|
16 5 August 1797
[Mrs Ring, Reading, Berks; single [sheet]]
[marked Augst 95 97, postmark is 7 August 97; with a note of plant names presumably in Sophia’s hand: Staychis Lanata or Woolly leaved stachis, Rudbeckir [Rudbeckia] Laciniata] [1]
My dear Madam
Your sorrowful letter, produced a sorrowful sympathy in us. But I soon plucked up my spirits. I wish I may be able to raise yours, upon a good ground. I am no prophet. I do not pretend to know the Lord’s counsels, they are too deep for my short plummet to fathom. But though his ways are untraceable by us, we know they are all mercy and truth to them that fear Him. And I not only pray, but I hope, yea I believe, that all these sad things will eventually prove rather to the furtherance of the Gospel. Only you have need of patience. [2] Things must have time to come round. I will not praise any individual of my Reading friends, but I will praise and admire them as a body, or rather I will praise the Lord for them, for they will acknowledge with me, that it is by his wisdom and goodness, and not by their own, that they are what they are. I have seldom seen a body of professors equal to them in my judgment. This seems to be a marked case; the eyes of all the churches are likely to be fixed upon the widowed church at Reading, and I trust your Gospel wisdom, simplicity, firmness tempered with gentleness, your unanimity and love, will shine to the praise of his glory.
The united prayers of such a people are not spoken into the air. No – they enter the ears of the Lord of Hosts, the Great Shepherd, who is attentive to every single sheep or lamb wherever scattered. Much less will he neglect the cries and desires of a whole flock, that call upon him night and day, though He seem to bear long with them. They who prayed for Peter, could not believe their prayers were answered, though he stood knocking at the gate. They did not consider through what locks and bolts and bars and iron doors, Prayer can force a way. [3]
I advised to a candid patient hearing of Mr E_ [4] considering him as your official teacher, but I do not think you have equal reason to pay the same attention to his substitute. [5] I think you are all free, as matters stand, to hear the Gospel, how or where you please, or can. Only I would advise you to keep a rallying point, to have some place and times for meeting together, in a body, and as a body, considering yourselves as still bearing the same relation to each other, that you did in Mr Cadogan’s time. This union I think may be preserved by prayer, though you are scattered about on the Lord’s day. And I believe you have prudent and gifted men among you, who are competent to give a word of exhortation which if the Lord was pleased to bless, would not have the less effect, for being spoken by a layman. If one of these was chosen by the consent of the whole, it might have a tendency of keeping you closer together. As to the Sacrament – if the Dissenters will admit you without joining, I think I should in similar circumstances accept the offer, but I should not be hasty, in becoming a church member. [6] I wish you, for a time at least, to be preserved entire as a body, without losing so much as a little finger from among you. But be not many masters and teachers. [7]
The contrast observed by you in the pulpit, is not greater than that which will be observed by others out of the pulpit and abroad. Now Mr Cadogan is gone and out of the way, I doubt not but some who disliked his doctrine, will remember his benevolence, his attention to the poor, and the children in particular. A comparison will be made between his general character and conduct, and that of those who come after him. Possibly some who were weary of his preaching, and glad when he was gone, may begin to wish for one like him, and to regret that they did not prize him more, while he was with them. In this sense I trust now he is dead, he will speak effectually to some in Reading who would scarcely hear him when alive. [8] As I said, things must have time to work round. But be not overgrieved for what you cannot help; but leave all in the Lord’s hands and he can make the crooked straight. [9] The misconduct of some may be necessary for a time, to place Mr Cadogan’s character in a proper point of view.
The thunder storm on Sunday alarmed several in this family, and dear B[Betsy] had a good share, but when the storm ceased, the alarm was soon gone, and through mercy none were hurt. I must leave my bed to look at it through the window; by doing so, I obtained a little sore throat, and a feverish heat, which continued with me most of the week. I thank the Lord I am now nearly well. I lost my appetite for 2 or 3 days, but I have found it again. Dear B is pretty well. She bathes and the bathing agrees with her. She punctually observed Mr Ring's direction. We join in great love and thanks to you both. We send our love to Mr and Mrs Robinson, Douglas and Holloway, [10] and all the forty and fifty friends whom I met in different houses. As I have not room for all their names, I will mention none, but I have them written in my heart. I love all who love the Lord Jesus everywhere, and especially at Reading. I am thankful that I have seen them, and shall number the fortnight that I spent with them among my pleasant days. I cannot write to Mr Robinson yet. I thought you must be served first. But I love him dearly. Mr and Mrs Taylor [11] return you their respects, and thanks for your remembrance.
My love to Mrs Field, Sally, David, James, Mrs Parkins. Best wishes to Mr Bulley. [12] I know Miss Macarter [13] lived long enough to commit her soul to Jesus. May the Lord bless you and yours abundantly. Love and thanks to Basingstoke.
I am your affectionate and obliged
John Newton
Southampton
5 August 1797
Endnotes:
|
[1] |
staychis [stachis/stachys] lanata - 'Cotton Boll' / lamb's ear ‘or woolly leaved stachis’ [A low-growing, evergreen perennial, with white woolly stems and basal rosettes of thick, soft, downy leaves to 11cm long. Produces upright, flowering stems to 50cm in height in summer, with dense clusters of small round modified flowers with the same white downy coating] Rudbeckir [Rudbeckia] laciniata - cut-leaved coneflower] |
|
[2] |
Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. |
|
[3] |
see Olney Hymns, Book 2, Hymn 61, ‘Power of Prayer’, In themselves as weak as worms – verse 4:
Wrestling prayer can wonders do,
Bring relief in deepest straits;
Prayer can force a passage through
Iron bars and brazen gates. |
|
[4] |
Joseph Eyre (1752-1816), vicar of Ambrosden, Oxfordshire, was officially instituted vicar of St Giles on 22 July 1797 by John Douglas (1721-1807), Bishop of Salisbury. Newton arrived in Reading on Tuesday 4 July. He stayed until the 19th or 20th before moving on to Southampton. He had been preaching at St Giles immediately before Eyre’s arrival. On his return to London he wrote to William Bull (1738-1814): ‘I believe Mr Eyre accepted the living of St Giles' the very day I went thither, and he was expected, almost every day while I stayed, but did not come till I had left it. The people were hungry, the Lord made me able and willing, the time was short, so we made the most of it. I never preached so often in an equal space: five times in the church, twice in Mr Young's school, every morning at Mr Rings, and every evening in a large room of one or other of our friends. I call it all preaching, for the rooms were crowded, and I spoke nearly as loud and as long, as if I had been in a church. I trust the Lord was with us. And I trust he will be with them. I have found good individuals in many places. But perhaps I have no where met with a body of professors, so compact and united, so lively and yet so solid, judicious, and free from wild-fire, as the bereaved people at Reading.’ |
|
[5] |
The ‘substitute’ may have been Thomas Allcock (who was given first choice and declined). |
|
[6] |
George Clayton (1783-1862), son of Newton’s fellow Eclectic Society member John Clayton (1754-1843), and a lodger in the Douglas family (see Fn 10 for Archibald Douglas), wrote of this time: ‘There, however, no mean arts of proselytism were resorted to; the pews were thrown open to accommodate the bereaved congregations hungering for the bread of life; and to the honour of those who entertained them be it recorded, that by an unanimous resolve of the church and its pastor, all the stated communicants under Dr Cadogan were invited en masse to the sacramental table, as avowed members of the Church of England, without any requisite compromise of their principles and predilections. Several availed themselves of the privilege’.
‘It was the custom of Dr and Mrs Ring to receive and entertain at their house, pious clergymen, of the evangelical school.’ Bereft of teaching at St Giles, ‘They therefore invited a succession of clergymen, during the months of summer, who lectured, and expounded the Scriptures in their drawing-room ; while the adjoining apartments were thrown open to all those who were disposed to attend. Among the honoured servants of Christ who visited them was the Rev John Newton, who has before been mentioned, in these pages, as the friend of the father of the family. His talent for expository ministrations was universally admitted, and was perhaps unrivalled. Here his doctrine distilled like the dew; and his hearers could not but be sensible that "grace was poured into his lips," and that "his word was with power." George Clayton 'was frequently present on these occasions; and in this way his friendship with the venerable preacher commenced.’ |
|
[7] |
James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. |
|
[8] |
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. |
|
[9] |
E.g. Ecclesiastes 7:13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? |
|
[10] |
William Robinson (1762-1822) was curate at St Giles, Reading from 6 June 1796. In his letter to Bull Newton added: ‘The two Dissenting Ministers likewise, Mr Douglas and Mr Holloway, are such as I have seldom seen. They were generally present with their wives, at all our meetings, when not engaged themselves.’ Archibald Douglas (1764-1839) was Minister of the Congregational Church in Broad Street, Reading. On the death of the previous Minister John Noon, John Clayton had recommended Archibald Douglas to Broad Street for his ‘humbleness of mind, his quiet unobtrusive manners, his habits of close application to the one grand object of his ministry, and above all, his catholic and unsectarian spirit’. When Douglas began his ministry in Reading, Cadogan visited him in his home ‘and greatly strengthened and encouraged him in the work of the Lord. He knew that he was a Protestant Dissenter from conviction, but believed him to be a servant of Christ, working the work of an Evangelist as he also did, and therefore gave to him the right hand of fellowship, and bade him God-speed.’ (from Memoir of Douglas by George Clayton) John Holloway (d 1831) was Pastor of the Baptist chapel in Hosier’s Lane from 1797 to 1811 (after various moves, this is now Abbey Baptist Church). What Newton had observed of the unity amongst believers, is borne out by the fact that in the same year (1797) Douglas founded the Reading Evangelical Society. Congregationalist Douglas, Baptist John Holloway and Anglican Joseph Walker, ‘a man of recognised Christian standing’, signed a document stating: ‘We, whose names are undersigned, do solemnly engage to aid each other in the work of our common Lord, by village preaching, under the direction of the Reading Evangelical Society… in dependence on power from on high, we shall aim at bringing them to repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. As harmony and love appear necessary to the success of our efforts, we declare our readiness to follow peace with all men, and especially to cultivate love among Christians of the different denominations to which we respectively belong, not countenancing any comparisons, tending to depreciate any minister employed by the society, nor contending for the peculiarities of any party.’ |
|
[11] |
Walter Taylor (1732-1803) and Sarah Taylor (1745-1817) of Portswood Green, Southampton, Newton’s hosts. |
|
[12] |
John Bulley (1743-1809) practised medicine with Dr Thomas Ring in the Market Place – Universal British Directory 1793-98 states under Physic: ‘Bully and Ring’. His son John Bulley (1775-1850) was also a surgeon in Reading, later joined by his son Francis Arthur Bulley (1808 - 1883) until 31 December 1832 when the partnership was dissolved prior to the founding of the Royal Berkshire Hospital (the Rings had moved to Friar Street by then). An 1852 Berkshire Directory gives Bulley’s address as 17/18 Market Place, presumably the same house as previously. |
|
[13] |
Nothing known yet about any of these people mentioned in this paragraph, though Sally, David and James are likely to be servants. |
Acknowledgements:
Descendants of Sophia Ring
John Dearing & Malcolm Summers
British Library |
|
|
