Exposition of the Two Epistles of Peter, Epistle and exposition 1 · Chapter 2 · Verse and commentary 2
Verſ. 2. As new born babes deſire the ſincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.
The Apoſtle, having diſſwaded from thoſe evils which are great hinderances to the right receiving of the Goſpel, doth here, in the next place, exhort the Regenerate to labor for ſuch a ſharp edge upon their appetite after the Truths of the Goſpel, by which they were begotten, and muſt be nouriſhed, as lively infants have after the milk of the mothers breaſts. And this exhortation the Apoſtle bears in by three motives in this Verſe, taken from the nature, and effects of the Truths of the Goſpel. 1. That thoſe Truths are the ſincere milk, that is, moſt pure Truths, without any mixture of falſhood or error. 2. That they are full of ſpiritual reaſon, and ſo ſuited to the ſanctified underſtandings of men and women; for, the Original may be rendred, that rational milk. 3. That the greedy in drinking of them will prove a principal mean of ſpiritual growth, and progreſs in grace and comfort. Hence Learn, 1. The Truths of the Goſpel are to the truly Regenerate, what the milk of the breaſts is to the young infant, thoſe being no leſſe neceſſary, and fitted for the cheriſhing and entertaining of their ſpiritual life, no leſſe refreſhing and ſtrengthening through Gods bleſſing to them, than this is to the new born babe: for, however the firſt principles, or grounds of Religion, which uſe to be held forth in a Catechiſe, are for their plainneſs, and fitneſs for the weak, called Milk, as contradiſtinguiſhed from more profound Truths, which have the name of ſtrong meat, Heb. 5.13, 14. Yet, for the cauſes formerly mentioned, the whole word is here called Milk, to be much thirſted-after by all the Regenerate: As new born babes deſire the ſincere milk of the Word. 2. The deſire of a truly regenerate perſon after the Word, will in ſome meaſure reſemble that deſire after the breaſts, which is in new born babes: for, as the beſt thing on earth beſide the breaſts, cannot be ſatisfactory to a lively infant; as it is moſt grieved for the want thereof, moſt unwilling to ſhed with it, and moſt delighted to have it of any other thing; So is it with the Regenerate in reference to the Word, as is imported in this exhortation, As new born babes deſire the ſincere milk of the Word. 3. This deſire of the Regenerate after the Word, ought to extend it ſelf to all the parts thereof, every one of theſe having influence upon their ſpiritual growth: The diſcovering and threatning part of it, ſerving them as a glaſs wherein to ſee their defects and ſpots, Rom. 3.20. that ſo they may be chaſed to Chriſt, Rom. 10.4. The promiſes thereof being the channel through which, life, ſtrength, and transforming vertue to make them reſemble their Lord, is conveyed to them, 2 Pet. 1.4. and the precepts and directions thereof, ſerving as a Lamp to direct them in their chriſtian courſe, Pſal. 119.105. for, here the Word indefinitly, without reſtriction to one part of it more than another, is by the Apoſtle held forth as the object of this deſire of the Regenerate; deſire the ſincere milk of the VVord. 4. This deſire of the Word, formerly deſcribed, is a clear evidence of Regeneration, and a new nature; no ſooner is a ſinner born again by the vertue of the Spirit working with the Word, but as ſoon is there a kindly appetite after the Word wrought in the ſinners heart, even as the infant preſently after the birth, doth evidence ſome inclination and deſire after the breaſts: for, the Apoſtle, having aſſerted their new birth, Chap. 1. ver. 23. doth here put them to evidence it: As new born babes deſire the ſincere milk of the Word. 5. There is nothing in the Word of the Lord to deceive any that get grace to receive it by Faith, and walk by it, there being no mixture of Error with the Truths therein delivered, or of falſhood, either in the promiſes, threatnings, or predictions thereof: and therefore Miniſters in handling of it, ſhould keep it free of the mixture of their own inventions and paſſions; and People ſhould love it, and reſt upon it, becauſe it is the ſincere milk of the Word, or, as the Original is, the Word without guile, or mixture of any thing that deceives. 6. Although natural reaſon of it ſelf, except it be elevated above it ſelf, and enlightened by the Lord, cannot comprehend the Truths revealed in the Goſpel, nor look upon them as reaſonable, 1 Cor. 1.18, 23. and 2.14. Yet all of them are moſt reaſonable in themſelves, and cannot but be acknowledged to be ſuch, by all that have the uſe of ſanctified reaſon, when they conſider what ſubjection and credit, we owe to Him of whom we have our being; when they compare His Precepts and Commands, with His Promiſes of furniture for obedience, and of a gracious reward thereof; and when they conſider how Juſtice and Mercy are agreed, Righteouſneſs and Peace do kiſſe each other, in that way of Salvation which is deviſed through Chriſt incarnate; and that neither theſe Truths, nor any other in Scripture, are contrary to pure natural reaſon, though ſome of them be far above the reach of it: for, this Text may be tranſlated (as the like word is, Rom. 12. —1.) deſire that rational and ſincere milk. 7. There are none of the Children of the Lord ſo far advanced in knowledge, grace or holineſs, as that they ought to be ſatisfied with their meaſure, but ought ſtill to aſpire toward a further degree of growth, both downward in humility, 2 Sam. 6.22. and ſtability, Col. 2.7. and abroad in publick-mindedneſs, kything it ſelf in real endeavours after the ſalvation and comfort of others, Hoſ. 14.5, 6, 7. and upward in joy and praiſe, Pſal. 71.14. for, upon thoſe who were already far advanced in grace, Chap. 1. ver. 22, 23. is growth here preſſed; deſire the ſincere milk of the VVord, that ye may grow. 8. According to the ſtrength of our deſires after, and greedy in-drinking of the Word by application and uſe making thereof, ſo will be our growth in grace and holineſs: They cannot but be under a great decay in both, who have loſt their appetite after the Goſpel: for, this deſire after the Word, is here preſt by the Apoſtle, as a mean of growth; deſire the ſincere milk, that ye may grow thereby.