Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 2 · Verse 1
CHAP. II.
Verse 1. Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and evil speakings: Verse 2. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby. Verse 3. If so ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
WHerefore laying aside, Doctr.&c.] Sundry things may be hence observed in general:Regeneration and the love of sin cannot stand together. 1. That Regeneration and the love of sin cannot stand together, it must needs be accompanied with a new life: This is the end of our new birth. The life of a Regenerate man must be a continual practice of mortification,Rom. 8. 1. and study to please God;2 Cor. 5. 17. this may be seen from the dependance which this hath with the former,Gal. 5. 24. Wherefore laying aside, Rom. 13. 1. 2&c. as if he should say, Seeing you are Regenerate, and God hath done so much for you as thus and thus, therefore we must lay aside, &c.
1. Here's reproof for those that bless themselves,Use 1. as if they were Regenerate and Believers, who do yet still live in their old lusts; Do Vines bear Haws and Brambles? do men gather Grapes of Thorns?
2. Admonition to all that have proof of this work of Gods special grace in them,Use 2. which Man nor Angel could not have wrought, and which is given but to a few, that they labor to shew forth their thankfulness, by renouncing all evil, and setting themselves on the contrary duties to please God.
3. Comfort to them that do thus,Use 3. They may rejoyce in the assurance of their Regeneration, they have cast off the work of darkness, put on the armor of light.
2. That there's no perfection here to be attained,Doctr. for men cannot lay away that they have not,There's no perfection to be attained here. but that they have; even the best have remnants of the old man, they have sin dwelling, though not reigning in them; they are sanctified throughout, but not perfectly; so that though it be true,1 Iohn 3. 9. & 1. 11. That he that is born of God, sinneth not, its also, That if we say we have no sin, we deceive our selves, and the truth is not in us; God will have it so to humble us, and exercise us in his Word, Sacraments, Prayer, &c.
1. This condemns all such monsters as challenge any perfection or purity here,Use 1. whereof have been sundry sorts, raised up by Satan at all times, as the Pelagians, Catharists, Caelestians, Donatists, Anabaptists, Libertines, Family of love, &c. a dangerous Opinion: 1. To puff up with arrogancy while they look for inherent righteousness to come to heaven. 2. To drive such into desperation that feel the corruptions of their hearts rebelling, and cannot be rid of the same, which yet was the case of Paul himself: We are at the best unprofitable servants, and while we live shall for many things stand in need to make this Petition,Luke 17. 10. Forgive us our trespasses.
2. This must not yet quail or discourage us from this Spiritual combat,Use 2. but rather set us on work more carefully; for though we cannot overcome in all, yet we may prevail much; and though we shall have cause to say with Paul, Rom. 7. 24, 25.O wretched man that I am, &c. yet we shall also have cause to say with him, I thank God through Jesus Christ; and though we shall have cause to grieve that we can get no more mastery, yet we shall have cause to rejoyce, that we have attained to that we have, wherein though we have gone on but slowly, yet sincerely: Original sin is not a cistern, if it were, we would never leave till by the grace of God we had emptied it;Simil. but its a spring, when we have pumped out all we can at night, at a Fast, at a Sacrament, yet it will come in again quickly; there will still be more, whereat notwithstanding we must not be discouraged, and give over, but out with all again, for the longer we tarry, the fuller it will be, therefore we are to set upon it both quickly and continually.
3. That its no easie thing to be a Christian,Doctr. its no plain, nor easie life or work,To be a Christian, is a work of great difficulty. but a very difficult, sore and painful life, for a man to renounce those sins which be so neer to him, and he so wonderfully given to, to deny himself, and take up his cross, therefore we are bid, strive,Luke 9. 23. labor, study, give all diligence hereunto, mortifie our earthly members, pluck out our right eye, cut off our right hand, &c. so many affections as be within us, so many armed soldiers we have to fight against; therefore is our life compared to a warfare, as who are to fight against three sore Adversaries, the Devil, the World, and our own Lusts, the worst of all: O how hard it is to resist the multitude and example of the vulgar and most! how hard to despise the baits of unlawful Honors, Profits, Pleasures! how hard to overcome the contrary troubles for well-doing! how hard to resist the Devil! but chiefly our own corrupt heart is a rebellious traytor, subtile and wicked, which few overcome, and great is their reward which doovercome.
1. They that finde themselves in an easie way,Use 1. are not in the state of grace: Its easie to follow the course of the world, and our own will, but he that doth thus, is in the broad way; but to deny these, and obey God, we shall finde hard, it will cost much labor, many prayers, sighs, tears, much hearing, meditation, partaking of the Sacrament, and the like.
2. For them that wrestle,Use 2. and finde themselves beset, and therefore are fain to take pains, let such be of good comfort; this is the way to heaven, be not discouraged, go on; the work is hard, but the crown and reward is wonderful eternal.
4. That under those corruptions here named,Obs. all others are included,VnderUnder those here named, all other corruptions are included. and the first word may be taken very fitly for all naughtiness in general, the rest being particular branches thereof, elsewhere more are set down: Therefore a Christian must not renounce onelyonly some evils, but all, all being hateful to God, he must cast away every thing that presseth down,Col. 3. 5. we must cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit:Heb. 12. 1. The Spirit of God,2 Cor. 7. 1. and the love of any one sin, cannot be together in one heart; and here he names onelyonly those wherein they were most faulty, and which were contraries to that love exhorted unto in the former Chapter.
Therefore wheresoever there's the love and practise of any one sin,Use. assuredly the Spirit of God dwells not in that man, neither is there any work of Regeneration in him.
5. That most of those here mentioned be inward corruptions,Observ. which we must as well avoid,Most of the corruptions here named are inward. as the outward, the sins of the tongue, and the like: Its not enough to pare away the outward sins, but the heart also must be purged; we must be sanctified throughout, our whole Spirit,Iam. 1. 26. Soul and Body,1 Thess. 5. 23. must be kept blameless.
1. This condemneth those that will look to the outside,Use 1. and yet in the mean time suffer their hearts to boyl full of Lusts, and swarm ful of Corruptions, of Pride, Envy, Impatience, Unbelief, & the like, making no conscience of these; This is an ill sign: These haply may bridle themselves awhile, but they wil surely break out one time or other; if they should not, yet were they but painted Sepulchres in Gods sight.
2. This may comfort Gods Servants who groan under their inward corruptions,Use 2. and when men think they have done well, yet they shake their heads at themselves, at their dulness to good, at their Pride and Hypocrisie therein, at their unwillingness thereto, at their wandrings: This is the minde of Gods true Servants, and this also may much comfort them.
Wherefore laying aside] Now of the vices themselves, or corruptions rather as they are in the Regenerate.
I remember I requested in the beginning of the Chapter to attend to it, because we knew not whether we should live to the end of it, or no; and is it not proved true? Some that were at the first Sermon (there being but a little intermission from the course of my Ministery here) are now at their long home;The Author was absent at this time three weeks. not Ancient alone, but Yong and Lusty also, that might have lived to see the most of us buried: Therefore I see we had need take heed not to Chapters onelyonly, but to every Verse, every particular Sermon, this very Sermon, accordingly making the best use and benefit thereof, seeing no man knows whether he shall hear another, so vain a thing is man; and I pray God we may so do.
All malice,] The Word signifieth very properly all kinde of naughtiness, and so may fitly here, as the genus of the vices that follow, and all others, and accordingly speak we thereof. Naughtiness: What is that that is naught?Obser. and what makes a thing naught? That which is forbidden by God in his Word,Thats naught which is forbidden in Gods Word. as that is good which he approveth; for his will is the absolute rule of righteousness: who doth not see a thing first good, then willeth it, but willeth and commandeth it, and thereupon it becomes good,Iohn 3. 4. and so on the contrary; and therefore sin is said to be the transgression of the Law.
This teacheth us to examine all things, and knowing any thing commanded,Use. to conclude that its good, and thereupon to do it; contrarily, knowing any thing forbidden, that thenceforward we know it to be naught, and therefore abhor it; for what good can come of that which is naught? and what should we have to do therewith? The Lords will is a rule of Righteousness, all promises made to the obedience of it, and all the threatnings and plagues upon the world have come because of disobedience, that God would have his will, and men will not, but have theirs. This is the trouble of the world, and that which hath cost the world full dear, yet how few knowing Gods will can be content there to rest, and say, Now I know this is forbidden, I have done with it, I know this prescribed, I will therefore obey it? O this were a happy world!
But if by this word we understand malice in particular,What malice is Its an old grudge upon some wrong done, or conceived to be done to a man, whereupon he waits to do some hurt or mischief to him that did it.
Anger is like a fire kindled in thorns,The difference between it and anger. soon blazeth, is soon out; but malice, like a fire kindled in a log, it continues long: This is often forbidden,Eph. 4. 31. and yet as Esau hated Jacob, and Haman Mordecai; so the world hateth Gods Servants,Col. 3. 8. as being reproved of them, and who run not with them into the same exce…s of riot.
1. We ought to take heed of the beginnings of unadvised anger,Use 1. it rests in the bosom of fools;Eccles. 7. 9. whereas he that is so slow to wrath is of great wisdom: God is slow to wrath, and so should we be.
2. If we be overtaken (as a right good man may) take heed it fester not,Use 2. grow not to hatred, heal it quickly, as we do our wounds: The Devil is an ill Counsellor, cast it out to night, how can you else lie down in peace, or pray? prayers be lost, and that's a grievous loss: Nay further, Cast it out to night, thou mayest dye ere to morrow; and then shalt thou either dye in malice, or else forgive per force, when thou canst not retain it any longer, nor any cares for it; for what needs one care for thy hatred, if thou be once dead? Again,Mat. 5. …3. thou art not fit to come to the Sacrament; not fit to offer thy gift at the Altar: And to be revenged, what a madness is this? It may be thou dost but imagine a wrong, and then there's no cause, thou dealest unjustly: but if there be, wilt thou revenge? Its the Lords office; Take heed of perking up into Gods place, as if he would not deal equally, either not revenging at all, or not sufficiently; The Lord knoweth what is best, let him alone, else thou turnest off his hand from thine adversary against thy self: Nay, what is this but to be revenged of God,2 Sam. 16. 11. as it were? for hath not he a hand therein? Is it not by his appointment?Iob 1. 21.
And all guile,] What we are to understand by guile.Its meant of guile, that is between men and men in their dealings each with other, as in buying, selling, letting, hiring, borrowing, lending, paying wages, doing work, partnership, and the like; when men would seem to do well, but do otherwise; when one thing is pretended but another practised:Prov. 20. 14. Guile in the buyer is naught,Prov. 11. 1. as not to pay, or to pay in ill coyn; so also there may be many frauds in the seller:1 Thess. 4. 6. These God forbids, and he is an avenger of such things; we are not born for our selves, but for the good each of other: we must love our Neighbor as our self, and do to him as we would be done to; we must not lye one to another, seeing we are members one of another, as it were monstrous in the natural body, to see the hand beguile the mouth, &c. and yet how common is this sin? how doth one spread a net for another? not caring how they come by their goods, so they be once masters of them.
The buyer should look to himself,Object. his eye is his Chapman, he should have had more wit.
Thou shouldest have looked to him,Sol. and God will say to thee, thou shouldest have had more love, and more honesty.
Yea,Object. plain dealing is best, but he that useth it shall dye a beggar.
This proverb was never framed in an honest heart,Sol. but in an unbelieving and prophane heart; Its as much as if we should say, men should speed the worse for obeying God, and they that dishonor him most shall speed best at his hand.
We must maintain our charge,Object. and except we use our wit, and the best shifts we can, we shall not do it.
Saith not the Scripture,Sol. A man cannot be established by iniquity? Hath not our Savior promised,Prov. 12. 3. that if we shall in the first place seek Gods Kingdom,Matt. 6. 33. all other things shall be added unto us; we shall have that which is meet, and Gods blessing withal, and thats better then never so much with his curse, an ill conscience, and the loss of our Souls, God will rifle in it, and scatter it at his pleasure: What if we get not so much, or so hastily, as they that care not what they do? (and yet God often crosseth such, and hath ways to defeat them, as to bless his servants) A Thief robs by the High-way, he steals Twenty pounds, sooner then an honest man can earn Twenty pence, what then? would the true man change parts with him, when he sits quiet on his Loom, or is threshing in the Barn without fear, whereas the other hath the Countrey raised after him, and being apprehended is haled to the Goal, thence to the Bar and Gallows? whose part is best? There's no less difference between goods well and ill got.
All] This is added to shew (lest any should think none but guile in great matters or measure forbidden here) that there's a through-Reformation required;Obs. Therefore it will not serve any mans turn to say,Guil is to be avoided as wel in small as great matters. My shop is not so dark as others; I mingle not my commodities so much as such and such; I never deceived in any great matters: All guile must be abandoned of a Christian that cares for his Soul. A Christian must shew forth the truth of his Christianity in his particular Calling, in his shop, Buying, Selling, &c. that men may take his word, and believe it, as if they had seen it with their own eyes, yea, count his words as good as a bond, that they dare rest on his faithfulness, that he will not deceive: O some smile at this, as if there were none such, I hope there be some, its pity they be so rare; Its but that every Christian should do, and must, if he will honor his profession, and do as God requires.
And hypocrisies,] Not that grossest (as I take it) that our Savior Christ condemned in the Scribes and Pharisees, and that which is so common in the world, that come to Church and place all their Religion in Ceremony, and make no account of the power of any part of it in their lives; and yet of this hypocrisie Gods servants have remnants, whereby oftentimes they draw nearer to God with their lips, then their hearts; their knee is bowed, when the heart is not humbled▪ the tongue goes, when the soul mourns not unto God: But this chiefly is meant,Whats here to be chiefly understood by hypocrisie. when a man is willing to be better thought of then there is cause; when he hates sin indeed, but not so much as he would seem; so loves good, hath some care in his Family, &c. this often befals good men, and is for want of setting our selves in the sight of God nakedly, and looking to him with whom we have to do: Now he seeth what and how we do, so that we are to lay away all approving of our selves to men, that is not joyned with as narrow a care to approve our selves to God that seeth our very hearts, and let us rather do more then is thought of us, or then we desire should be thought to be in us, then less; that if we deceive the opinion of men, it may be in the better, not in the worse.
And envies,] What Envy is.Of this I have spoken in handling the Ninth Commandment: Its a bearing ill will, and wishing hurt, not for any hurt done to us, but because another man prospers, or doth or is accounted of better then we would have him, or we our selves are; therefore we seek to disgrace him, cannot abide his commendations, labor his ruine: Thus Cain against Abel, the Scribes and Pharisees against our Savior Christ. This is forbidden by the Apostle, and reckoned of him among the fruits of the flesh. Gal. 5. 21.The more a man clears before men his innocency, the more is the envious mans envy fed, whereas were he found blame-worthy, this would stanch it: Lay away all envy, save emulating the grace of others, I mean so far as to strive to reach and exceed them therein, and all good fruits thereof.
And evil speakings,] What we are to understand by evil speakings.Namely, against our Neighbor, in slandering, backbiting, reviling, &c. whereof also I then spake at large; Whoso bridleth not his tongue (how religious soever he seemeth) his Religion is vain: Iames 1. 26.Lets desire therefore, and pray the Lord to set a watch about the door of our lips.See Iam. 3. 5. The tongue is a slippery member, as little as it is it may do much good if well ruled,Psal. 120. 4. much hurt, if otherwise; an evil tongue is compared to Fire, a Razor, Coals, a Sword: these things must be laid aside, not to put them on again at any time, as men do their work a-days clothes, but as Joseph laid away his Prison garment when he went to Pharaoh, at no time to put them on any more.
As new born babes, &c.] Having prepared the ground, he now comes to sow the seed; and having purged the stomack of ill humors, he comes to prescribe wholesom food, namely, the word of God, which he would have them seriously and heartily to love and long after, and the Ministery thereof, being that wholesom means of nourishment that God hath ordained to this end, that they might grow and encrease from grace to grace thereby, till they should come to the full measure of their Sanctification which they were to attain unto in this life: So that in this verse we have the Affection, the Object, and the End; or, 1. A duty required, namely, to desire after the Word of God, which is set down by a similitude from children new born: and 2. How the Word of God is described, namely, from the nourishing nature thereof, its called Milk; the purity, its sincere Milk; and the end thereof, that they might grow thereby.
He had before willed them to lay aside all malice, &c. now to desire the sincere milk of the word: Hereby implying, that
The Word of God cannot thrive or prosper in an unsanctified heart,Doct. neither can a man either affect it,The Word of God cannot thrive in an unsanctified heart. earnestly desire it, or truly delight in it, as long as he lives in any one sin: For 1. The Word of God is holy, and will not abide in an unclean heart, no more then Rose-water will keep good in a musty or foul vessel. 2. It crosseth all our sins and corruptions; whoso therefore loveth any one sin, cannot love the Word: Hence it is that so few affect the Word soundly, even because it crosseth that which they love, and so few grow by it, because their hearts be defiled with some sin.
Therefore let us abandon the love of all evil and sin from us,Use. if ever we mean to finde the Word sweet unto us, or to prosper thereby; so far doth any man profit in the love of Gods Word, as he profits in the hatred of sin: The best nourishment taken into a corrupt stomack, yet nourisheth not; so its with the Word: The most come to Church with hearts over-grown with rank weeds more or less, therefore cannot the Word thrive in them; and so the carnal people of the world receive no benefit after long preaching, and they that have good things in them, yet when they suffer some corruptions in themselves to wax too rank, do not thrive in grace.
The duty required is, As new born babes to desire the sincere milk of the word, so being much conversant both in the hearing and reading thereof.
The desire that new born babes or yong children have after their Mothers breast,Observ. is 1. Earnest: 2. Constant: 3. Impartial:Our desire towards the word must be earnest. Such must ours be towards the Word. 1. Earnest; the new born babe hath not only an aptness to suck at the first, but makes aym at the dug, wrings and turns the head, and gapes, which is the wonderful work of God, nay, desires it so earnestly, as it will cry for it, yea and if it hath it not,Iob 23. 12. nothing else will still it; and after it hath been accustomed thereto,Psal. 42. 1. & 119. 20, 103, 111, 227. no dancing, rocking or gingling will still it, but the Big it must have, and that satisfieth it. Such must be our desire to the Word, an earnest fervent desire, so as nothing can satisfie us without it,Psal. 119. 98, 99. but we esteem it above all, both profit and pleasure. Such as be new born do thus desire it; and no wonder, for it made David wiser then his Teachers,2 Tim. 3. 15, 16. his Enemies, his Ancients: It makes us wise to Salvation,Iam. 1. 21. its able to save our souls; its the instrument to convert, to build up, to teach, instruct, convince, correct, &c. and to make perfect to every good work: Every part of it is so holy and profitable, the Promises so comfortable, the very Threatnings also able to subdue our rebellious Corruptions, and the Instructions thereof to teach us the way we have to walk in: O there can be no part thereof spared.
1. This condemneth those that have no desire at all to the Word,Use 1. had as leave be at home, as thereat, no Sermon, but for names sake; that care not to come to the Word, or if they come for company or fear of the Law, yet its without any appetite or desire, and therefore they come no more then they must needs for shame or danger: Tell whether Papists or others amongst our selves that care not for the Word, of profits or pleasures, they like it well, but as for a Sermon, they have no appetite thereto, finde no savor therein; some had rather be with their Oxen, and at their Farms, some at Bull baiting, or some Play; some had as leave be in the Churchyard as in the Church, love the Word as one would love a Prison: This is a certain sign of carnal persons dead in their sins; as if a childe after it were born, or at any time, should lie a day or two and make no aym for the Big, would not every body say it were dead? Many other would seem to desire Preaching, and wish they had a good Preacher, but in the mean time it troubles them not, they seek not to compass it, nor mourn for the want, nor will they take pains to stir abroad to hear elswhere till they have one of their own: Certainly these men have no life of grace in them, if they had, they would not onelyonly wish for it, but earnestly desire it: Doth the childe onelyonly sometimes make aym for the big? No, but if it be well it will cry for it: These profit accordingly when they hear, because they hear not with a desire; others can be kept from the Word by every trifle, and wonder that others are not: For this sin of the contempt of the Word, God may justly visit the Land, as he doth every year with one Judgement or other, and why rather then for this mother sin, and great unthankfulness for this most precious and invaluable Jewel?
2. It may comfort those that long after it,Use 2. and so earnestly desire it, as nothing can please them without it; a fair house, fertile ground, wholesom ayr, a good farm, all this gives them no content without the Word, which should sweeten and teach the use of all; O if they had thought they should not have had the Ministery of the Word, they would never have come there; and now labor by all means, not coldly, but with endeavor to compass it, going where it is, till they have it, taking great pains about it, hot and cold, in winter and summer, a good sign of health of such as are alive, born again, when men are not held away by any small occasion, are never so glad as when they are at it,Prov. 2. 3. and 8. 17. never so grieved as when withheld therefrom. These be they that shall profit.
2. Constant;Constant. A yong childe having newly suckt, is quiet a while, but by and by will desire the dug, and cry for it again, and ever and anon must be sucking:Psal. 27. 4. So should we always be desirous of the Word,Psal. 119. 20. still hungring after it. Regenerate persons or true Christians desire it again and again; for why, they seek so much to know, that they desire still to hear more; they finde their Faith feeble, therefore desire more still that it may be strengthened: They finde many and strong corruptions, therefore they would hear that which might subdue them; they finde many doubts and much weakness, therefore they desire to hear still as often as they can, and all too little; therefore they think the time long from one Sabbath or Exercise-day to another.
1. For them that care not how little they hear,Use 1. with whom once a Sabbath is full enough, once a monethmonth for a need, yea, once a quarter would serve the turn; Its a sign of clung and starved souls, for as they that be in health, must eat oft; so they that have spiritual health in soul, must hear oft; Therefore they that loath, and are weary of the Word, its a sign of sick souls, having no Stomack to this food, its a sign they are dead at the heart.
2. For those that feel an appetite from Sermon to Sermon,Use 2. and to hear oft, its a sign they see their wants, and finde the goodness of the Word.
3. This may stop the mouth of barkers at such as go to the Word,Use 3. Why, were you not at Church last Sunday? must you go again to day? must you go on the week day too? Why, know ye not that growing persons eat oft, are often hungry: They are growing, and therefore that they may grow more, must use this means; they that see no wants in themselves, a Sermon now and then will serve their turn.
3. Unpartial;Vnpartial. As the childe cares not whom it sucks, rich or poor so the milk be good, so must we not look at the man, or at his outward appearance, so as he deliver the Word of God soundly, truly, and sincerely, that it may appear good milk.
Many look upon pomp and outward complements,Use. so as they set light by the Ministery of them that want them, counting them plain men, simple men to see to; let such know, that not painting of the Cask makes good wine.
These being the duties of the people, thus earnestly, constantly, and impartially to desire the Word of God, by the way in a word Ministers must learn their duty, and how to carry themselves.
1. As the People be the Children,Obser. so Ministers be the Nurses, therefore they must be no dry Nurses,Ministers must have store of milk for their spiritual Children. then the people shall desire and miss, but have full breasts, that their Children may have enough to nourish them: They must Study, Read, Meditate, Pray, that their breasts may be full, as good House-holders, they must have old and new for every bodies turn,Mal. 2. 7. give every one their portion; and as good Nurses that fear they shall want milk, eat and drink spoon-meat more then they are willing; so must we study, against our ease to satisfie our spiritual Children, not woo-meal our Children.
2. Ministers as they must have milk enough,Obser. so must they have love good store,Ministers must have good store of love. to lay out their breasts publiquely and privately upon all occasions, as the kinde mother that sometimes a whole day together doth not pin up close her things,Acts 20. 31. but lets her breast always be in readiness.2 Tim. 4. 2.
3. Ministers must have much patience,Obser. that though the people, some or all be wayward,Ministers must have much patience and take not the breast handsomly, yea, sometime fall out with the breast, when it comes too fast, and fall a crying,2 Tim. 2. 25. as Children do; They must I say have patience, and wait, putting it again in their mouthes, though they cag and puke it up again.
Milk of the Word] The Word is here and elswhere compared to milk (as to wine and bread,The Word why compared to milk. this being to the Soul as those to the body) as in respect of the plainness of it to yong children,Isa 55. 1. which is therefore opposed to strong meat,1 Cor. 3. 2. that is, harder Points, and Mysteries of Religion,Heb. 5. 12. so especially for the nourishing nature thereof.
1. Therefore they that may hear the Word,Use 1. and will not, starve their own souls, and are wilfully guilty of their own destruction; They that take away the Word from any place, pluck away the childrens bread, and leave the people to perish for want of knowledge.
2. Christians must desire it,Use 2. and hunger and thirst after it, praying God to continue it, and that of all punishments, he would not send a famine of the Word: The Soul hath a life as well as the Body, bodily food will do it no good, therefore the Word must be had.
3. This also stops the mouthes of those that wonder at Christians because they hear oft,Use 3. they can never be content; They did hear on the Sunday, must they go on the week day too? Did not you eat yesterday, yet will dine to day again? and no marvel, for you cannot live without it; no more can the Soul without the Word, the Spiritual food thereof: And though your Soul be a small feeder, and little will content it, indeed nothing at all, because you have no Spiritual life in you, yet the children of God that are alive, must have it again and again: We say, They that are growing must eat oft, and are hungry, so must growing Christians hear oft.
Its also compared to milk for the sweetness of it;Psalm 19. 10. nothing sweeter to a childe then the mothers breast, so is the Word to a new born Christian.
They that feel no sweetness therein,Obs. their mouth is out of taste with sin,Nothing sweeter to Gods children then the Word as they also to whom it seems bitter; contrarily, they that finde it sweet, pleasant, delightsom, yea every part thereof, and to whom even the threatnings thereof are welcom, as whereby their corruption may be subdued, its an infallible sign that they are Gods children.
Besides,Obs. as milk is a general food for all Christians rich and poor, so is the Word the common food of all Christians,The Word is the common food of all Christians. the means of their begetting and edifying; the greatest must look for no other, so neither the poorest, none must neglect it, its the common food of all that shall be saved: Happy is the Land therefore that flows with Peters milk and Davids honey, they have the best Spiritual complexions that be fed therewith.
Sincere] That is,The Word why called sincere. Pure, Unmixt, a borrowed speech from honey that is not mixt, but sine cera, without wax; and its so called, not onelyonly because its the purest thing in the world (and therefore we o…ght to desire it the more earnestly) but because there be such as will deal with the Word, as Hucksters that sell milk, and mingle it with water; so some mix the Word with Errors, and deliver it not sincerely, whereof accordingly they were to take heed.
Hereof he had great cause to warn those Jews, because there were false Teachers, that labored to draw them from Christ altogether; others joyned Law with Christ, as if Salvation were not by Christ alone: This was to put poison in the milk.
1. This teacheth Ministers to preach the Word sincerely without mixture:Use 1. For matter, all must be according to the Law and the Testimony, and the Ballance of the Sanctuary, so that they may boldly avouch thereof,Isa. 8. 20. that Thus saith the Lord, they must speak as the words of God,1 Pet. 4. 11. and his Oracles: And for maner, it must not be carnal, in humane eloquence, and curious words of mans wisdom; such teaching darkens the Word. The Lord hath left us marvellous things in his Word,Psal. 119. 129, 130. and yet in a very plain maner, He saith they be wonderful in one Verse, and in the next, That the entrance into them giveth wisdom and sheweth light: So must Ministers deliver it in an holy kinde of plainness, not mingling therewith carnal and fleshly eloquence, fine conceits, and I know not what witty sayings out of Heathen Writers to garnish the same, but handle Spiritual things spiritually, not being ashamed of the simplicity and plainness of the Gospel, for this foolish and plain preaching shall be blessed, and be the wisdom and power of God, when that wisdom shall remain unprofitable and vain; What is the chaff to the wheat? all that vain Ornament doth but disgrace the Word, and it may be seen that God is displeased therewith, for that he blesseth it not to win Souls, as he doth that other which is despised of many of the world, and counted plain English preaching, a good English Sermon.
2. It teacheth the people to avoid all vain and humane corrupt mixtures,Use 2. accepting onelyonly that which is sincere milk: For the matter, They must take no erroneous Points for truth, but be able (with the Bereans) to try all things by the Scripture,Acts 11. 17. and so rejecting the rest, keep that which is good; they that through ignorance slap us all together, will be poisoned in stead of being nourished: It is the safest and best dyet which is most simple, and therefore some render this as a reason why our Forefathers were stronger, and lived longer then we do, even because of the simpleness of their dyet; this Spiritual mixture hath been the cause of all Errors, wherein some truth is used to help away the falshood: So for the maner, They must affect a plain and Spiritual kinde of preaching, when the Text is clearly opened, aptly divided into his parts, the Doctrines maturely gathered, strongly confirmed for the setling of the judgement; and lastly, Uses are made of Admonition, Reprehension, Consolation, Confutation, together with Exhortation, all applyed to the consciences of the hearers; Oh, this is sweet! Many simple people desire to hear Sermons, stuft with sentences out of Authors, and that in a strange tongue, and highly commend it, though they understand it not; and is not this a great folly and judgement of God upon them? A number of idle and vain curious heads, had rather hear fine witty conceits, ancient stories, pleasant discourses, serving rather to tickle the ear, then to edifie the Conscience, such are like those that desire sawce, and leave the meat. But Preaching was never ordained but to work upon the Conscience, and in such teaching the true Servants of God finde no favor, but grief; when its kindely, naturally and spiritually handled, then its sweet to them.
That ye may grow thereby.] Why Christians are to desire after the Word.The end of our desiring after the Word, of our Hearing, Reading, Meditating, Conferring thereof, is not that we might get some knowledge to tip our tongues with, and make our selves the better thought of in some companies, as some do, or that we may be able to discourse, haply eavil against it, but that it may work effectually in our hearts, to humble us, to work in us true Faith and Repentance, and being wrought, may be increased and set forward more and more, and hereat we should aim at all times; when we read a Chapter, or hear a Sermon, we must come with this minde, that we may be the better thereby: For the Word is ordained and is apt and able not onelyonly to convert, and beget us, but also to nourish us, that we may grow up from strength to strength.Eph. 4. 11. 15.
1. This rebuketh the common sort,Use 1. that come with no such minde and resolution, as appears by their continuance in their sins; They wil be brought to reform nothing, though they hear never so oft, never so plainly: They come onelyonly for fashion, and what Hypocrisie is this? Yea, also if those that have some goodness in them came with this minde, and cast with themselves to go away gainers, and it would grieve them as much to make an ill market at Church, as at London or elsewhere, surely they would grow and thrive faster in Grace; They could not then fit and sleep, for who sleeps at his Market while profit drops? Its said of Agustus Caesar, that he thought that day lost, or ill spent, wherein he had done no good to others; so we should moan our losses, and think that Sermon lost, whereby something hath not been added to the stock of our Faith, Knowledge, and Repentance.
2. Seeing the Word serves as well to build up as to convert us,Use 2. men o…ght to attend on the Word Preached as long as they live;Acts 20. 32. yea, though already they be full of knowledge and able also to admonish of others:Rom. 15. 14. Therefore they that think they have profited enough,2 Peter 1. and now may take their ease and let others hear, they have indeed got nothing as they ought.
Christians must daily grow in grace;Doctr. For this as the Church of Thyatira was commended,Christians must daily grow in grace. even because their works were more at the last then at the first; So the Church of Ephesus reprehended for revolting from her first love:1 Thess. 4. 1. For hereby as greater glory to redound unto God;2 Pet. 3. 18. So more comfort to our selves, more good to others.Rev. 2. 19. & 2. 4.
1. For those that are fallen away, and now are nothing so good as heretofore,Use 1. let them consider, that relapses are very dangerous, let them weigh with themselves, whether ever they began in truth or not; If not, then to begin to lay the foundation, though they may be ashamed at themselves, and say, Shall I that seemed to be so forward, begin in a new again? yet better so then to perish; if yea, then let them endeavor by all means to recover themselves.
2. For those that grow slowly or not at all, many things may be in fault; as 1. Pride, when men think too well of themselves: 2. Worldliness, which the faster it goeth up, Religion goeth down, like a pair of scales, or as a Dog that is following the chase hard, and lights on a piece of carrion: 3. Ill Company, wholly addicted to their Sports and Pleasures: 4. Neglect of the means, or careless use of them, as those that have slack Markets prove Bankrupts; O finde out those, and use the means constantly and conscionably, both publique and private, whereby being freed, thou must grow in some good measure.
If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.] The Reason, They had tasted the goodness of the Word already, therefore to desire it more and more.
By tasting,What we are to understand by tasting. he means not such as in Heb. 6. with the top of the tongue as it were, and tip of the lips, which Hypocrites may have, but an experimental taste upon good proof; as if he should have said, Seeing you have found by good experience, that the Word hath been effectual to enlighten, convert, comfort and sanctifie you, and the instrument working wonderfully for the Salvation of your Souls, you are the moreto desire it, and continually shew your affection thereunto. Therefore
Who so have at any time found the Word of God powerful to their Salvation,Doctr. as to humble them who before saw no danger,Such as finde the Word powerful for their salvation, are the more desirous thereof and affectioned thereto. to comfort them when they were in woful distress, to change their hearts, to be a word of life and Salvation, they will be the more desirous thereof, and affectioned thereunto; it will draw their hearts to it, as the Adamant doth the iron, it will ravish them with the love of it; so were David and Job, who found so much profit thereby: as they are most desirous and greedy of gain, which have felt the sweetness and comings in thereof; as the Israelites after they had tasted of the Grapes, could not but desire more after Canaan; so they that have tasted of the Word, can never be satisfied therewith, but still cry for more.
1. For those that are much affected herewith,Use 1. its a sign of much good received thereby: Its true, an Hypocrite may hear it with joy, and have some flashings, but a constant desire after the Word, with delight, argueth an experimental feeling of the goodness thereof; that heart is indeed drawn thereby, which still desires more comfort, more instruction, and more grace from thence.
2. For those that have no desire after it,Use 2. no delight in it, had as leave be absent as at it, at play or in their Shops then at Church, that are (as most be) strangers from it; strangers in judgement (as who cannot conceive thereof, though apt enough to conceive of worldly things;) strangers in their thoughts (for of those many they have all day long, fewest (if any at all) be of the Word;) strangers in their affections (as who have no delight herein, though in other things too much;) strangers in their tongues (they speak not of it;) strangers in their actions (as not being guided thereby) their condition is fearful, the Word hath not been effectual to their conversation, and so they remain in the state of Damnation to this hour:Iohn 8. 47. & 11. 27. He that is of God, heareth Gods Word (and that both with affection and obedience) And his sheep hear his voyce; they then that do not hear, are not of God, are none of sheep: These must desire God to make his Word effectual to their good, that it may convert them, for then will they affect it.
3. This serves also to stop the mouthes of carnal people,Use 3. that wonder at Gods servants for that they are so fond after the Word, and take such pains, and that so often; O would you know? they have found it a powerful Word to pluck them out of the jaws of Hell, and to save their Souls, that before were in the way of Damnation, therefore do they still desire it, and can never have enough thereof.
Tasted] A borrowed speech from meats which are discerned by the taste.
Their Souls had tasted the sweetness of the Word,Obs. and therein the sweetness of Christ,Christ is sweet to a Christian, and sweetens all that he hath in whom is Salvation, yea and in him onelyonly: O the vanity of all things without him! he is sweet to him that hath nothing but him, and he also sweetens all that we have, without whom we could have but little joy therein.
This condemneth those to whom Christ is not sweet,Use. which favor profits and pleasures, but Christ is a sapless and dry thing to them: To some he is the joy of their hearts, and their very life, to others he is of no account; such as have not found their sins bitter, cannot finde Christ sweet, or desire after him: Thus are civil persons, thus prophane impenitent ones, thus worldings; these feel no need of Christ, they desire him not, Oh, it had been good he had never been offered to these swine that tread him under foot; Oh, they that hear Christ preached, and have him offered daily, and yet neglect him, how shall they escape? Is this favor granted to all to hear of Christ? Alas, no, but to a few; I tell you, those that perish in these times, shall have the deepest damnation in Hell, the fornace will be made seven times hotter for those that perish among us, then for others.
Gracious] Great was our Saviors bounty,Obser. in forsaking the glory of Heaven for our sakes,Christ is every way bountiful to his. and suffering so much for us here, without which our condition had been miserable: He was bountiful of his life, of his blood for us; through him we are delivered from Hell, and made heirs of Heaven, and was not this bounty? and not this onelyonly, but to reveal all this to us in his Word and Sacraments, which he doth not to the world.
O how should this unspeakable bounty affect us?Use. all that have found their part therein, how should they be stirred up unfainedly to be thankful for the same, even to the laying down of their lives for his sake, if need be? and how should it affect all to desire their part in this bounty, to finde that the Lord is bountiful and gracious unto them? O happy are they that partake hereof! and they that shall neglect and contemn the same for profit, pleasure, sin, or whatsoever, will have fearful experience of Gods severity.