Evening journal., 1916-02-12

Leper. And He Was Clean"
These two phrases Of our text tell
the whole story OF sin and salvation.
From the account OF the healing of
this leper. Naaman, let us this even
ing learn the method Of God in the
curing of human souls. Throughout
all the Scripture, the leper is used as
type of the siner Leprosy is
clearly type OF sin. In the first
place. because IL has a small begin
ming. II is not self curative, it con-
tinues TO develop and spread until at
last its result is fatal. A young lady
! in Cleveland went TO the Office OF a
physician to consult him about spot
that had appeared on the back of her
/ left hand. After examining It. he
said. at will be necessary for you TO
! take a trip to New York City to see a
specialist" The specialist. after eX-
amining her hand, told her to return
in a month and he would give her his
judgment as to the case. When she
returned at the close OF the month, he
looked at her hand again and uttered
just one word. ii struck terror to her
heart. it was 'leprosy."
Il is impossible for us who have
never come intimately in contact with
victims OF this disease. to form any
ADEQUATE idea Of its horror. The dis
ease is contagious. The unfortunate
is isolated. Human remedies seem
powerless to stay its ravages, and be-
fore death ends the indescribable suf-
ferings, II is said the hair falls out,
IL NIs. 70
from the bones. and the eyes from the
sockets In like manner II is impos-
sible for the imagination to form any
adequate picture OF the awful conse-
quences OF sin. No one became a
great sinner in a moment Some evil
thoughts, some evil desire was per-
mitted to remain in the heart until
il took root and grew and at last
brought forth its deadly harvest. Sin
also is contagious. One of its sad
dest consequences is through the
power of influence. The life that turns
its back upon the right and chooses
the wrong, not only suffers the conse-
quence himself, but its results bring
forth a tragedy of woe in multi
tude OF other lives. But in the last
analysis the effects OF leprosy are not
to he compared with the effects OF sin,
Leprosy is only in the physical but
sin is in the moral and in the spir-
iual. The leper may have diseased
body. but q saved soul. but not so
the sinner His future promises moth
ing but eternal doom. Moreover the
leper realizes his condition. He de-
sires TO be cleansed from his curse
but in great multitude OF cases the
soul smitten with the disease OF SIN
does not realize his true condition
He fails To comprehend his danger
and he drifts on to destruction, ut
lterly needless OF his impending doom
In this story. recorded in the hftl
d chapter OF Kings. we are told tina
this Syrian general. Naaman, was on
of the greatest men Of his time. H
. was held in the highest honor
Through him his nation had game
the victory over her enemies. Hi
praise was in every ones mouth. TIL
king had bestowed upon him immens
wealth and rank and title. From
world standpoint he had everythin
that heart could wish. Yet this frs
the other side OF the scales. causes al
his wealth and rank and honor t
: dwindle TO nothingness. He was
y lleper. What would II mean il man
kind today could get as adequate
conception OF the leprosy Of sin
a The world would describe his case a
e "Naaman. the great man who happen
u cd 10 he a leper." but God would re
e verse il. lie would say II this way
'Naaman. the leper, who happened
> to be great man." The fact tina
= YOU are a lost sinner in Gods sigh
IS a matter OF infinite concern: tha
e YOU are a person Of wealth. Of culture
u OF talent and great business interest
II are subjects OF vastly less import
ance.
: In one of the fOrays, which th
IT Syrians we're accustomed to NAL
% across the border OF Israel, they ha
i brought back as part OF the booty
b little captive girl. This maiden doub
less thought that now her life wa
~ ended. but the fact was IL had reall
l- lust begun. Torn away, as she wa
II from home and kindred. she had SUI
TX posed her usefulness was at an en'
IN Yet through that little girl the lor
II, was able to bring a message to accon
Is pllsh the salvation of a mighty ma
r God often uses the humblest agen
re to accomplish the mightiest mission
m | have heard the story OF a your
r man who had gone away from h
e. parental home, and drifted into a II
80 OF sin and shame. He had lost h
Of money and his position. He becan
S. total discouraged and had conclude
lis to commit suicide. He got on a sire
t. car in city. and paid his last nick
ty for the fare. He sat there until q
conductor called out that they hi
come to the end OF the line. He g
on in an abstract. aimless mann
J. and sat down on the curbing by q
side OF the street. resting his elbo'
NJ on his knees, and his head on h
ed hands. looking detected and hopele'
IL Just then a lady came out Of hor
-.