Who shall deliver ns from this body of death P Let ns thank God that Jesus Christ can. He is that divine Physician, who can make old things pass away and all things become new. In Him is life. He can wash us thoroughly from all the defilement of sin in His own blood. He can quicken us, and revive us by His own Spirit. He can cleanse our hearts, open the eyes of our imderstandings, renew our wills, and make us whole. Let this sink down deeply into our hearts. There is medicine to heal our sickness. If we are lost it is not because we cannot be saved. However corrupt our hearts, and how- ever wicked our past lives, there is hope for us in the Gospel. There is no case of spiritual leprosy too hard for Christ.
We see secondly, in this passage, our Lord Jems Christ* a wilUngnesa to help those that are in need. The petition of the afflicted leper was a very touching one. " Lord," he said, '' if thou wilt, thou canst make me dean." The answer he received was singularly merciful and gracious. At once our Lord replies, " I will : be thou dean."
Those two little words, "I will," deserve spedal notice. They are a deep mine, rich in comfort and en- couragement to all labouring and heavy laden souls. They show us the mind of Christ towards sinners. They exhibit His infinite willingness to do good to the sons of men, and His readiness to show compassion. Let us always remember, that if men are not saved, it is not because Jesus is not willing to save them. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. — He would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. — ^He has no pleasure
T38 EXPosimitY thocghtb.
in the death of him that die&. — &e would have gathered Jemsalem's chfldren, as a lien gathereth her chickens, if they would only have heen gathered. He would, hut they would noi^-The Uame of ^e sinner's ruin must he home hy himself. It is his own will, and not Christ's will, if he is lost for ever. It is a solemn saying of our Lord's, *^ Ye will not oome unto me that ye might have Ufe." (2 Pet. iii. 9. 1 Tim. ii. 5. Ezek. xviiL 32. Matt. xxis. 37. John v. 40.)
We see, thirdly, in lihis passage, what reject &ur Lord Jems Christ paid to the ceremonial law of Moses. He hids the leper ''go and show himself to the priest," ^uxsording to the requirement in Leviticus, that he may he regularly pronounced clean. He bids him offer an offering on the occasion of his doing so, " according as Moses commanded." Our Lord knew well that the ceremonies of the Mosaic law were only shadows and figures of good things to come, and had in themselves no inherent power. He knew well that the last days of the Levitical institutions were dose at hand, and that they were soon to be laid aside for ever. But so long as they were not abrogated He would have them respected. They were ordained by God Himself. They were pic* tures and lively emblems of the Gospel. They were not therefore to be lightly esteemed.
There is a lesson here for Ohristians, which we shall do well to remember. Let us take heed that we do not despise the ceremonial law, because its work is done. Let us beware of neglecting those parts of the BiUe, whicli contain it, under the idea that the believer in the Gospel has noihing to Jio with them. It is true that the