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The apostle, like a wise physician, having
prescribed the purging out of vicious humours, goes on to direct
to wholesome and regular food, that they may grow thereby. The
duty exhorted to is a strong and constant desire for the word
of God, which word is here called reasonable milk,
only, this phrase not being proper English, our translators
rendered it the milk of the word, by which we are to
understand food proper for the soul, or a reasonable creature,
whereby the mind, not the body, is nourished and strengthened.
This milk of the word must be sincere, not adulterated by
the mixtures of men, who often corrupt the word of God, 2 Co.
2:17. The manner in which they are to desire this sincere milk of
the word is stated thus: As new-born babes. He puts them in
mind of their regeneration. A new life requires suitable food.
They, being newly born, must desire the milk of the word. Infants
desire common milk, and their desires towards it are fervent and
frequent, arising from an impatient sense of hunger, and
accompanied with the best endeavours of which the infant is
capable. Such must Christians' desires be for the word of God: and
that for this end, that they may grow thereby, that we may improve
in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, 2 Pt. 3:18.
Learn, 1. Strong desires and affections to the word of God are a
sure evidence of a person's being born again. If they be such
desires as the babe has for the milk, they prove that the person
is new-born. They are the lowest evidence, but yet they are
certain. 2. Growth and improvement in wisdom and grace are the
design and desire of every Christian; all spiritual means are for
edification and improvement. The word of God, rightly used, does
not leave a man as it finds him, but improves and makes him
better.
He adds an argument from their own experience: If
so be, or since that, or forasmuch as, you have
tasted that the Lord is gracious, v. 3. The apostle does not
express a doubt, but affirms that these good Christians had tasted
the goodness of God, and hence argues with them. "You ought
to lay aside these vile sins (v. 1); you ought to desire the word
of God; you ought to grow thereby, since you cannot deny but that
you have tasted that the Lord is gracious." The next verse
assures us that the Lord here spoken of is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hence learn, 1. Our Lord Jesus Christ is very gracious to his
people. He is in himself infinitely good; he is very kind, free,
and merciful to miserable sinners; he is pitiful and good to the
undeserving; he has in him a fulness of grace. 2. The graciousness
of our Redeemer is best discovered by an experimental taste of it.
There must be an immediate application of the object to the organ
of taste; we cannot taste at a distance, as we may see, and hear,
and smell. To taste the graciousness of Christ experimentally
supposes our being united to him by faith, and then we may taste
his goodness in all his providences, in all our spiritual
concerns, in all our fears and temptations, in his word and
worship every day. 3. The best of God's servants have in this life
but a taste of the grace of Christ. A taste is but a little; it is
not a draught, nor does it satisfy. It is so with the consolations
of God in this life. 4. The word of God is the great instrument
whereby he discovers and communicates his grace to men. Those who
feed upon the sincere milk of the word taste and experience most
of his grace. In our converses with his word we should endeavour
always to understand and experience more and more of his grace. |
