3.    16 September 1794


[to Mr Ring, Surgeon, Reading Berks][franked with a Thornton signature, London Sixteen September 94] [1]


My dear Madam,
 
I often think with pleasure on the few days I passed with Mr and Mrs Ring at Reading – and of their kind visit to No. 6. As we cannot meet so often as we wish, a little communication must be kept up, now and then by letter. I hope we still meet frequently at the Throne of Grace.[2]
 
I need not tell you that Mrs Skeete and Miss Ring called on us one Sunday, that they stayed but a few minutes then. They dined with us the Tuesday following, and left us soon after dinner. We had much company, so that nothing particular passed. Mr Robinson [3] was then our inmate, but I believe he did not dine with us that day. (inserted: ‘I find he did dine with us.’). It would have pleased me had I been able to help them in their enquiries about a school, but I could not.
 
Our tour to Cambridge and its environs, was very pleasant – we saw many friends, I preached in several places – we travelled in safety, returned in peace and found all well at home. [4] At Bedford indeed, by a false step, I strained my left knee, so that for a time I have had two lame legs – but I would not allow this the name of a trial, when set against, such a number and variety of favours and comforts. I can now walk pretty well. My right leg still swells a little in the day, but the swelling subsides in the night. My left knee is rather stiff, but it gives me no pain, nor much inconvenience. My health is the same as when you saw me; Miss Catlett is likewise well – my maids all pretty well – my friends kind, my spirits good, my cupboard not empty. What more of this world’s good things can I wish for?
 
I was no nearer to Peterborough, than at Great Stukeley, two miles from Huntingdon. I remember Miss Vinter, [5] you showed me some of her letters. I hope she goes on well. I have some acquaintance with Dr Madan the present Bishop, [6] and believe he loves the truth and will countenance those who preach it. There is good going on at Cambridge. Mr Simeon is much beloved and very useful. His conduct has almost suppressed the spirit of opposition, which was once very fierce against him.
 
Probably I shall see poor Heckfield no more, but I am glad that I have seen it. I have  a map of the house, garden, woods etc, and a long list of pleasing incidents while I was there, drawn or written in my mind. If I had not seen Heckfield I should not have known Mr Ring or you, nor should I have been so well acquainted with Mr Serle and his family now they are in town, as I hope to be, unless I had first visited them in the country. There is much of the hand of the Lord to be observed and acknowledged, in the forming of our connections. He often leads us by a way that we know not.
 
I am almost six weeks in my 70th year. It is time for me to think less of going abroad and more of going Home. I cannot now be far from my journey's end. May the good Lord help me, and you also, to praise him for what is past, and to trust him for what is to come. [7] He appointed the hour of our birth, and the hour of our dismission is with him likewise. Whether sooner or later, it will be just at the right time, if it finds us with our loins girded up, and our lamps burning. And if He, who kindled them, is pleased to supply us with fresh oil, neither the world, the flesh, nor the powers of darkness, shall be able to extinguish them. Otherwise, they must soon go out of themselves, for we have no stock of our own. But we need not put any ‘If ‘upon his faithfulness, provided we are sensible of our weakness, and wait upon Him in those means which He has promised to renew our strength.
 
Mr Simeon preached for me last Wednesday from Revelation 5:11,12,13. [8] He spoke of the company, the object of their worship, and their song, I was going to say, as if he had just come down from among them. I think he had a favoured peep within the veil, and there was such a visible impression upon his hearers, as is not common. Why are we not always aiming to realise that scene, where we hope to join them soon, and likewise hope that among the thousands and myriads who encompass the throne, day without night, rejoicing, there are some who were intimately near and dear to us, while they were upon earth? We sympathised with them in their sorrows then, and why not sympathise with them now in their joys? Oh! could we but see them, as I believe they see us, it would greatly weaken our sense, both of the bitters, and the sweets of this poor life! But perhaps it would totally unfit us from attending to the duties of our station. The weakness of our mortal frame, would not permit us to think of anything but what we saw. It seems to have been the Apostle’s case – 2 Corinthians 12. [9] While he saw invisibles, and heard unutterables, he knew not whether he was in or out of the body. We are therefore at present to walk, not by light, but by faith. But there is much attainable even here, which our unbelief keeps us from.
 
It is comfortable to have a hope of heaven hereafter; but we should desire to have as much of heaven as possible, while we are here – to resemble the Angels who always do his will, and always behold his presence. What should we think valuable in this life, but to live to him and for him who lived and died for us? We should consider what opportunities, our situation, our time, our abilities, connections, influence and substance, may afford us, for promoting his service and the good of our fellow creatures. [10] For verily we are debtors, and whatever is given, is more properly entrusted to us, and we should employ our all for Him, as good stewards of his manifold blessings. We should aim at the great honour and pleasure of being useful, that we may experience the truth of our Lord's aphorism, [11] It is more blessed to give than to receive. [12] And if we obey with a single eye, and depend upon his grace with a simple heart, he will surely favour us with a peace that passeth understanding, which will keep our hearts and minds composed under all the changes we may pass through in our pilgrimage. And 'ere long we shall see Him as He is, and be with him forever.
 
We dined yesterday with Mr and Mrs Serles and Miss Esther. They were all well. When you see the Miss Serles, as I understand they are all in and about Reading, beg you to give my love and Miss Catlett’s to them, and to all our friends in the Town as they come in your way – likewise to Mrs Skeete and Miss Mary. When you have distributed all you can for us, we have still abundance of love left for you and Mr Ring. When you come again to London, please to remember that we have a spare bed.
 
Give my respects and best wishes to Mr and Mrs Cadogan. [13]
 
Let us often pray for each other, that the Lord may fulfil in us all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power.
 
I am, my Dear friends,
Your affectionate and obliged Servant
John Newton
 
No. 6  16 September 1794


Endnotes:
 
 [1] Added later: ‘Honourable mention made of the Rev C Simeon – a very precious letter.’
[2] Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
[3] This is William Robinson (1762-1822), Cadogan’s curate, whom Cecil had recommended to him. Born in Cambridge and a graduate of St Edmund Hall Oxford, Robinson became perpetual curate of Longwood Chapel near Huddersfield, and Master of the Free School. Humble and learned, he ‘took great delight in visiting the poor and contributing to their necessities, often beyond the extent of his means’. The name of his Saviour was ‘his theme, his inspiration, and his song’ (Obituary in The Christian Guardian, 1823).
[4] On 17 June 1794 Newton, Betsy and their faithful servant Elizabeth Crabb (d 1807) set out for Cambridgeshire, staying with Miss Mary Palmer (1755-1827) in Meldreth, at Cambridge where he was ‘much in company’ with University Professors Dr Joseph Jowett (1751-1813) and William Farish  (1759-1837), with Charles Simeon qv (born in Reading) and many students, with Henry Venn (1725-1797) in Yelling, at Potton, then on to Bedford and Willian. He preached wherever he went. His ms diary may be read online here.
[5] Dr Benjamin Vinter (1745-1814), Surgeon of Minster Yard Peterborough. His daughter Ann Vinter married the Rev Ambrose Serle jnr (1788-1832), son of Ambrose Serle snr (1742-1812), at Peterborough Cathedral church 6 October 1796.
[6] Dr Spencer Madan snr (1729–1813), younger brother of William Cowper’s cousin Martin Madan (1725-1790), was consecrated Bishop of Bristol 3 June and translated to Peterborough 6 February 1794 on the death of his predecessor (who died 11 January 1794). Madan’s (second) wife, Lady Mary Cornwallis, sadly died soon after, on 11 Mar 1794. His son Dr Spencer Madan jnr (1758-1836) preached the sermon at his consecration. Spencer Madan snr is mentioned ‘affectionately’ in Cowper’s correspondence.
[7] This comes from one of Newton’s favourite hymns, by Joseph Hart, originally No prophet nor dreamer of dreams, now more commonly found as a shorter hymn How good is the God we adore, ending:
We’ll praise him for all that is [past
And trust him for all that’s to come.
[8] Revelation 5:11-13 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
[9] 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
[10] A similar point was expanded in Fn 3 of the previous letter, influencing Ring’s legacy.
[11] Aphorism: a concise observation containing general truth.
[12] Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
[13] William Bromley Cadogan (c1751-1797), vicar of St Giles, Reading (and rector of St Luke’s Cheslea), and his wife Jane (c1752-1827). To the dismay of many, Cadogan was appointed vicar following the death of evangelical minister William Talbot (1717–1774), whose widow Sarah (d 1780) nevertheless saw in him an honest enquirer after the truth. She offered him friendship and patient prayer, gradually aiding his understanding, while providing spiritual food for the church through house meetings led by her evangelical friends – William Romaine (1714-1795), Newton and others. Following Cadogan’s conversion, so many people came to hear his sermons that a gallery had to be constructed over the chancel. Even so, it was scarcely sufficient. Newton stayed with and preached for him at St Giles. On 4 December 1782 Cadogan married Jane (d 1827), née Graham, widow of Capt Bradshaw of the 78th regiment, at St Luke’s Chelsea.

Acknowledgements:
Descendants of Sophia Ring
British Library
Lambeth Palace Library