2. What they must seek after, as conducive to their growth —
[As " the word is the incorruptible seed of which they are borng," so is it the food, upon which, as " new-born babes," they must subsist. In the inspired volume, they have truth without any mixture of error. The writings of men take partial views of things, and all more or less savour of human infirmity. Nor can the soul live upon them. If we have read a human composition two or three times, we are weary of it : but this is not the case with the word of God : that is ever new, and ever sweet to the taste of a regenerate soul. A little infant affects nothing so much as its mother's breast. From day to day it prefers that before every thing else that can be offered to it : and it thrives with that, better than with any food that human ingenuity can devise. So in the " sincere" and unadulterated " milk of the word," there is something more sweet and nutritious, than in all other books in the universe. In the inspired volume, God is presented to the soul under such endearing characters; the Lord Jesus Christ is set forth in such glorious views ; the precepts, the promises, the threatenings, the examples, are all so harmo- niously blended ; in short, truths of every kind are conveyed to the mind with such simple majesty and commanding force, that they insinuate themselves into the whole frame of the soul, and nourish it in a way that no human composition can. This therefore we should desire, in order to our spiritual growth. We should read it, meditate upon it, delight our- selves in it: we should embrace every truth contained in it; its precepts, in order to a more entire conformity to them; its promises, in order to the encouragement of our souls in aspiring after the highest degrees of holiness. In short, we should get it blended with the whole frame and constitution of our souls, so that, to all who behold us from day to day, our growth and profiting may appear : nor should we be satisfied with any attainment, till we have arrived at " the full measure of the stature of Christ."]
Let me further improve this subject,
1. In a way of inquiry —
[I am not now about to inquire, Whether you have made a great proficiency in the divine life, but Whether you have ever begun to live, or whether you are yet " dead in trespasses and sins V In all the book of God, there is not a more sim- ple, or more decisive test, than in the words before us. The extent of your knowledge or attainments is at present out of
* 1 Pet. i. 23.