a spreading leprosy (Lev 13:12). Sin is a scab that spreadeth;
it is a spreading plague; it knows no bounds (Lev 13:8, 57): or,
as David saith, "I have seen the wicked spreading himself" (Psa
37:35). Hence it is compared to a cloud, to a thick cloud, that
covereth or spreadeth over the face of all the sky. Wherefore here
is a breadth called for, a breadth that can cover all, or else
what is done is to no purpose. Therefore to answer this, here we
have a breadth, a spreading breadth; "I spread my skirt over thee":
But how far? Even so far as to cover all. "I spread my skirt over
thee, and covered thy nakedness" (Eze 16:8). Here now is a breadth
according to the spreading nature of the sin of this wretched one;
yea, a super-abounding spreading; a spreading beyond; a spreading
to cover. "Blessed is he whose sin is covered" (Psa 32:1), whose
spreading sin is covered by the mercy of God through Christ (Rom
4:4-7). This is the spreading cloud, whose spreadings none can
understand (Job 36:29). "He spread a cloud for a covering, and
fire to give light in the night" (Psa 105:39).

This breadth that is in God, it also overmatcheth that spreading
and overspreading rage of men, that is sometimes as if it would
swallow up the whole church of God. You read of the rage of the
king of Assyria, that there was a breadth in it, an overflowing
breadth, to the filling of "the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel"
(Isa 8:8). But what follows? "Associate yourselves, O ye people,
[ye Assyrians] and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear,
all ye of far countries; gird yourselves and ye shall be broken
in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought;
speak the word, and it shall not stand, for God is with us" (Isa
8:8-10); God will over-match and go beyond you.