(2.) There are others who hang upon the breast, as infants that are new-born, can hardly live between one ordinance and another : 1 Peter ii. 2, ' As now-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby.' They cry after their Father, though with a lisping and stammering tongue. They take pleasure in the tenders of grace, and cannot live without renewed applications of the sensible comforts of God's presence ; must be dandled on the knees, cannot digest the frowns of a father, and are not yet hardened for conflicts and the stricter severities of religion.
Use 1. If there be 'fathers,' 'young men,' and ' children,' then —
1. Let us ' not despise the day of small things,' Zech. iv. 10; not in ourselves, nor others. Not in ourselves ; let us not conclude a nullity of grace, though we be in the lowest form of christians. There is the highest measure, and that is heroical grace ; and there are some in the middle rank, some that are yet conflicting with great temptations ; some in the lowest, weak, and unsettled rank, and yet would not quite turn from God for all the world. It is ground that bringeth forth thirty or sixty, but not a hundred-fold. Lambs belong to Christ as well as elder sheep ; babes as well as young men and fathers. The ear of corn that hath thirty grains is carried into the barn as well as that which hath sixty ; and in the family of God there are little children as well as grown persons. He is a good servant that had but two talents, and gained but two. Christ rebuketh those who kept little children from him ; much more will he receive spiritual babes. Strait- necked vessels are long in filling, yet if we be but filled, it is our comfort. Christ would not have us break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax, Mat. xii. 20.
2. Let us not despise the meanest degree of grace in others. Time was when every one was a babe in Christ, and time may be when those who are but babes may grow old men : Mat. xx. 16, 'So the last shall be first, and the first last.' If we be higher, let us bless God : 1 Cor. iv. 7, ' Who maketh thee to differ ? ' not only from the carnal, but from those who begin to have a sense of religion, and have some sincerity, though not that perfection as others have. The apostles often per- suade the strong to be charitable and indulgent to those who are weak,
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and not to despise and contemn them : Eom. xiv. 1, ' Him that is weak in the faith, receive you.' He biddeth them to take the weak into his bosom with much pity and compassion. So his rule of peace : Phil. iii. 15, 16, ' Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded : and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall even reveal this unto you. Nevertheless whereunto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.' Though strings in tune must not be brought down to those out of tune, and the weak must not guide the strong, yet we must bear with their weak- nesses, even with their affectation of pre-eminence, and not crush them and suppress them. How patient and condescending was Christ to the disciples, notwithstanding their dulness and corruptions!
Use 2. Let us consider in what rank we are, that we may wisely apply ourselves to the duties proper to our condition. Usually that which old men want is fervour ; that which young men want, if they know their hearts, is sincerity : the one must beg quickening grace, as David doth often in Ps. cxix. That which the other should most labour after is a sincere love to God and holy things. There may be a strong love where there is not a sincere love ; a moral sin- cerity not to dissemble, but not a supernatural sincerity, when their love is a pure flame, not enkindled nor fed with anything but fire from heaven. Many have zeal, but they know not what spirit they are of. Old professors are more heavenly, young men more active in present duties. Now it is good that one age should borrow of another ; that young men should consider their end, and old men be doing for God while they have any opportunity. The old are more prudent, the young more zealous. Our zeal should be seasoned with prudence, and our prudence quickened by zeal.
Use 3. To awaken us to labour after the highest rank of grace ; it is the aim and purpose of every believer to be in the highest form. Luke speaketh only of a hundred-fold, Luke xviii. 31, to show that we should not content ourselves with less. God is the more honoured the more fruitful we are : Phil. i. 9, ' And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in all knowledge, and in all judgment or sense ; ' John xv. 8, ' Herein is my Father glorified, if ye bear much fruit ; so shall ye be my disciples. The more perfect, the more like God ; for we are required to be holy as he is holy, and to be perfect as he is perfect, Mat. v. 48. Therefore, as we must not always be babes, so not always young men. When men have lived long, and have time and other means to improve themselves both in knowledge and grace, they are very culpable before God : Heb. v. 13, ' For every one that useth milk, is unskilful in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.' They had teaching enough, and yet are babes in grace : John xiv. 9, ' Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long with you, and hast thou not known me, Philip ? ' Oh, do not keep in low things ! To be always weak and always carnal doth highly provoke God.