white] This is the first sort of leprosie observed, which is discerned by the white colour of the haire, and the degree of inherence of it below the skinne and within the flesh: of this colour, was Moses leprous hand, Exodus 4:6. and Miriam his sisters leprosie as sister to his was of the same complexion, Numbers 12:10. the Priest shall looke] The Priest rather then the Physitian, because it belonged to him to admit, or to keep back from the Sanctuary, and services of Religion, 2 Chronicles 26:20. and to see that the ceremonies of cleansing were duely observed; yet when he viewed the leprosie, he had (as some conceive) the advise of the Physitian; for the profession of Physick is ancient, as appeareth, Genesis 50:2. though the authoritie of pronouncing leprous or cleane belonged to the Priests only. And for this discerning or differencing between the sound and infected, (touching this disease) they might have sufficient knowledge, either by Art, or observation, and the direction of the rules here delivered; or, if need were, by revelation from God, for God would not call the Priests to an office, for which he would not see them furnished some way with gifts to discharge it; and if the Priest pronounced any uncleane, they were put out of the Camp, whosoever he or she were. deeper then the skinne] Which eateth into the flesh. See Numbers 12:12. & 2 Kings 5:14. The leprosie of the body is a resemblance of the defilement of the soule, and the depth of it below the skinne though but one spot, is as sinne deeply rooted 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉in the soule by habituall inherence, though but one. See vers. 20. 25, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. pronounce him uncleane] Hebr. make him uncleane. But the meaning is, he shall declare or pronounce him so to be; as Ezekiel is said to destroy the Citie by an assured prediction of the Cities destruction, Ezekiel 43:3. And so the ministeriall remission of sins is sometimes phrased as if it were Judiciall, when it is but declarative; which though another may doe as fully as he, as another may sprinkle water with the words of Baptisme, yet it cometh with more assurance and comfort from him, who doth it with an especiall warrant from God.