There seems to be need of considering afresh the subject of leprosy. There are frequent allusions to it in Scripture, but it is in Lev. 13:, 14:that we find the subject specifically treated of. These two chapters are a divine treatise on leprosy. Just what divine teaching about it is we may then expect to find there.

At the outset of our inquiry into the contents of these chapters we must remind ourselves that "all these things happened to them as types, and have been written for our admonition" (i Cor. 10:2:J.N.D.) So then there is "admonition," or instruction, for us -instruction about that which leprosy is a type of.

But of what is leprosy a type ? It is of primary importance to be clear as to this. Is it a type of sin
-sin in the flesh, the natural inheritance of every one born into the world ? Or is it a type of sin in its activity – in its outbreaking and outward manifestation ? Is it a type of sin in the sinner as in his sins merely-whether the inward evil nature or its external display-or, is it a type of either one or other of these in the believer as well ?

The distinction between sin in the flesh (an inward corrupt nature) and the manifestation of that nature in positive evil works ought not to be a difficult thing to realize. Scripture sufficiently makes the distinction. It speaks of " sin in the flesh" (Rom. viii 3) and of the "body of sin" (Chap. 6:6). We read also of " sinful flesh" and of " sin in the mortal body." It is plain the allusion is to the inherited corrupt nature which every child of Adam possesses. On the other hand we read of '' the works of the flesh" (Gal. 5:19)-things in which sinful flesh manifests itself, deeds which speak of the sinful nature in activity. Now with which of these two things is leprosy connected in Scripture? A glance at the concordance will easily convince one that the Spirit's use of the term leprosy is as a symbol of sin in activity. The activity may take different forms. It may be the working out of the " desires of the mind," or it may be the working out of the "lusts of the flesh," but in either case it is sin at work-the sinful nature manifesting itself in outward deeds.

That this is applicable to the mere sinner in his sins will, I think, be admitted by all. It will not be necessary, therefore, to dwell on this application. We may, then, proceed at once to inquire, Is it applicable to the believer ? With the list of cases of leprosy mentioned in Scripture before us, we cannot for a moment doubt that it is. If we did not find any reference to it in connection with the people of God we might doubt it. If every case spoken of clearly applied to those outside the acknowledged relationship with God we might then question it; but such is not the fact. We are forced then to conclude that leprosy as a type of sin in its activity has an application to the believer as well as to the unbeliever -to one who is a saint as well as to a mere sinner in his sins. And why refuse the application ? Is the activity of sin in a believer less heinous to God than it is in an unbeliever ? Must not the government of God be concerned with it in the case of a saint as well as in the case of a sinner in his sins ? It would be a serious reflection on the character of God not to think so.

Now the attentive reader of Lev. 13:and 14:will easily observe that leprosy is considered in three connections. It is looked at as connected with a person, a "garment" and a "house." As connected with the person it speaks of something in the person's character-what he is. It is some natural characteristic in exercise; some feature of the " mind of the flesh" displaying itself. " The mind of the flesh is not subject" to God. It is "enmity." The working out of this in subject mind is manifested in some outward act of disobedience, in which some feature peculiar to the person's natural character as in alienation from God is exhibiting itself. It is the will in exercise in opposition to the will of God.

As connected with a garment leprosy speaks of the activity of the sinful nature as occasioned by the circumstances in which we move. If these are not according to God, not answering to His holiness, they will induce habits unsuited to the mind, character and nature of God. It is not now the display merely of some natural characteristic; but the formation of a regular course of conduct, the establishment of habits to which the person conforms himself as thinking that they are necessitated by the circumstances in which he is. How dreadful this slavery to unholy circumstances! How awful the bondage to conditions that are not of God!

Leprosy in the house tells us of the home, the dwelling-place of the believer where the moral influences are such as make it a place abhorrent to God. The moral character of a believer's home should be founded on holiness. The tone, character and moral influences of the place should be such as to exercise a sanctifying effect; but if these, either entirely or even in part, are unholy, the sanctifying power of the truth is nullified and the character of God is compromised.

But may there not also be another application of leprosy in the house ? If the believer's home, in the moral character of it, is a picture of the house of God (and who will deny it ?) then the house here, while on the one hand applying to the dwelling place of the individual believer, on the other applies to the local assembly, as this in its own locality represents the whole house of God.

Now the moral and spiritual influences which characterize the dwelling place of the holy God should characterize every local assembly. There should be nothing in the moral make up of it, in the moral material of which it is composed, that is destructive of the holiness of God-nothing that compromises His holy name or blasphemes the Holy Spirit.

Having glanced at the various connections in which leprosy is mentioned and the application of it all, we must now turn to the subject of the proper method of dealing with it. Let our inquiry be, What has God revealed to us as His way for us to deal with leprosy ? What does divine teaching say to us about it ? If we study our chapters with which we are now concerned in the spirit of these questions, we shall surely find important instruction.

The first thing to be considered is the fact that leprosy is a matter for priestly discernment. The man in whom there was leprosy, in whom there was even the suspicion of it, was to be " brought unto Aaron, the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests." The garment was to be "shown unto the priest." The "owner of the house" was "to come and tell the priest." The priest here speaks of spiritual discernment-that discernment which is the fruit of nearness to God, of the enjoyment of the word of God in communion with Him. Now this makes the Scriptures the judge of what is leprosy. In having to do with it, acquaintance with the mind of God, as that is revealed in His written Word, should be sought. Without this acquaintance there is no proper capacity to judge, or discern. Spiritual understanding is the fruit of the truth held in communion with God ; the mind, conscience and heart exercised by it. Alas! how many forfeit their right to deal with evil through failing to seek spiritual discernment. What a sad spectacle is a man dealing with leprosy apart from that ability which the word of God alone gives! Let us keep in mind that, if called on to discern evil, we need spiritual discernment.

The spiritual mind will find provision has been made to secure him in a right judgment. While on the one hand there must be no flinching from judgment in a plain and clear case, yet on the other hand there must be no undue haste to judge. If the case is not clearly manifest when first investigated, it must then be watched. Things that differ must be distinguished. There must be no confounding with leprosy what is not in fact that. A simple mistake, an unintentional error, being suddenly overtaken in a fault, anything in which the mind of the flesh is not really working, must not be mistaken for leprosy, which is the mind of the flesh in active opposition to the will of God. In how many cases, time to observe and watch is necessary. The mere appearance of what seems to be symptoms of leprosy may be indeed ground for suspicion, but it is not ground for judgment. If there are suspicious indications, then they are to be carefully watched until it becomes clear whether it is a real case of leprosy or not.

On the other hand there should be no negligence, or indifference. Our instructions simply submitted to will preserve us from this as well as from hasty judgment. Furthermore, they give us infallible evidence of the existence of a real case of leprosy. Spiritual decay (the "hair turned white"), while always present when evil is active in a person, may also result from other causes, and hence must not be the sole ground for judging a case to be leprosy. But if this is found in combination with the energy of inward evil-a "spot deeper than the skin," then it is a clear case. Spiritual discernment will distinguish between mere surface signs-what is merely casual and unintentional-and signs of deep-seated evil.

Again, there must be discernment as to whether it is a case in which the energy of spiritual life has overcome the evil, or if the evil is a matter of present activity. If through the power of the spiritual
life asserting itself there is the frank, sincere acknowledgment of the evil and submission to the judgment of God upon it in the light of the cross of Christ(" all the skin covered") it is not a case of evil at work. In this case there has been deliverance and recovery.

Again, there are various weaknesses and infirmities which attach to us all, but which priestly discernment will readily distinguish from leprosy. Still these things may develop into leprosy, or be the occasion of its setting in. While they need careful attention they must not be confounded with the activity of inward evil.

The same carefulness and spiritual discernment must be employed in the case of leprosy in a " garment" or in a "dwelling." The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. How needful always to remember this. C. Crain

(To be continued.)