Saints Compared to Babes

    SAINTS COMPARED TO BABES

    "As new-born Babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" 2Pe 2:2.

    METAPHOR

    I. A Babe is begotten. Abraham begat Isaac. "Hearken to thy father that begat thee."

    PARALLEL

    I. A Babe in Christ is begotten by the Word and Spirit of God; "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," Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:23.

    METAPHOR

    II. A Babe hath not only a father, but also a mother.

    PARALLEL

    II. A Saint has not only God for his Father, but the Church for his mother. "Jerusalem, that is above, is the mother of us all," Ga 4:26.

    METAPHOR

    III. A Babe partakes of the same nature of its parents: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh," Joh 3:6.

    PARALLEL

    III. A Babe in Christ partakes of Christ's spiritual nature: "That which is born of the Spirit, is spirit, or spiritual," Joh 3:6.

    METAPHOR

    IV. A Babe is formed by the mighty power of God in the womb.

    PARALLEL

    IV. A Saint is formed or created by the mighty power of Christ, and by the Spirit: "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works," Eph 2:10.

    METAPHOR

    V. A Babe is born or brought forth into the world.

    PARALLEL

    V. A Saint is born of God: "And of Zion it shall be said, this and that man was born in her," Psal. lxxxvii 5. Ministers are said to travail, to bring forth children to Christ.

    METAPHOR

    VI. A Babe hath all the parts and lineaments of a man, if it be a perfect birth.

    PARALLEL

    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, though at first forming not done to full growth and perfection.

    METAPHOR

    VII. A Babe, when born, is observed to come into the world crying.

    PARALLEL

    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 he prayeth," Ac 9:11, which was a clear demonstration that he was born again, or a new creature.

    METAPHOR

    VIII. A Babe new-born desires the milk of its mother's breast.

    PARALLEL

    VIII. A babe in Christ desires the sincere milk of the word, viz., the sweet, saving, and comfortable doctrine of the Gospel.

    METAPHOR

    IX. Babes are harmless, free from malice.

    PARALLEL

    IX. Babes in Christ are or should be harmless, concerning malice, as children.

    METAPHOR

    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.

    PARALLEL

    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, though afterwards a Saint's growth in grace is not so visible.

    METAPHOR

    XI. A Babe needs much tending, must be carefully looked 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.

    PARALLEL

    XI. Babes in Christ need also much spiritual care and looking after. Christ, as well as his Church and ministers, takes much care of them: "He carrieth these in his arms, and layeth them in his bosom," Isa 40:10-11, They have many a gracious kiss of Christ's mouth, or promise of his word, whereby he seals up his love to them.

    METAPHOR

    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.

    PARALLEL

    XII. A Babe in Christ is taught by Christ also to pray, and speak in prayer more plainly, or to express itself, and make known its wants more intelligibly, and also how to go and walk in the ways of God's commandments: "I taught Ephraim to go, taking him by the hand," Ho 11:3. '

    METAPHOR

    XIII. Babes are weak in knowledge and understanding: "When I was a child, I thought as a child, I understood as a child," 1Co 13:11. From hence they many times are froward, peevish, and soon distaste; small things will offend them.

    PARALLEL

    XIII. A Babe in Christ is usually weak in spiritual understanding, or in the mysteries of the Gospel, and from hence is 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.

    METAPHOR

    XIV. A Babe, after it is grown up, doth not expect that its father or mother should dandle it upon their knees, or seen visibly to show that love to it at first, when it was very young.

    PARALLEL

    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 or 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.

    METAPHOR

    XV. A sweet Babe, one that is very quiet, and good conditioned, is greatly delighted in, and wonderfully beloved by its parents; when others, though 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.

    PARALLEL

    XV. So a young Christian, that is of an 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!

    METAPHOR

    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."

    PARALLEL

    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.

    METAPHOR

    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.

    PARALLEL

    XVII. So some young Christians, because God doth not give them such large knowledge 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.

    METAPHOR

    XVIII. Babes for these and other faults do often feel the rod.

    PARALLEL

    XVIII. So Christians are oftentimes under the rod of God for their faults.