An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth, & tenth chapters of…

First, To note the uncleanness that there is in sin, in dead works, that those that did meddle with them they were polluted, yea, the uncleanness that there is in coming near unto sinners; the coming but near to them, all that was in the tent was polluted.

Secondly,¹ It was to show, how little pleasing to God Funeral mournings are, for they were made unclean by them: they were made unclean by their Funeral mournings, for this bread of mourners is the bread that they eat in their Funerals. The Gentiles did mourn for their dead in an inordinate manner, exceedingly; and God would have a difference between his peoples mourning for the dead, and their mourning,² because that he would keep up his people faith, and the hope of resurrection from the dead, whereas had they had liberty to mourn so excessively as the Heathens ⟨p. 167⟩did, by this means the very faith and hope of resurrection from the dead might in time even almost have been extinguished, therefore God would have them take heed of that, and therefore he did so ordain in the Ceremonial Law,³ that all the mourners for the dead they should be unclean for so long a time. As for any that doth give liberty in their natural affections, and doth not hold the reins of them in their mourning for the dead, I would apply to them that Scripture, in Jer. 31. 15, 16. Thus saith the Lord, A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, and bitter weeping, RACHEL weeping for her CHILDREN, refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. But now, Thus saith the Lord, Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears, thy work shall be rewarded, and thy children shall come back again. So it followed afterwards. Do not weep as others, let us not mourn as others that have no hope, remember that the mourners for the dead in the Law they were to be unclean for seven days.