CHAPTER XI
LEPROSY
"That picture shows but a part of the offering," replied Mrs. Temple. "When the candles come in, I will read to you from the 'Pictorial History of Palestine,' written by the famous Dr. Kitto, a description of a very peculiar ceremony which took place before the sheep and two rams were slain as a sin-offering."
"Ah! Here come the candles—just when we want them!" cried Elsie, as Eliza brought them.
"I'll get Dr. Kitto's big book!" exclaimed Lucius, jumping up from his seat by the fire.
The candles were placed on the table, near enough to Mrs. Temple to enable her to read without quitting her warm seat, but merely turning her chair round to the table. She then read aloud the following extract from the work of the learned doctor:—
"'When a person was reported to be free of his leprosy, a priest went out of the camp and subjected him to a very strict examination. If no signs of the disorder appeared upon him, the priest sent a person to bring two living birds (doves or young pigeons), cedar wood, scarlet wool, and hyssop, with which he performed the ceremonies of purification, to admit the party to the privileges of the Hebrew Church.'"
"What does that mean, mother?" asked Lucius.
"That the man was no longer to be cut off, as were lepers in Israel, from worshipping the Lord within the camp, or mixing with the rest of the people," replied Mrs. Temple.
"Oh, mamma, might not a poor leper do that?" exclaimed Amy. "To be shut out from praying with one's friends and relations would be almost the worst trial of all!"
"Remember, my dear, that the dreadful disease was infectious; there was need of the greatest care lest it should spread in their camp. Lepers had to wear a particular dress, and to live apart from all who were yet in health. If any one drew near to a leper unawares, the afflicted one had to cry out, 'Unclean! Unclean!'"
"I don't think that I will ever again complain of being shut up from friends and playmates because of this whooping-cough," cried Lucius. "It is disagreeable enough to be kept as we are even from going to church; but fancy what it would be to have to cry out, 'Unclean! Unclean!' if any one chanced to come near us!"
"Please, mamma, go on with the account of what the priest had to do with the two birds which he sent for when he found that the leper was quite well again," said Amy.
Mrs. Temple continued her reading:—
"'He slew one of the birds, and received its blood in an earthen vessel. Into this he dipped the cedar wood, the scarlet wool, and the hyssop, and therewith sprinkled seven times the once leprous person. The other bird was then permitted to escape, as a symbol that the man was now free of his leprosy.'"
"Oh, how joyful the bird must have been when allowed to fly free up!" exclaimed Elsie.
"Not more glad than the poor cleansed leper, of whom that bird was a type," observed Mrs. Temple. "Think of his joy at being free to return to his family—his wife and his children; and his thankful delight when worshipping once more with his former companions in the court of the Tabernacle of his God!"
"It seems to me that there is a verse in one of the Psalms which shows that David had the cleansing of a leper in his mind when he prayed to the Lord to forgive him his sin," remarked Lucius.
"I was just thinking of the same when mamma read about the hyssop," said Amy; "it made me feel sure that Agnes was right when she chose leprosy as a type of sin. 'Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.'"
"Oh, mamma! I remember the story of the poor leper who came to the Lord Jesus," said Elsie, "and how he cried, 'Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean!'"
"Yes, indeed, Elsie, and how deeply interesting is the Saviour's reply, 'I will, be thou clean,' if we look upon leprosy as a type of sin," observed Mrs. Temple. "The Lord was able and willing to heal, not the poor man's body alone, but also his soul; and make him free from all stain of sin as well as from all taint of disease."