, etc.,c lit. depressed spots of dark d Spk. Comm. green or dark red, appearing beneath the surface of the wall.d e In Switzerland (35) then, etc., many are the explanations of this house-leprosy; for some, see marg. they speak of a cancer in buildCalmet by animalcula, Homiletic hints.-House-leprosy. I. Leprous houses of modern ings. seems to think tines-1. Houses of ill-fame; 2. Gambling hells; 3. Gin palaces; that this dis4. Thieves' dens; 5. Fences, i.e. receiving-houses for stolen order was caused poperty, etc. II. How they may be cleansed-1. By the progress wh. eroded the of religion; 2. By the force of education; 3. By enlightened stone like mites pıblic sentiment; 4. By the strong arm of law. House-leprosy.-It seems probable that it was some form of odinary decay wh. was familiarly known. Some have considered that the object of the law respecting it was chiefly or wholly practical utility, in order to secure for the Israelites sound and in a cheese. Mi chaelis refers it to the action of saltpetre, or mural salt, hence dampness and mouldi B.C. 1490. wholesome houses. That it may have tended towards this end, ness. Many have by inducing a care in the selection of materials and a habit of imagined that it keeping the house clean and in good repair, is probable. But the was in some way form in wh. the law is expressed in vv. 49, 53, appears to intimate connected with that its meaning was primarily symbolical. Leprosy in the perthe human disSome of son, above all other afflictions of living bodies, represented decay ease. tian Church. the Fathers have and corruption. Decay in all material substances has a common applied it as a ground. In everything it is the dissolution, the falling to pieces, fig. to ill. the of that wh. is naturally one. hists. of the But decay in what covers the body Jewish nation and what shelters it must bear the nearest relationship to the and the Chris- decay of the body itself. The leprosy in houses, the leprosy in clothing, and the terrible disease in the human body, were representative forms of decay wh. taught the lesson that all created things, in their own nature, are passing away, and are only maintained for their destined uses during an appointed period by the power of Jehovahs f Spk. Comm. a Michaelis. "It was the policy of the good old gentle man to make his children feel that was value this deli stow."- Wash ington Irving. 39-42. (39) look, examine. (40) stones.. is, i.e. as far as the leprosy reached. (41) house.. about, having the plaster of the rest of the house scraped off. (42) put. . stones, etc., i.e. such a house shall be fully repaired. House-leprosy.-The house-leprosy is said to consist of greenish home the or reddish dimples, which appear on the walls, and continually happiest place in spread wider and wider; and its nature would probably have been the world; and I understood long ago, but for the prevalence of the notion of its cious home-feel- being a disease communicable to man, which notion arose from ing as one of the taking the word leprosy in too literal a sense. The bare descripchoicest gifts a tion of it given by Moses is so clear that I have known more parent can be-than one example of children who, shortly afte: reading it, having had occasion to go into the cellar, where with terror, they thought they had observed it on the walls, or their return, It was the boast described it distinctly or figuratively to their parents, and were he changed his laughed at for their pains. Laughed at they certainly ought not climate with the to have been, but instructed. Their acute vision had shown them birds of passage. what many a learned man has in vain sought to find out. he have felt the short, what we usually term the saltpetre, that appears on walls, truth here incul- has much the same symptoms as the Mosaic house-leprosy, and is cated, that the at the same time attended with such noxious effects as require master of many the attention of a well-regulated police. I expressed this idea first in my Twelfth Question to the Arabian Travellers; but I did so very briefly, and as addressing men of sense and skill.“ of Lucullus that How often must houses has no home! cleansing of the house a Lu. xiii. 6-9; xiv. 2; Job. xix. 25-27; 1 Co. v. 1 Co. xv. 53; Jo. 5. "Are you not and how much In 43-47. (43) break.. house, unexpectedly, suddenly. (4:) it house, a leprosy that will spread till all be consumed. (45) he.. house, etc.,a doing with all as formerly with a part. 46) he.. house, even for a moment: or unwittingly. shal . even, be cut off fr. social intercourse. (47) lieth, etc., the tay and the penalty proportioned. surprised to find Saltpetre in walls.-Our walls and houses are often attacked how independent with something that corrodes and consumes them, and whichwe of money peace commonly denominate saltpetre. But I have never seen it to of conscience is, such a degree as at Eisleben, in the church in which Luther vas happiness can be baptised. In the year 1757, I observed, on the left side of he condensed in the choir of that church, a gravestone, I think of marble, and daed humblest home? in the present century, in which the inscription, though deeply A cottage will not hold the cut, was in many cases, by reason of numberless dimples, scaredy bulky furniture legible, while I read with perfect ease other two inscriptions, four |