The Word of God Called Milk

    THE WORD OF GOD CALLED MILK

    "As new-born babes desire the Milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby," 1Pe 2:2.

    "For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness, for he is a babe" Heb 5:13.

    BY Milk here, we must understand the doctrine of the Gospel, which is easily taught unto the capacities of such as are children in understanding.

    METAPHOR

    I. Milk is good to nourish the body; and physicians tells us, where it is well digested, it maketh good blood.

    PARALLEL

    I. The Word of God is good food for the soul: "Man liveth not by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God," Mt 4:4. Where the Word of God is received, and well digested in the understanding, it tends to make a sound Christian.

    METAPHOR

    II. Milk is proper food for children, and new-born babes; it nourisheth them, exceedingly; they grow and thrive thereby, though they have nothing else to feed upon.

    PARALLEL

    II. The Word of God is proper food for those that are born again by the Spirit, or are truly regenerated. Such, like new-born babes, grow and thrive by feeding spiritually upon the Word, precepts, and promises of God; and many have lived upon it, and have been satisfied thereby, when they have had nothing else to feed upon.

    METAPHOR

    III. New-born babes greatly desire and long after the Milk of the breast.

    PARALLEL

    III. So, upright and faithful Christians greatly thirst after and desire the Word of God: "As newborn babes, desire the sincere Milk of the Word," 1Pe 2:2.

    METAPHOR

    IV. Milk is a restorative, excellent good in consumptions, or for them that be lean.[1]

    [1] Schola. Salernil, cap. 43.

    PARALLEL

    IV. The spiritual Milk of the Word is an excellent restorative for a consumptive, wasted, and decayed Christian: "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength," Isa 40:31.

    METAPHOR

    V. Milk was one of those choice blessings that Canaan did abound with; it is called "a land flowing with Milk and honey;" as much as to say, it is a land of rare and choice

    good things.

    PARALLEL

    V. The holy Word of God is one of the choicest blessings God hath bestowed upon his Church and people. Those that would see the excellency of the Word and Gospel of Christ, may read the metaphor Light.

    APPLICATION.

    You may know by this, whether you are born again or no. Do you cry for, and greatly desire the pure Word of God, the sincere Milk of the Word, without human mixtures and ceremonies? The Word of God feeds best, when it is without any composition of human invention.