The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

VERS. II.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Thou canst make me clean.

THE doctrine in the law concerning Leprosy paints out very well the doctrine of sin.

I. It teacheth that no creature is so unclean by a touch, as man. Yea, it may with good reason be asked, whether any creature, while it lived, was unclean to the touch, beside man. That is often repeated in the Talmudists, That he that takes a worm in his hand, all the Waters of Jordan cannot wash him from his uncleanness, (that is, while the worm is as yet in his hand, or the Worm being cast away, not until the time appoynted

for such purification be expired) But whether it is to be understood of a living or dead worm, it is doubted not without cause, since the Law, treating of this matter, speak∣eth only of those things that dyed of themselves. See Levit. XI. ver. 31. Whoso∣ever shall touch them, when they be dead, &c. and ver. 32. Upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, shall fall, &c. But whether he speaks of a living worm, or a dead, uncleanness followed by the touch of it for that day only: For, he shall be unclean (saith the Law) until the Evening: but the carkas of a man being touched, a weeks uncleanness followed. See Num. XIX.

II. Among all the uncleannesses of men, Leprosie was the greatest, in as much as other uncleannesses separated the unclean person, or rendred him unclean, for a day, or a week, or a month, but the leprosy perhaps for ever.

III. When the Leper was purified, the leprosy was not healed: but the poison of the disease being evaporated, and the danger of the contagion gone, the Leper was restored to the publick congregation. Gehazi the Servant of Elisha was adjudged to perpetual leprosy; and yet he was cleansed, and conversed with the King, 2 King. VIII. 5. cleansed, not healed. Thus under Justification, and sanctification, there remain still the seeds and silth of sin.

IV. He that was full of the leprosy, was pronounced clean; he that was otherwise, was not. Levit. XIII. 12. If the leprosie shall cover the whole body from head to foot, thou shalt pronounce him clean, &c. A law certainly to be wondred at! Is he not clean, till the whole body be infected and covered with the leprosy? Nor shalt thou, O sinner, be made clean without the like condition. Either acknowledg thy self all over leprous, or thou shall not be cleansed.