Tropes and Figures — Benjamin Keach — Deadmen

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Tropes and Figures · Benjamin Keach

Saints compared to Babes.

11 Pet. 2.1, 2. As new-born Babes, deſire the ſincere Milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.

Simile.	Parallel.
A Babe is begotten. Abraham begat Iſaac. Hearken to thy Father that begat thee.	A Babe in Chriſt is begotten by the Word and Spirit of God:Jam. 1.18. Of his own Will begat he us, by the Word of Truth, not of corruptible Seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, that liveth and abideth for ever.
II. A Babe hath not only a Father, but alſo a Mother.	II. A Saint hath not only God for his Father, but the Church for his Mother. Jeruſalem, that is above, Gal. 4.26. is the Mother of us all.
III. A Babe partakes of the ſame Nature of its Parents: That which is born of the Fleſh, John 3.6. is Fleſh.	III. A Babe in Chriſt partakes of Chriſt's ſpiritual Nature:John 3.6. That which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit, or ſpiritual.
IV. A Babe is formed, by the mighty Power of God, in the Womb.	IV. A Saint is formed or created by the mighty Power of Chriſt, and by the Spirit: We are his Workmanſhip, Eph. 2.10. created in Chriſt Jeſus to good Works.
V. A Babe is born, or brought forth into the World.	V. A Saint is born of God:Pſal. 87.5. And of Zion it ſhall be ſaid, this and that Man was born in her. Miniſters are ſaid to travail, to bring forth Children to Chriſt.
VI. A Babe hath all the Parts and Lineaments of a Man, if it be a perfect Birth.	VI. A Babe in Chriſt hath all the Eſſentials of a true Chriſtian; he hath all the Parts and Lineaments of a new Creature. There is a Formation, or a gracious Work in every Faculty, a partaking of every Grace, tho at firſt forming not come to full Growth and Perfection.
VII. A Babe, when born, is obſerved to come into the World crying.	VII. A Babe in Chriſt, when firſt born again, or ſpiritually brought forth, cries to God, is much in Prayer; God hath no Children that are born dumb. Behold, Acts 9. he prayeth; which was a clear Demonſtration that he was born again, or a new Creature.
VIII. A Babe new-born deſires the Milk of its Mothers Breaſt.	VIII. A Babe in Chriſt deſires the ſincere Milk of the Word, viz. the ſweet, ſaving, and comfortable Doctrine of the Goſpel.
IX. Babes are harmleſs, free from Malice.	IX. Babes in Chriſt are or ſhould be harmleſs, concerning Malice, as Children.
X. A Babe, when firſt born, if not diſeaſed, is obſerved to grow much in a little time; its Growth is then more viſible than afterwards.	X. A Babe in Chriſt, or a true Chriſtian, when firſt converted, if not ſpiritually diſtempered, grows much. We read of ſome of the Saints, who ſoon after they received the Word of Truth, grew exceedingly, tho afterwards a Saints Growth in Grace is not ſo viſible.
XI. A Babe needs much tending, muſt be carefully look'd after, or it may ſuffer much. It is carried in the Arms, dandled upon the Knees, and laid in the Boſom, and hath many a Kiſs from the Father and Mother.	XI. Babes in Chriſt need alſo much ſpiritual Tendence, and looking after. Chriſt, as well as his Church and Miniſters, takes much care of them:Iſa. 40 10, 11. He carrieth theſe in his Arms, and layeth them in his Boſom. They have many a gracious Kiſs of Chriſt's Mouth, or Promiſe of his Word, whereby he ſeals up his Love to them.
XII. Babes, after they are grown up, are taught to ſpeak plain, not to chatter and cry only, but to talk and ſpeak intelligibly, and alſo to go.	XII. A Babe in Chriſt is taught by Chriſt alſo to pray, and ſpeak in Prayer more plainly, or to expreſs it ſelf, and make known its Wants more intelligibly, and alſo how to go and walk in the Ways of God's Commandments:Hoſ. 11.3. I taught Ephraim to go, taking him by the hand.
XIII. Babes are weak in Knowledg and Underſtanding: When I was a Child, 1 Cor. 13. I thought as a Child, I underſtood as a Child. From hence they many times are froward, peeviſh, and ſoon take diſtaſte; ſmall things will offend them.	XIII. A Babe in Chriſt is uſually weak in ſpiritual Underſtanding, or in the Myſteries of the Goſpel, and from hence are very ſubject alſo to be offended with this thing, and that thing, which ſtrong Chriſtians can bear. Many of the young Diſciples in the Primitive Time, were offended at thoſe that did eat Meat, &c.
XIV. A Babe, after it is grown up, doth not expect that its Father or Mother ſhould dandle it upon their Knees, or ſeem viſibly to ſhew that Love to it as at firſt, when it was very young.	XIV. So Chriſtians, when they are grown to ſome degree of Ripeneſs in Underſtanding, ſhould not expect to be always dandled upon the Knee of Promiſes, or lie in the Arms and Boſom of Chriſt; I mean, have ſuch viſible Expreſſions or Manifeſtations of his Love, knowing they are his Children, and in his Covenant, in his Family, and under his Care, Eye, and gracious Proviſion and Protection.
XV. A ſweet Babe, one that is very quiet, and good-conditioned, is greatly delighted in, and wonderfully beloved by its Parents; when others, tho their Parents cannot but have Parental Affection to them, yet have not ſo great a Love, as to him or her that is ſo pleaſant in their Eye.	XV. So a young Chriſtian, that is of a humble, ſweet, and contented Diſpoſition, not croſs and froward under the Hand and Providence of God, but takes all patiently, is mightily prized and beloved by Jeſus Chriſt. Is not Ephraim my dear Son? Is he not a pleaſant Child? &c. How did Chriſt delight in John, that ſweet and precious Diſciple!
XVI. Children need good and careful Education, to be kept under good Diſcipline, and have good Inſtruction: Train up a Child when he is young, in the Way wherein he ſhould go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.	XVI. Young Chriſtians need alſo good Inſtruction, many things they are to learn, that they may wiſely behave themſelves in the Houſe and Family of God. They muſt more eſpecially be taught the good Diſcipline of God's Church, that they may know how they ought to go in and out before one another. See Dear Children.
XVII. Some Babes or young Children, if their Parents do not give them what they would have, of this or that, preſently throw away what they have, and are angry, and think they do not love them.	XVII. So ſome young Chriſtians, becauſe God doth not give them ſuch l…rge Knowledg and Experience of Himſelf, and other good Things of the Spirit, they ſlight all God hath been pleaſed to beſtow upon them, and conclude God doth not love them.
XVIII. Babes for theſe and other Faults often feel the Rod.	XVIII. So Chriſtians are oft-times under the Rod of God for their Faults.