Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 10 · Part 6
Sin a Plague.
1 Kings 8.38. What Prayer and Supplication ſoever be made by any Man, or by all thy People Iſrael, which ſhall know every Man the Plague of his own Heart, &c.
Levit. 13.2, 3, 4, 5, 6. — And it be in the Skin of the Fleſh like the Plague of Leproſy, &c.
BY the Plague of the Leproſy, all Expoſitors agree, was repreſented the hateful Nature of Sin.
Note. Sin may fitly be compared to the Plague, to the Plague of the Leproſy, &c.
Parallels.
THe Leproſy proceedeth from poyſoned and corrupted Humors in the Body: So Sin is nothing elſe but the poyſonous and corrupt Humors of the Soul.
II. The Plague of the Leproſy ſpreads over every part of the Body: So Sin hath ſpread it ſelf over the whole Lump of Mankind, and over every Faculty of the Soul.
III. No Diſeaſe is more ſtinking and hateful to Men than the Leproſy: So nothing is more abominable and deteſtable in the ſight of God, and ſincere Chriſtians, than Sin.
IV. No Diſeaſe is more contagious and infectious than the Leproſy; the Plague of the Peſtilence (ſaith a Divine) is not ſo infectious as the Plague of the Leproſy;Dr. Taylor it infecteth Houſes, Walls, Veſſels, Garments, &c. So nothing is ſo infectious as Sin. [See Sin a Wound.]
V. The Plague of the Leproſy ſeparated the infected Perſon from the Fellowſhip of all Men, whatever they were, if incurable, altho Kings; they were utterly and for ever excl…ded the Hoſt, as Ʋzziah, neither were they admitted to come into the Temple, to join in holy Things: So Sin unrepented of,2 Kings 15.5. ſeparateth from God and Chriſt, and from the Fellowſhip of the Saints; it ſhuts Souls out of the Church, nay, out of Heaven it ſelf.
VI. No Diſeaſe is more painful and mortal, or more incurable; therefore they were enjoined to put on mournful Apparel and Garments; it was ſo rarely and ſeldom cured, that moſt carried it to their Graves: So Sin is very painful and tormenting, as we before have ſhewed.
VII. The Symptoms of the Leproſy agree with the Symptoms and Effects of Sin.
1. There is a D…bility and Weakneſs of all Parts in them that have this Diſeaſe, becauſe the Spirits are exhauſted: So Sin makes feeble, weakens, and debilitates the Powers of the Soul Hence Jacob, when he bleſſed Reuben, cries out, As weak and unſtable as Water, becauſe of his Sin. Saints have weak Hands, and feeble Knees oft times hereby.
2. There is in a Leper a Tumor and Swelling in the Fleſh: So Sin ſwells a Man up in Pride, Vain-glory, and Self-conceitedneſs.
3. There is in them, ſaith my Author, a burning Thirſt, through the aduſt and burnt Blood by Melancholy, whereof it ariſeth: So Sin cauſeth an Inflammation and Burning of Anger, of Luſt, and vehement Thirſt after the World, Preferment, Pleaſures, Riches, &c. [See Poyſon.]
4. There is in them filthy, putrid Matter, breaking forth in a moſt loathſom manner: So ſuch as are greatly infected with the Plague of Sin, caſt forth nothing but horrid Pollution. Hence wicked Men are likened to the troubled Sea, that caſts forth mi…y Dirt.
5. They have a hoarſe and weak Voice: So Sinners cannot pray, or if they do,John 9. they cannot be heard. God hears not Sinners.
6. They have a ſtinking Breath and Mouth, and therefore they muſt cover their Lips, leſt by their Breath they ſhould infect others: So Sinners have a filthy Breath: Their Mouths are full of unclean and adulterous Speeches, belching forth nothing but vile and abominable Oaths, Curſings, and ſlanderous Accuſations againſt the Godly, and ſometimes alſo againſt one another; but theſe ſeldom cover their Lips.
Inferences.
WHat an horrid Diſeaſe, and Plague of Plagues, is Sin! Every Man hath a running Plague-Sore upon him. Who is it that is not a Leper from the Womb? We were all born with this Plague; we brought it into the World with us. Every Man, as he is in himſelf, may cry out, Ʋnclean, unclean. Sin hath ſpread it ſelf over us like a Leproſy.
II. Wicked Men are miſerable, whoever they are, if not cured of this Plague. Sin renders a Man more hateful to God, than an ugly Toad is to us.
III. It may caution Saints to ſhun the Company of a vile Sinner, and dread Sin, and flie from it, as from the Plague. Nothing that Sinners touch, but they defile, infect, and taint it, (till they are cleanſed) whether earthly or heavenly Things; all Creature-Comforts and Actions are unclean to them hereby: The very Plowing of the Wicked is Sin,Prov. 20.4. Tit. 1.13. yea, the Sacraments, Prayers, or Alms, all is polluted, ſo long as they are unconverted. Ʋnto them that are defiled, nothing is pure, &c.
IV. A wicked Man can converſe with no Man, but, as a Leper, he infects him by his ill Example; he endangers the Lives and Souls of Men.
V. It may teach the Saints to bleſs God, and admire his Grace, who hath delivered them from the Contagion of Sin.Joh. 5.14. But art thou made whole? ſin no more.
VI. None but the High-Prieſt pronounced a Perſon clean from the Leproſy: ſo none but Chriſt can diſcern our Uncleanneſs, and pronounce us clean, and wholly free from the Plague of Sin.
O What is Sin? it is a Leproſie,
When Scripture ſo compares it, may not I
Call it a Plague, a Wound, a loathſome Sore,
That doth corrupt and ſpread the Soul all 'ore?
Like to an Ulcer, or infectious Biles,
Which the whole Man moſt wofully defiles.
O how do Men fly from the Peſtilence,
And ſhall not we learn Wiſdom now from thence?
Sin is a Plague that kills eternally,
All ſorts of Men, unleſs they ſwiftly fly
To Jeſus Chriſt; no Med'cine will do good,
Nor heal the Soul, but this Phyſicians Blood.