Like - A simile (usually identified with words "like" or "as") - see discussion of terms of comparison. Peter draws a poignant comparison between the appetite of a baby for its mothers milk and the appetite of the believer for the nourishment of God's Word.

William Gurnall rightly declared that...

The Christian is bred by the Word and he must be fed by it.

Spurgeon comments that...

Read John Piper's discussion of what he refers to as "spiritual fatalism" which he defines as...

the belief or feeling that you are stuck with the way you are—"this is all I will ever experience of God—the level of spiritual intensity that I now have is all I can have; others may have strong desires after God and may have deep experiences of personal pleasure in God, but I will never have those because . . . well, just because . . . I am not like that. That's not me."  This spiritual fatalism is a feeling that genetic forces and family forces and the forces of my past experiences and present circumstances are just too strong to allow me to ever change and become more zealous for God (Titus 2:14), or more fervent (Romans 12:12), or more delighted in God (Psalm 37:4), or more hungry for fellowship with Christ (John 6:35), or more at home with spiritual things (Romans 8:5), more bold (2 Timothy 1:7), or more constant or joyful (Romans 12:12), or hopeful (1 Peter 1:13). Spiritual fatalism is tragic in the church. church. It leaves people stuck. It takes away hopes and dreams of change and growth. It squashes the excitement of living—which is growth. (1 Peter 2:1-3 Long for the Pure Milk)

Newborn (738) (artigennetos from arti, an adverb of time = now, newly, recently + gennetos = begotten, born) is literally one just born, lately born and so newborn. It refers to a child at birth or of tender years and in context could refer to new converts or it could simply refer to how any convert should approach the "pure milk" of God's Word.

Peter uses this figurative language to give the readers the mental picture of infants craving nourishment, for anyone who has been a parent or had a baby sibling knows how newborn babies vocally and ardently express their desire to be fed regularly. In fact, newborn babies act as if their life depends on the next feeding, an attitude that should be true of believers, for Jesus Himself clearly stated that...

Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4) (Amplified Version)

Comment: Jesus is quoting (Deuteronomy 8:3) to emphasize that it is not food that is the most necessary part of life, but instead it is the creative, energizing, and sustaining power of God's Word that is the only real source of man’s existence.

In Moses' last words to the children of Israel just before they crossed the Jordan River to possess their possessions (what God had already declared was their inheritance), he made this profound statement ...

"Take to your heart all the words with which I am warning you today, which you shall command your sons to observe carefully, even all the words of this law. For it (the Word) is not an idle (empty, vain) Word for you; indeed it (the Word) is your life. And by this Word you shall prolong your days in the land, which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess." (Deuteronomy 32:46-47)

The NLT paraphrases Deuteronomy 32:47 as...

These instructions are not mere words--they are your life! (Comment: How important in the success of Israel was the pure milk of the Word and obedience to that Word?)

Job had come to the understanding of the importance of God's Word for his sustenance (which I believe was one reason he was able to endure such profound losses and afflictions) declaring...

I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food." (Job 23:12) (Bolding added) (Comment: Read over Job's affirmation slowly and ask yourself "What is more important to me - food {or just "fill in" the blank ____ - my job, my favorite television show, time with my family, etc} or God's Word?")

Babes (1025) (brephos) is used most often in the NT of a literal baby whether unborn or born or newly born. Some contexts signify a young child.

Peter's has the only figurative use of brephos in the NT. In context brephos could be interpreted as referring to believers who have only recently been born again into the family of God by grace through faith (see Peter's mention of the new birth in notes on 1 Peter 1:3 and 1 Peter 1:23). The alternative interpretation is that believers are in a sense always to be considered like infants in the sense that they are always in need of and totally dependent upon the pure milk of God's Word.

Meyer rightly observes that...

The most advanced among us, in knowledge and attainment, are, in comparison with what they shall be, only as babes.

in classical Greek described a babe at the breast, one who is dependent on the mother's milk for nourishment. The use of cows’ milk was rare in ancient times. It was believed that children were very impressionable at the nursing stage, and those who allowed them to be tended by nursemaids were advised to select the nurses with care.

There are 8 uses of brephos in the NT...

Luke 1:41 And it came about that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:44"For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.

Luke 2:12 "And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger."

Luke 2:16 And they came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

Luke 18:15 And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them.

Acts 7:19 "It was he who took shrewd advantage of our race, and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive.

2 Timothy 3:15 (note) and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 2:2 like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

Peter is painting a vivid picture --

Grasp for the Word
Like babies do for their bottle!

The Bible tells us that the goal of Bible study is not just that we might know (and be smarter sinners), but that we might grow (and be more like the Savior) as shown schematically...

Appetite
v
Attitude
v
Aim

Peter is saying that more than simply receiving spiritual nourishment, the readers should be ardently (Ardent = from root = to burn > expressed in eager zealous activity; impassioned) longing for it.

LONG FOR: epipothesate (2PAAM):

Peter gives a command to have this attitude (if you don't have them) for the Scripture, for God knows that studying the Scriptures is the only means of spiritual growth. You can mark it down - There is no growth, spiritually, apart from the intake of Biblical truth.

Pastors remember the words of John Brown...

A man can't always be defending the truth; there must be a time to feed on it.

Matthew Henry writes that Peter...

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.

Adam Clarke writes that the Jewish

rabbins frequently express learning to know the law, etc., by the term sucking, and their disciples are often denominated those that suck the breast. The figure is very expressive: as a child newly born shows an immediate desire for that nourishment, and that only, which is its most proper food

John Calvin wrote that...

Those only are worthy students of the law who come to it with a cheerful mind, and are so delighted with its instruction as to account nothing more desirable or delicious than to make progress therein.

Long for (epipotheo from epi = toward or an intensifier + potheo = yearn) means to have a strong desire for something, with implication of need. It mean to long for, have great affection for, yearn for someone or something. (Click for word study on epipotheo) The preposition epi in this compound indicates intensive desire directed toward an object (in context God's pure Word).

Epipotheo describes an intense yearning for something. It is to long for or intensely crave something with the implication that the one longing recognizes the lack or the need. In (Psalm 42:1) David uses a Hebrew verb translated pant which in turn is translated by the Septuagint with epipotheo...

As the deer pants (Hebrew = arag = yearn for, Lxx = epipotheo) for the water brooks, So my soul pants  (Hebrew = arag = yearn for, Lxx = epipotheo) for Thee, O God. (See Spurgeon's Comment on Psalm 42:1)

Epipotheo is used by Paul in (see note Romans 1:11) when he writes, “I long to see you” and when he writes to young Timothy, that he is “longing to see” him (see note 2 Timothy 1:4). In these uses one can see a picture of the deep longing Peter is trying to convey to his readers and to all saints. Beloved, the question is this...

Are you "panting" for God's word
as a deer in the desert does for the water brooks?
If not, why not?

Long for is in the aorist imperative which calls for a decisive action (attitude change in this case) on the reader's part. The idea is -- Do it! Do it now! Don't delay! It is a command and not an option. In other words, longing in one's heart for Truth is not an option if we desire to grow in grace and the knowledge of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Since we have been born again by the Word of God, Peter is saying "Now make up your mind once and for all to intensely crave the word of God!"

Do you see the connection between the Word of God in the preceding section (see notes 1 Peter 1:23-25)?  We are born again into the Kingdom of God by the "imperishable seed...the living and abiding Word of God" Now, long for that same pure word. You began this new life in Christ with the Word and the only way to grow in Christ likeness is by letting the "the Word of Christ richly dwell within you" (see note Colossians 3:16)

Peter exhorts his readers to intensely crave for pure milk! Epipotheo is a strong word. It paints the picture of being an absolute hungering and thirsting after the Word. If a believer is to grow, it is absolutely essential that he hunger and thirst after the milk of the Word. What this says is that just as essential as having the desires for the word that we are supposed to have is having the trust in God that He gives what He commands. If God says to desire, long for (Aorist Imperative = do it now!), when we don't desire, then we trust Him that He must know something we don't know. He must have some power we don't have. There must be a way. God commands it. So there must be a way. I will not settle for less than what God commands. It's saying "Lord, I can't but You can and you said you would" so cry out to Him to give you that desire which you know is a prayer in His will (1John 5:14-15) and then wait upon the Lord and He will renew your strength so that you then can mount up with wings like an eagle (Isaiah 40:31).

Each morning when you get up you need to deal with those "verse one" (1 Peter 2:1) issues first so that your inner man will be ''healthy'' and you have a natural (supernatural) God given appetite for His Living Word, the spiritual bread of life. God then will give you an intense craving and deep-seated yearning or longing upon which you are to act.

Spiritual growth is always marked by a craving for and a delight in God’s Word with the intensity with which a baby craves milk. The opposite of longing after the pure milk of the Word is to neglect so great a salvation (see note Hebrews 2:3)!

Note that in the present context, milk does not stand in contrast to solid food (as it does in 1Corinthians 3:2 and Hebrews 5:12 [note])

The use of milk as symbol for spiritual nourishment found in Judaism et. al. religions. It would have been immediately familiar to Peter’s readers. All believers are seen as needing to grow and to learn more about the Lord. All believers are to desire the milk (food) of the Word.

How does a believer increase their desire for the truth of God’s Word?

1) Remembering life’s source (1 Peter 1:25; Isa 55:10,11; Jn 15:3; Heb 4:12, Mt 4:4)

2) Eliminating (confessing/repenting of) sin (1 Peter 2:1)

3) Admitting need for God’s truth (beseeching Him to give hunger) (1 Peter 2:2)

4) Pursuing spiritual growth (1 Peter 2:2, “that you may grow thereby”)

5) Surveying His blessings (1 Peter 2:3, “Lord is gracious”)

THE PURE MILK OF THE WORD:  to logikon adolon gala: (Ps 19:7-10; 1Co 3:2; Heb 5:12,13) (7 Rules for "Good Health") 

David spoke of the supremacy and sufficiency of God's Word in Psalm 19...

7 The law of the LORD is perfect (needing nothing for completeness), restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. (Spurgeon's note)
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. (Spurgeon's note)
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. (Spurgeon's note)
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. (Spurgeon's note)

Columbia University (New York City) was established in 1754 and its original seal depicted a woman sitting down, with the 4 letters of the so-called Tetragrammaton (YHWH - transliterated as "Yahweh" or Jehovah) inscribed above her head and 1 Peter 2:1-2 under her feet was inscribed  “admonishing students to desire of the pure milk of God’s word.” My, how times have changed!

Spurgeon comments that...

- that you may grow thereby,

- that you may grow wiser, holier, more earnest, more like your Savior,

- that you may grow up into the likeness of Him Whose you are, and Whom you serve.

Pure (97) (adolos from a = negative + dolos = deceitful cunning to mislead) means without guile, without deceit.

Adolos describes that which is honest, sincere, pure (unmixed with any other matter), without admixture or unadulterated.

Adolos means not mixed with anything else. This adjective is not found in the Septuagint (LXX) but was used in secular Greek writings describing seed or liquids which were "unadulterated". 

Adolos was also used of treaties to describe them as without fraud or guileless.

Cole writes that...

Dishonest merchants in that day would add water to their milk to make more profit. This was “deceitful” milk. Peter tells us to long for the pure, not-deceitful milk. (1 Peter 2:1-3)

Adolos contrasts with the second attitude in 1 Peter 2:1 where Peter exhorts Christians to get rid of guile (dolos).

Jamieson writes that...

Irenaeus says of heretics. They mix chalk with the milk. The article, “the,” implies that besides the well-known pure milk, the Gospel, there is no other pure, unadulterated doctrine; it alone can make us guileless

Peter's point is that God's Word is pure and has no additives. This food of the Word has not the slightest admixture of anything evil in it. The word is commonly used in this sense of corn, wheat, barley, oil, wine, and farm products.

William Barclay adds that...

Adolos is an almost technical word to describe corn that is entirely free from chaff or dust or useless or harmful matter. In all human wisdom there is some admixture of what is either useless or harmful; the Word of God alone is altogether good. (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series. The Westminster Press or Logos)

Milk today has all manner of "additives" and unadulterated milk is virtually impossible to find. Peter says spiritual babes need to suckle on the pure word of God in order to grow into spiritual maturity. The pure Word of God has no ulterior motives like so many human teachings, but has as its primary purpose the nourishing of our soul.

The following statement was found in an old law in Baltimore...

Only pure unadulterated, unsophisticated and wholesome milk (may be sold)

Like water from a mountain spring, Christianity is most pure at its source. While there are fine and honorable Christian teachers and ministers here and there around the world, there remains a very fundamental question: Can the word of any human be more right than The Word of God?

Both Paul (1Cor 3:1-2) and the author of Hebrews (see notes Hebrews 5:12; 5:13) use milk in contrast to solid food as metaphor for elementary teaching to new converts, but Peter uses milk instead as that irreplaceable nutritional source which is vital for growing, sustaining and perfecting the children of God. The analogy with a newborn baby is obvious for  just as God has designed milk to be the perfect food for the physical nourishment for for babies, He has similarly given us the Word which is the perfect food for spiritual nourishment. Even as the mother's milk immunizes her baby from many illnesses and nourishes her baby's growth, so too God’s Word protects Christians from the many spiritual "diseases" which abound and nourishes them to grow in the Lord. Furthermore there is no other source of pure, unadulterated doctrine, which is why the Word must be held in such high esteem and preached purely from the pulpits.

Many today do not desire pure milk...Warren Wiersbe quips that the naive church member who foolishly declares...

C. H. Spurgeon encourages believers be continually imbibing the pure mild of the word, writing that...

It is blessed, to eat into the very soul of the Bible until, at last, you come to talk in Scriptural language, and your spirit is flavored with the words of the Lord, so that your blood is Bibline and the very essence of the Bible flows from you.

The pure milk of the Word - As discussed below the original Greek (to logikon adolon gala) is a bit ambiguous and thus it is rendered variously by the translators...

The spiritual milk which is without guile (A T Robertson)

the pure spiritual milk (ESV)

the sincere milk of the word (KJV)

pure spiritual milk (NAB)

The Puritan Thomas Watson presents a pithy picture regarding spiritual nourishment...

What profit is it, to have the Bible in our heads, but  not in our hearts? It is better to practice one truth, than to know all truths.

The Lord gives us His precepts, as a physician gives  the patient his prescriptions—to take and apply. This is the end are all God's institutes—that we may, by practice, apply them for the purging out of sin and bringing the soul into a more holy temper.

God gives us His Word as the mother gives the child the breast—not only to look upon, but to draw from. Many have gone to hell with the breast in their mouths, because they have not drawn it, and turned the milk of the Word into sacred nourishment. (from his sermon Comfort for the Church)

How do you "drink" the "pure spiritual milk"?

Read it - God communicates with man through His living and abiding Word in the Bible. Listen to it while you drive around (Mp3's, CD's) but better yet read it. Remember to talk to Author before, during and after you've read His personal love letter to you. Picture yourself as a newborn babe and don't let anything keep you for your "feeding time"!

Study it - It's rational, logical milk, so begin to hone the discipline of slowing down so that you might truly observe (observation) what God is saying (consider learning the powerful discipline of inductive Bible study). Memorize the Word so that it becomes "portable" no matter where you are or what your circumstances are. You will find that memorization in turn facilitates meditation on the Word.

Taste it - Steven Cole explains tasting the Word this way...

The image of milk and of tasting the Lord’s kindness brings up the fact that the Word is not just to fill your head with knowledge. It is to fill your life with delight as you get to know the Divine author and enjoy Him in all His perfections. Taste points both to personal experience and enjoyment. I can’t taste for you, nor you for me. We can only taste for ourselves. To taste something, we’ve got to experience it up close. You can see and hear and smell at a distance, but you can only taste something by touching it to your tongue. You can only taste God’s Word by drawing near to God and personally appropriating the riches of knowing Him. Once you like the taste of something, you don’t just eat it to live; you live to eat it. You want it as often as you can get it. God’s Word is that way for all who have tasted His kindness.

Of the word (spiritual, reasonable) (3050) (logikos from logos = reason) describes that which belongs to the reason or is agreeable with reason or thus is reasonable or rational. Some lexicons define logikos as true to real nature.

BDAG says that logikos was a favorite word with Greek philosophers as it referred to that which had been carefully thought though.

TDNT adds that logikos means belonging to speech (a sense that is foreign to the NT) or belonging to reason.

The UBS Handbook Series explains that logikos can be rendered in three ways:

(1) “Of the word” that is, the word of God, or the Gospel, referred to in the previous section (1.23-25). Some scholars and translations opt for this alternative (for example, Barclay “the pure milk that flows from the word of God”; Kelly “the milk of the word”).

(2) “Rational,” which is the common way the term is used in classical Greek literature, particularly among the Stoic philosophers.

(3) “Spiritual.” Most commentaries and translations follow this interpretation. The milk spoken of is a figure referring not to physical milk which nourishes the body, but spiritual milk, which is nourishment for one’s spiritual existence. This is further explained in the last part of the verse: the readers are to drink of this spiritual milk in order that they may grow up and be saved (literally “grow up into salvation”). (The United Bible Societies' New Testament Handbook Series or Logos)

This verse literally reads the logical unadulterated (sincere, pure) milk with no Greek word for "word". The context however indicates that Peter is clearly referring to the Word of God as Robertson explains.

A T Robertson writes that logikos is...

used here with allusion to logos (see note 1 Peter 1:23) and  rhema (see note 1 Peter 1:25), “the sincere milk of the word” (“the milk belonging to the word,” either the milk which is the word or the milk contained in the word (Word Pictures in the New Testament)

In the only other NT use of logikos the NAS translates it  as spiritual...

I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual (logikos) service of worship. (see note Romans 12:1) (Comment: If one takes the nuance of logikos as "thoughtful", then the idea is that of "thoughtful service of worship", which is not a bad interpretation given the tendency of many churches to accentuate the experiential at the expense of the thoughtful! In this regard it is interesting to note one of the Greek sentences that uses logikos "the singing of hymns is the sacred service of a human being, as a logikos  [one endowed with reason]")

Steven Cole observes that...

The literal translation of verse 2 is that we should long for “the pure, spiritual milk.” The word “spiritual” also means “rational” (Greek = “logikos,” from “logos”). The only other time it occurs in the Bible is in Romans 12:1, where Paul says that presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice to God is our “spiritual (or rational) service of worship.” He means that it is a spiritual thing to do, since we don’t do it literally (as a burnt offering), but rather spiritually by yielding ourselves to the will of God. And, it is the reasonable thing to do in light of God’s great mercies to us. Thus the term is purposefully ambiguous. Peter uses it to show us that he’s not talking about literal mother’s milk, but rather about the spiritual milk of the living and abiding Word of God (1:23). This spiritual milk is rational--it is grasped with the mind. Thus Christianity is essentially rational, but not rational in the worldly sense, but rational in a spiritual sense. Human reason must be subject to the written revelation God has given of Himself in the Bible. But you cannot know God without using your mind, since He has revealed Himself in the propositional revelation of the written Word. (Getting Into the Word)

Rienecker has this note on "milk" writing that...

The many-breasted goddesses of the heathen religions who were to sustain and nourish life were widespread in the ancient world. The rabbis also compared the Law to milk" (New Linguistic & Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament)

Irenaeus, an early church father, wrote that heretics "mix chalk with the milk".

Tertullian, another early church father, said that...

"The Word is to be desired with appetite as the cause of life,
to be swallowed in the hearing,
to be chewed as cud is by rumination with the understanding, and
to be digested by faith"

William Barclay explains that...

Logos is the Greek for word, and logikos means belonging to the word. This is the sense in which the Authorized Version takes the word, and we think that it is entirely correct. Peter has just been talking about the word of God which lives and abides for ever (1 Pe 1:23-25). It is the word of God which is in his mind; and we think that what Peter means here is that the Christian must desire with his whole heart the nourishment which comes from the word of God, for by that nourishment he can thrive and grow up. In face of all the evil of the heathen world the Christian must strengthen his soul and his life with the pure food of the word of God (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series. The Westminster Press or Logos)

An unknown writer listed these seven rules for good health spiritually...

A person who is “born again” starts a new life similar to that of a newborn infant. Seven rules that promote good health in babies can be adapted and applied to a Christian’s spiritual growth.

1. Daily Food. Take in the “pure milk of the word” through study and meditation.

2. Fresh Air. Pray often or you will faint. Prayer is the oxygen of the soul.

3. Regular Exercise. Put into practice what you learn in God’s Word.

4. Adequate Rest. Rely on God at all times in simple faith.

5. Clean Surroundings. Avoid evil company and whatever will weaken you spiritually.

6. Loving Care. Be part of a church where you will benefit from a pastor’s teaching and Christian fellowship.

7. Periodic Checkups. Regularly examine your spiritual health.

I like the old but venerable commentator you may or may not be familiar with (but with whom I encourage you to become familiar) Matthew Poole who wrote...
 

Pursuant to his discourse, 1Pe 1:23, where he speaks of their new birth, he here calls them new-born babes; but that not in opposition to those that are adult, or of fall age, as Heb 5:14; 1Co 3:1, but in opposition to their former corrupt and unregenerate state, in which they were destitute of all spiritual life; and so this agrees, not only to young converts, but generally to all regenerate persons.

Desire; being new-born babes, act as such in earnestly desiring and longing for that spiritual nourishment, which is so needful for you, even as children, as soon as they come into the world, are lingering after the breast.

The sincere milk of the word: the Greek may be rendered (and is by some) reasonable milk, viz. such as is for the soul, not for the body; that whereby the mind is nourished and strengthened; or, wordy milk, the substantive from which it is derived properly and first signifying word, or speech, and being used for the word of God, Heb 4:12. But this not being proper English, our translation renders it best, the milk of the word, i.e. the word which is milk. The apostle uses an adjective for a substantive, but that adjective doth not signify the quality of the subject, milk, as the other, sincere, does, but the subject of itself. The like phrase we have, 1Pe 3:7; Greek, female, or wifeish, weaker vessel, which we turn by the substantive, wife, who is said there to be the weaker vessel. So that the doctrine of the gospel is here to be understood, as Isa 55:1, and believers are to be nourished by the same word, as their food, by which, as the seed, they are said to be begotten, 1Pe 1:23. This milk of the word is said to be sincere, i.e. pure, without mixture or adulteration, not blended, or diluted, (as vintners do by their wine, to whose practice Paul alludes, when he speaks of men's corrupting the word, 2Co 2:17; 4:2), with human fictions or traditions. Infants love the sweetness of their mothers' milk, and desire it pure, as it is: believers should desire the word pure, as it is in itself, not mixed with any thing that may lessen its sweetness and hinder its efficacy.
That ye may grow thereby; that by the word, as your spiritual nourishment, ye may grow more in spiritual life and strength, till ye come to be perfect men, Eph 4:13. (Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible)

Steven Cole writes...

In his book, A Quest for Godliness [Crossway Books], subtitled “The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life,”  J. I. Packer reports that a Puritan preacher named Laurence Chaderton once apologized to his congregation for preaching for two hours. They responded, “For God’s sake, sir, Go on, go on!” Ah! Every preacher’s dream! At 82, after preaching for 50 years, Chaderton decided to retire. He received letters from 40 clergy begging him not to, testifying that they owed their conversion to his ministry of the Word (p. 57). Packer states (p. 98):

Puritanism was, above all else, a Bible movement. To the Puritan the Bible was in truth the most precious possession that this world affords. His deepest conviction was that reverence for God means reverence for Scripture, and serving God means obeying Scripture. To his mind, therefore, no greater insult could be offered to the Creator than to neglect his written word; and, conversely, there could be no truer act of homage to him than to prize it and pore over it, and then to live out and give out its teaching. Intense veneration for Scripture, as the living word of the living God, and a devoted concern to know and do all that it prescribes, was Puritanism’s hallmark.

...the Bible, if you take it straight, tells you the honest truth about yourself. It exposes the very thoughts and motives of your heart so that you have no where to hide (see notes Hebrews 4:12; 4:13). It is not uncommon, after I preach, to have someone come up to me and ask,

“Did anyone tell you about what I went through this past week?”

When I assure them that no one told me anything, they say,

“It seemed like you knew everything and you were aiming that sermon directly at me.”

It isn’t me; it’s the Bible! We tend to deceive and flatter ourselves. But the Word of God cuts through the deception and lays out the honest truth so that we can deal with our problems. I must warn you that there are legions of so-called evangelical churches where the Word of God is being watered down by upbeat preachers who want to be liked and who want to make