THE REMEDY FOR LEPROSY.
By J. O. Corliss
LEPROSY was considered as the most malignant, hence the most distressing and loathsome, of Eastern maladies. Wherever its symptoms appeared, however slight, the subject was quarantined until more definite knowledge was obtained. If it was shown to be a confirmed case of leprosy, the patient was sent permanently away from friends and home, to become a veritable outcast for the term of his natural life. Lev. 13: 38–46. Whatever he touched was counted unclean. The very air was polluted with his breath, and even his shadow was not permitted to fall upon others. If any came toward him, the law required him to cry, “Unclean, unclean,” to warn them of his proximity. Leprosy was indeed a fitting symbol of the repulsiveness of sin, which the prophet describes as making the whole head sick and the whole heart faint, because the whole body is a mass of wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores, which have had no medical attention. Isa. 1: 5, 6. As there was no human cure for a case of confirmed leprosy (2 Kings 5: 5–7), so there is none for sin. Jer. 13: 23. Leprosy, however, has been cured by divine touch communicated thru faith (2 Kings 5: 10, 13, 14; Luke 5: 12, 13); so may sin also be removed in like manner. John 5: 9, 14; 8: 11. The regulation of the Levitical ordinances required that when a leper thought himself healed of his malady, he was to be brought before the priest for examination, outside the habitations of Israel. If the decision rendered confirmed the afflicted man’s hope, he was to bring two living birds, one of which was killed in an earthen vessel over running water. The other bird was to be dipped alive, with hyssop, cedar wood, and scarlet, in the blood of the first bird, and this blood sprinkled upon the man undergoing the purification process. The living bird was then given its freedom. Lev. 14: 1–7. In harmony with the Levitical requirement, Christ ordered the man whom He had cured of leprosy to go and show himself to the priest, and offer for his cleansing as had been commanded, for a testimony both to priest and people. Luke 5: 14. Christ is the High Priest before whom, as sinners, we must appear for cleansing from the leprosy of sin. To meet the requirements of our condition, we too must go forth “unto Him without the camp” (Heb. 13: 12, 13), and as the leper of old brought his offering for his cleansing, so must we also have somewhat to offer. Our offering, however, is but the plea that He Himself has suffered once for all, and that His body is the only offering worthy to be presented for the cleansing of sin. Heb. 10: 10–14. With this offering at hand, we may have boldness to follow Him even into the “holiest of all,” where His blood is being offered in behalf of repentant sinners, to their eternal cleansing. Verse 19. It is therefore well to heed the exhortation of the apostle to draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having the heart sprinkled, and so cleansed from an evil conscience. The promise has been made that our great High Priest, tho infinitely exalted, will not be unmindful of our needs, because His ear is ever open to our cries. 1 Peter 3: 12; James 1: 5. He who has thus spoken is faithful, and will not turn away from any who come unto Him for help. John 6: 37. We may therefore, in confidence, hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering. Heb. 10: 23. He who in symbols so minutely pointed out beforehand the mysteries of His atonement work, laid His plans deep and sure. The only thing now needed to make His sacrifice available for us, is for us to believe in Him, and His life is ours. John 3: 36. Did Christ really come and die our sacrifice, as foreshadowed in the Hebrew types? Sacred history affirms this, and even more. It assures us that tho He was cruelly put to death, the power of God raised Him from the dead. To be assured of this last, is to inspire confidence in His ability to save from the common doom of humanity. Rom. 1: 3, 4. But it is affirmed that more than five hundred of His former brethren saw Him after His resurrection, and this is indeed convincing. 1 Cor. 15: 5–7. Believing this, why may we not be assured that God will also bring us, with Him, out of the same condition, to life everlasting? Every truly converted Christian has a living experience that gives him this positive assurance. 1 Thess. 4: 13, 14. Truly ours is a faith of which we should be glad, and for which we should be willing to exchange all the allurements of the world. J. O. CORLISS.