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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Leviticus, Chapter XV].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC03014.HTM">Previous</A>]
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>L E V I T C U S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have laws concerning other ceremonial uncleannesses
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contracted either by bodily disease like that of the leper, or some
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natural incidents, and this either,
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I. In men,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+15:1-18">ver. 1-18</A>.
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Or,
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II. In women,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+15:19-33">ver. 19-33</A>.
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We need not be at all curious in explaining these antiquated laws, it
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is enough if we observe the general intention; but we have need to be
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very cautious lest sin take occasion by the commandment to become more
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exceedingly sinful; and exceedingly sinful it is when lust is kindled
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by sparks of fire from God's altar. The case is bad with the soul when
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it is putrefied by that which should purify it.</P>
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<A NAME="Le15_1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Ceremonial Purification.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1490.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying,
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2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When
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any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, <I>because of</I> his
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issue he <I>is</I> unclean.
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3 And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his
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flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue,
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it <I>is</I> his uncleanness.
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4 Every bed, whereon he lieth that hath the issue, is unclean:
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and every thing, whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean.
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5 And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and
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bathe <I>himself</I> in water, and be unclean until the even.
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6 And he that sitteth on <I>any</I> thing whereon he sat that hath
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the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe <I>himself</I> in water,
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and be unclean until the even.
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7 And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue
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shall wash his clothes, and bathe <I>himself</I> in water, and be
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unclean until the even.
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8 And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean;
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then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe <I>himself</I> in water, and
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be unclean until the even.
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9 And what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue
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shall be unclean.
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10 And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him shall be
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unclean until the even: and he that beareth <I>any of</I> those things
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shall wash his clothes, and bathe <I>himself</I> in water, and be
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unclean until the even.
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11 And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not
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rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe
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<I>himself</I> in water, and be unclean until the even.
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12 And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth which hath the
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issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed
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in water.
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13 And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue;
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then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and
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wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall
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be clean.
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14 And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtledoves,
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or two young pigeons, and come before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> unto the door of
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the tabernacle of the congregation, and give them unto the
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priest:
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15 And the priest shall offer them, the one <I>for</I> a sin
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offering, and the other <I>for</I> a burnt offering; and the priest
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shall make an atonement for him before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> for his issue.
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16 And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he
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shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.
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17 And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of
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copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the
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even.
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18 The woman also with whom man shall lie <I>with</I> seed of
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copulation, they shall <I>both</I> bathe <I>themselves</I> in water, and be
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unclean until the even.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here the law concerning the ceremonial uncleanness that was
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contracted by running issues in men. It is called in the margin
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+15:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>)
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the <I>running of the reins:</I> a very grievous and loathsome disease,
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which was, usually the effect and consequent of wantonness and
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uncleanness, and a dissolute course of life, filling men's bones with
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the sins of their youth, and leaving them to mourn at the last, when
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all the pleasures of their wickedness have vanished, and nothing
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remains but the pain and anguish of a rotten carcase and a wounded
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conscience. And what fruit has the sinner then of those things whereof
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he has so much reason to be ashamed?
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+6:21">Rom. vi. 21</A>.
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As modesty is <I>an ornament of grace to the head and chains about the
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neck,</I> so chastity is <I>health to the navel and marrow to the
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bones;</I> but uncleanness is a <I>wound and dishonour,</I> the
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consumption of the flesh and the body, and a sin which is often its own
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punishment more than any other. It was also sometimes inflicted by the
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righteous hand of God for other sins, as appears by David's imprecation
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of a curse upon the family of Joab, for the murder of Abner.
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+3:29">2 Sam. iii. 29</A>,
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<I>Let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or
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is a leper.</I> A vile disease for vile deserts. Now whoever had this
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disease upon him,
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1. He was himself unclean,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+15:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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He must not dare to come near the sanctuary, it was at his peril if he
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did, nor might he eat of the holy things. This signified the filthiness
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of sin, and of all the productions of our corrupt nature, which render
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us odious to God's holiness, and utterly unfit for communion with him.
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Out of a pure heart well kept are the issues of life
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+4:23">Prov. iv. 23</A>),
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but out of an unclean heart comes that which is defiling,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+12:34,35">Matt. xii. 34, 35</A>.
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2. He made every person and thing unclean that he touched, or that
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touched him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+15:4-12"><I>v.</I> 4-12</A>.
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His bed, and his chair, and his saddle, and every thing that belonged
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to him, could not be touched without a ceremonial uncleanness
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contracted, which a man must remain conscious to himself of till
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sunset, and from which he could not be cleansed without washing his
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clothes, and bathing his flesh in water. This signified the contagion
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of sin, the danger we are in of being polluted by conversing with those
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that are polluted, and the need we have with the utmost circumspection
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to <I>save ourselves from this untoward generation.</I>
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3. When he was cured of the disease, yet he could not be cleansed from
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the pollution without a sacrifice, for which he was to prepare himself
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by seven days' expectation after he was perfectly clear from his
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distemper, and by bathing in spring water,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+15:13-15"><I>v.</I> 13-15</A>.
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This signified the great gospel duties of faith and repentance, and the
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great gospel privileges of the application of Christ's blood to our
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souls for our justification and his grace for our sanctification. God
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has promised to sprinkle clean water upon us, and to cleanse us from
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all our filthiness, and has appointed us by repentance to wash and make
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ourselves clean: he has also provided a sacrifice of atonement, and
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requires us by faith to interest ourselves in that sacrifice; for it is
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<I>the blood of Christ his Son that cleanses us from all sin,</I> and
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by which atonement is made for us, that we may have admission into
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God's presence and may partake of his favour.</P>
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<A NAME="Le15_19"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>19 And if a woman have an issue, <I>and</I> her issue in her flesh
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be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever
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toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.
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20 And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall
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be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be
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unclean.
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21 And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and
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bathe <I>himself</I> in water, and be unclean until the even.
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22 And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall
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wash his clothes, and bathe <I>himself</I> in water, and be unclean
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until the even.
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23 And if it <I>be</I> on <I>her</I> bed, or on any thing whereon she
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sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even.
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24 And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon
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him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he
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lieth shall be unclean.
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25 And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of
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the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her
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separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be
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as the days of her separation: she <I>shall be</I> unclean.
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26 Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall
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be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she
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sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her
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separation.
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27 And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and
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shall wash his clothes, and bathe <I>himself</I> in water, and be
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unclean until the even.
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28 But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number
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to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.
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29 And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles,
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or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door
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of the tabernacle of the congregation.
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30 And the priest shall offer the one <I>for</I> a sin offering, and
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the other <I>for</I> a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an
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atonement for her before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> for the issue of her
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uncleanness.
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31 Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their
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uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they
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defile my tabernacle that <I>is</I> among them.
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32 This <I>is</I> the law of him that hath an issue, and <I>of him</I>
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whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith;
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33 And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that hath
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an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth
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with her that is unclean.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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This is concerning the ceremonial uncleanness which women lay under
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from their issues, both those that were regular and healthful, and
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according to the course of nature
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+15:19-24"><I>v.</I> 19-24</A>),
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and those that were unseasonable, excessive, and the disease of the
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body; such was the bloody issue of that poor woman who was suddenly
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cured by touching the hem of Christ's garment, after she had lain
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twelve years under her distemper, and had spent her estate upon
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physicians and physic in vain. This made the woman that was afflicted
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with it unclean
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+15:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>)
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and every thing she touched unclean,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+15:26,27"><I>v.</I> 26, 27</A>.
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And if she was cured, and found by seven days' trial that she was
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perfectly free from her issue of blood, she was to be cleansed by the
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offering of two turtle-doves or two young pigeons, to make an atonement
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for her,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+15:28,29"><I>v.</I> 28, 29</A>.
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All wicked courses, particularly idolatries, are compared to the
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uncleanness of a <I>removed woman</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+36:17">Ezek. xxxvi. 17</A>),
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and, in allusion to this, it is said of Jerusalem
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=La+1:9">Lam. i. 9</A>),
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<I>Her filthiness is in her skirts,</I> so that (as it follows,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+15:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>)
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she was shunned as a menstruous woman.</P>
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<P>
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I. The reasons given for all these laws (which we are ready to think
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might very well have been spared) we have,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+15:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
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1. <I>Thus shall you separate the children of Israel</I> (for to them
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only and their servants and proselytes these laws pertained) <I>from
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their uncleanness;</I> that is,
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(1.) By these laws they were taught their privilege and honour, that
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they were <I>purified unto God a peculiar people,</I> and were intended
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by the holy God for a kingdom of priests, a holy nation; for that was a
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defilement to them which was not so to others.
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(2.) They were also taught their duty, which was to preserve the honour
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of their purity, and to keep themselves from all sinful pollutions. It
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was easy for them to argue that if those pollutions which were natural,
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unavoidable, involuntary, their affliction and not their sin, rendered
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them for the time so odious that they were not fit for communion either
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with God or man, much more abominable and filthy were they if they
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sinned against the light and law of nature, by drunkenness, adultery,
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fraud, and the like sins, which defile the very mind and conscience.
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And, if these ceremonial pollutions could not be done away but by
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sacrifice and offering, something greater and much more valuable must
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be expected and depended upon for the purifying of the soul from the
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uncleanness of sin.
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2. Thus their dying in their uncleanness by the hand of God's justice,
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if while they were under any of these defilements they should come near
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the sanctuary, would be prevented. Note, It is a dangerous thing to die
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in our uncleanness; and it is our own fault if we do, since we have not
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only fair warning given us, by God's law, against those things that
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will defile us, but also such gracious provision made by his gospel for
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our cleansing if at any time we be defiled.
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3. In all these laws there seems to be a special regard had to the
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honour of the tabernacle, to which none must approach in their
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uncleanness, that they <I>defile not my tabernacle.</I> Infinite Wisdom
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took this course to preserve in the minds of that careless people a
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continual dread of, and veneration for, the manifestations of God's
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glory and presence among them in his sanctuary. Now that the
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tabernacle of God was with men familiarity would be apt to breed
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contempt, and therefore the law made so many things of frequent
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incidence to be ceremonial pollutions, and to involve an incapacity of
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drawing near to the sanctuary (making death the penalty), that so they
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might not approach without great caution, and reverence, and serious
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preparation, and fear of being found unfit. Thus they were taught
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never to draw near to God but with an awful humble sense of their
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distance and danger, and an exact observance of every thing that was
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required in order to their safety and acceptance.</P>
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<P>
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II. And what duty must we learn from all this?
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1. Let us bless God that we are not under the yoke of these carnal
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ordinances, that, as nothing can destroy us, so nothing can defile us,
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but sin. Those may now partake of the Lord's supper who durst not then
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eat of the peace-offerings. And the defilement we contract by our sins
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of daily infirmity we may be cleansed from in secret by the renewed
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acts of repentance and faith, without bathing in water or bringing an
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offering to the door of the tabernacle.
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2. Let us carefully abstain from all sin, as defiling to the
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conscience, and particularly from all fleshly lusts, <I>possessing our
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vessel in sanctification and honour, and not in the lusts of
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uncleanness,</I> which not only pollute the soul, but <I>war against
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it,</I> and threaten its ruin.
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3. Let us all see how indispensably necessary real holiness is to our
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future happiness, and get our hearts purified by faith, that we may see
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God. Perhaps it is in allusion to these laws which forbade the unclean
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to approach the sanctuary that when it is asked, <I>Who shall stand in
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God's holy place?</I> it is answered, <I>He that hath clean hands and a
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pure heart</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+24:3,4">Ps. xxxiv. 3, 4</A>);
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for <I>without holiness no man shall see the Lord.</I></P>
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