beloved is like a bundle of myrrh that lies
continually between my breasts." That is, we should ever _preach_
Christ. The bridegroom must resort to the breasts; so that it is
unjust, and the milk will be corrupt, if we do not preach Christ
alone.

There is this, besides: when it is preached that Christ died for us,
and rescued us from sin, death, and hell,--this is delightful and
sweet, like milk; but after this, the cross also must be preached,
that we are to suffer, as we have done; and this is a strong draught,
it is strong wine. Therefore, Christians should have at first given
them the weakest drink,--that is, milk. For it cannot be preached in
its simplicity, except Christ be preached first of all; which is not
bitter, but is mere sweet, rich grace, from which you receive yet no
smart. This is the sincere milk of the word.

But here St. Peter has supported himself by Scripture, as he is
throughout rich from the Scriptures. In the Old Testament it is
written, both in Exodus xxiii., and Deuteronomy xiv., "Thou shalt not
seethe the kid in its mother's milk." For what reason did God permit
that to be written? Of what concern to Him was it that no suckling
should be killed while as yet it sucks milk? Because He would thereby
give us to understand that which St. Peter here teaches; and it is as
much as if he had said, preach gently to the young and weak
Christians; let them be carefully fed, and thrive in the knowledge of
Christ; burden them not with strong doctrine, for they are as yet too
young, but after they have become strong, let them then be
slaughtered and sacrificed on the cross.

So, also, we read in Deut. xxiv., "If any one have recently taken a
wife, then he need not go out to war for the first year, lest he
should be slain,--but abide at home cheerfully with his wife." All
goes to this point, that we should bear for a time with them that are
young Christians, and proceed tenderly with them. But when they have
grown, God brings them to the holy cross, lets them even die like
other Christians, so that then the kid is slain.--Now follows
further:

V. 2, 3. _That ye may grow thereby, if ye have besides tasted that
the Lord is gracious._ It is not enough that we should hear the
Gospel once; we must ever be anxious for it, that we may grow. After
faith has become strong, we may provide and eat each kind of food.
But to those who have not heard the Gospel, this is not said; they
know neither what is milk o