6 The Leprosy makes man loathsome to man, that (seorsim habitaturus sit) he must dwell alone. So was the mLaw, He is unclean, he shall dwell alone; without the Camp shall his habitation be. Yea, though he were a nKing, he must content himself with an unvisited and removed lodging; yet what is it to be secluded from mans (and not to be destitute of the Lords) company? God forsakes not the clean heart, though man abhors the leprous flesh.o God alone is a thousand companions; God alone is a world of friends. He never knew what it was to be familiar with heaven, that complains the lack of friends whiles God is with him. Were thy Chamber a prison, thy prison a Dungeon; yet what Walls can keep out that infinite Spirit? Even there the good soul finds the Sun of heaven to enlighten his darkness, in comparison of whom all the stars in the sky are the snuff of a dim candle. Every cloud darkens our Sun, nothing can eclipse that. But the Leprosy of sin separates a soul from Gods fellowship, from the company of Angels. aWe lie, if we say we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness. Your sins have separated betwixt me and you saith the Lord of hosts. They unhouse our hearts of Gods spirit, and expel him from the temple of our souls, who will no longer stay there, when the Dagon of sin is advanced, adored. It is customable with men to eschew the society of their poor, maimed, afflicted, diseased Brethren, and to show some disdain• by their averseness: but to keep company with drunkards, adulterers, swearers, usurers, &c. of whom alone we have a charge, de non tangendo, they reck not, bEat not with them? Turn away from them, saith the Apostle,c from those so diseased in Soul, not in body. But ⟨p. 94⟩now d (melior est conditio vitij, quam morbi.) the estate of sin is better then of sickness. But God looks unto (and is with) Lazarus living, and takes him into his bosom dying, though he was full of sores: and lets healthy, wealthy, flourishing Dives go by unnamed, unaccepted.
6 The Leaprosie makes man loathsome to man, that (seorsim habitaturus sit) hee must dwell alone. So was the mLaw, Hee is vncleane, hee shall dwell alone; without the Campe shall his habitation bee. Yea, though hee were a nKing, he must content himselfe with an vnvisited and remoued lodging; yet what is it to be secluded from mans (and not to bee destitute of the Lords) company? God forsakes not the cleane heart, though man abhorres the leaprous flesh.o God alone is a thousand companions; God alone is a world of friends. He neuer knew what it was to be familiar with heauen, that complains the lacke of friends whiles God is with him. Were thy Chamber a prison, thy prison a Dungeon; yet what Walles can keepe out that infinite Spirite? Euen there the good soule findes the Sunne of heauen to enlighten his darkenesse, in comparison of whom all the starres in the skie are the snuffe of a dimme candle. Euery cloude darkens our Sunne, nothing can ecclipse that. But the Leprosie of sin separates a soule from Gods fellowship, from the company of Angels. aWe lie, if we say wee haue fellowship with him, and walke in darkenesse. Your sinnes haue separated betwixt mee and you saith the Lord of hostes. They vnhouse our hearts of Gods spirite, and expell him from the temple of our soules, who will no longer stay there, when the Dagon of sinne is aduanced, adored. It is customable with men to eschew the society of their poore, maimed, afflicted, diseased Brethren, and to shew some disdain• by their auersenes: but to keepe company with drunkardes, adulterers, swearers, vsurers, &c. of whom alone wee haue a charge, de non tangendo, they recke not, bE•te not with them? Turne away from them, saith the Apostle,c from those so diseased in Soule, not in body. But ⟨p. 94⟩now d (melior est conditio vitij, quam morbi.) the estate of sinne is better then of sickenesse. But God looks vnto (and is with) Lazarus liuing, and takes him into his bosome dying, though he was full of sores: and lets healthy, wealthy, flourishing Diues go by vnnamed, vnaccepted.
- mLevit. 13.46Leuit. 13.46
- n2 Reg. 15.5.
- oPsal. 73.1
- a1 Joh. 1.6.1 Ioh. 1.6.
- b1 Cor 5.11
- c2. Timi 2.5.
