The John Newton Project : 1778 May 8

1778 May 8

My dear Madam,

Your favour of the 27th April was indeed unexpected, for I had little reason to hope you would write, till I had acknowledged your last more fully than by the note I sent with Mr Collins. Yours therefore was the more welcome as it was undeserved. I reproach myself for my negligence in not answering you more speedily, yet what with my engagements and what with my indolence, I hardly dare promise to be so punctual as I ought and wish, in future. But it gives us much pleasure to hear from you. Shall I say I am sorry for your long illness? I can truly say it, we may and we ought to sympathise with each other in our trials, but at the same time we know that they are needful and salutary, are tokens of love and appointed by him who chooses better for us than we could for ourselves.

Sick or well, I find the Lord has been with you. I rejoice that he has not only removed your temptations, but favoured you with a fuller discovery of the wonders of his redeeming love, and the glory and wisdom of the method he has appointed to reconcile sinners to himself. Much of the advantage Satan finds in perplexing our spirits arises from the legality and unbelief which cleaves naturally to us, and for a time prevents us from apprehending the extent and just consequences of those propositions which in our judgements we receive and approve of as true. If the blood of Jesus can cleanse from all sin, [1] if he be able to save to the uttermost, [2] and if he will in no wise cast out them that come unto him, [3] then it should seem the remedy is adequate to the disease, and the greatest sinner upon earth might be easy and happy the moment he believes these declarations are made by him, who is willing and able to make them good. For the words All, to the Uttermost and in no wise comprise every possible case, and preclude every possible exception. Yet though we do not dispute the truth of the promises, we are for a time seeking for something within ourselves to give us a right to them, and because we cannot find this something to qualify us, we stand thirsty by the fountain of life and dare not drink – though he has said, Whosoever will let him take of it freely. [4] At length, the Lord displays more of the glory of his person and his redemption to our hearts, and overrules the comparisons we have been making between our sin and his grace, our weakness and his power, and shows us that justice as well as mercy pleads for our acceptance, when we flee for refuge to the hope he has set before us. Then we see, we might have saved ourselves much trouble, if we could have simply believed at first. But we could not till he enabled us. The previous exercises we pass through, though like other afflictions they are not joyous but grievous, yet afterwards they prove to our advantage, they tend to humble us, to make us more sensible of the evil of sin and of our own hearts, of the greatness and worth of the mercy we obtain, and to give more endearing views of the power and grace of the kind friend who draws near in the day of our distress and silences all our fears. We are taught by them to walk in a more entire dependence upon him, and they give us a deeper impression of our immense obligations to him, than we should perhaps have if we were not to fight and wrestle and wait for our comforts before we obtain them.

I seldom see people walk steadfastly and honourably, if they have not had some seasons of conflict and fear. There are some who seem to get peace, healing and assurance almost as soon as they feel their want of them. I do not limit the Lord – he can I know do great things in a short space, but it is not his usual way with those whom he designs to honour. Such persons for the most part, are presently bloated with spiritual pride, manifest too much of self in their tempers, are not duly circumspect in their conduct, and too often their profession withers away and comes to nothing. A little shed may be run up hastily upon the earth but if the building is designed to be large, strong and enduring, the work begins underground. There is time spent in digging deep, and laying a foundation, and much is done before anything appears in view above the surface. The Lord builds in his people’s hearts for eternity. It is not a shed but a temple, a palace for himself he has in view; it is not therefore the work of a day, but the foundations are laid deep in conviction and humiliation, and the work advances slowly, but then it is stable and solid, and proportioned to the superstructure he designs to raise upon it.

We cannot be too much humbled for the weakness of our graces and the strength of indwelling sin. And if we are humbled on these accounts we are right. There is much talk in our days about Christian perfection. What some well-meaning people say of it, proves they are not duly acquainted either with the Law or the Gospel. Perfection answerable to the Law must be absolutely commensurate to the Law’s most strict and extensive requirement, one wandering thought, or faltering moment would ruin the claim. Our perfection in this sense is not in ourselves, but in our Head. We are complete in him. [5] There is however a Gospel perfection, an advanced state of grace to which believers are brought in the present life, but it consists more in desires than in positive attainments. It is principally a right state of heart towards Jesus – high cordial, admiring thoughts of him, and of course (for they will be in reciprocal proportion) low and abasing thoughts of ourselves. That person (whoever he be) who is least in his own eyes and to whom Jesus appears most precious and glorious, is the greatest Christian upon earth. High thoughts of him deaden the heart to the world and all its blandishments, and so far as they prevail render the soul incapable of being either enticed or intimidated from the path of duty. Low thoughts of ourselves inspire resignation and submission to God, meekness to our fellow creatures, and lays the axe to the root of pride, passion, positiveness and every evil temper. But still the evil will be felt within – the flesh will war against the spirit, and the believer will feel that in everything he comes short.

The holiness of the sinner, is very different from the holiness of an angel. It consists not in a freedom from sin, but in aversion from it, in striving and watching against it, in a quick perception of its workings, in heart humiliation for its effects, and especially in looking unto Jesus for pardon and power, and rejoicing in him as our wisdom, righteousness and sanctification. The advanced believer can see nothing in himself to admire – he is the least and the lowest of all in his own esteem. He is studying and copying a model which is perfect indeed – and he is so struck with the immense disproportion between the pattern he has in his eye and his own awkward imitation of it, that the comparison fills him with shame; and makes him cry out, not, Behold I am perfect, but, Behold I am vile. However, though our graces and obedience are and must be imperfect in the present life, I apprehend that God is not more glorified by an archangel, than by a believer in such a spirit. We cannot justly estimate a person’s strength merely by the pace or distance he walks, except we allow likewise for the burden he carries. If he trudges along though slowly and with labour, with five hundredweight upon his back, we allow he may be stronger than ourselves, though we, having no burden, can walk faster. The angels have no inward bias to strive against, no outward temptations to break through. But that must be powerful grace indeed, which enables a sinner to serve God, in defiance of all the propensities of an evil nature, and all the snares of assaults and difficulties, which the world and Satan can bring against him. He is pressed above measure, apparently beyond strength, weary and heavy laden, he fights his way every step, and yet he gets forward. In this situation he is a spectacle to the world, to the universe, both to angels and men – and the power of Christ is magnified in his weakness. When ready to faint his strength is renewed, when cast down he rises again, and is at length made more than conqueror through him who has loved him.

I obeyed you, in not letting Mr Collins know that you had written to me concerning him. He is indeed a very extraordinary young man, and I know very few persons who seem to me to possess so much of the peace and spirit of the Gospel. Yet he has his inconveniencies too. His constitution is very nervous, and his temperament if I am not mistaken gives something of a tincture to his experience – he is much subject to impressions, and I am sorry that (notwithstanding the solidity of his sense and judgement in other respects) he pays so much regard to them as a rule of conduct. It is this mistake (for a mistake I am persuaded it is) inclines him so strongly to be eccentric. I trust the Lord whom he loves and serves will mercifully preserve him from taking any such steps as might essentially affect his peace and usefulness. But I shall not wonder if he brings himself into embarrassments of a lesser kind. I think it probable he will meet with some exercises and disappointments before he will learn to be upon his guard against that tendency to enthusiasm which in a person so qualified for service as he is, is like a flaw in a fine diamond, which is the more noticed for the excellency of the stone in which it is found. Fain would I persuade him to avail himself of the general light of Scripture, and of the observations he has made of men and things. He hears with meekness and good temper, but he is disposed to treat advice, though not with contempt, with great indifference, and trusting to his inward feelings, he judges and acts for himself almost as if he were infallible.

He preached twice to us very acceptably. The last time, Mr Gardiner of Yardley [2] who dined with us that day, by way of compliment I suppose, and perhaps with a mixture of curiosity, attended him to church. I was glad to see him there. But my expectations were soon damped, for Mr Collins spent half an hour (within a minute or two) in his prayer before sermon. This long prelude (as I expected it would) disgusted and wearied Mr Gardiner, and called forth all his prejudices long before the text was named. To this succeeded a very good sermon of an hour and 20 minutes. As soon it was finished, Mr G_ seemed determined not to run the risk of another long prayer, but made his escape while we were singing, and was I believe the first person out of the church. I have not seen him since, and indeed when I do, I shall be almost afraid to ask him how he likes the Method of the Methodists.

We are not a little baulked to find we must not expect the pleasure of seeing you this summer at Olney. I could wish to know what time Mr [William] Gardiner purposes being in these parts, for as he intends to do me the favour of calling I should be grieved and mortified to be out of the way, and so would Mrs Newton. But that might be the case if we have not previous notice, as we often have little engagements abroad in the summer season. Please to give our respects to him, and assure him we shall be exceedingly glad to see him, and hope he will let us have as much of his company as he conveniently can.

Mrs Newton sends her love with mine, I believe we both love you as well as we can a person whom we never saw. She has frequent indisposition but they are moderated by the tender hand of our good Shepherd, and sweetened with an abundance of mercies. Upon the whole she has tolerable heart, and the Lord preserves her from a return of that terrible nervous vibration in her head, which while it lasted was an affliction indeed.

I have now paid you a long ideal visit, and both on account of your patience and my own engagements it is time I should take my liberty. The letters cannot be published yet, owing to unforeseen hindrances which I cannot remove. To fill up the paper I annex an Olney hymn or two.

I am Madam,
Your affectionate and obliged servant
John Newton

Olney y^e 8 May 78

[Spring]
1.
Pleasing spring again is here!
Trees and fields in bloom appear
Hark! the birds, with artless lays
Warble their Creator's praise!
Where, in winter all was snow,
Now the flowers in clusters grow;
And the corn, in green array
Promises a harvest-day.

2.
What a change has taken place!
Emblem of the Spring of Grace.
How the soul in winter, mourns
Till the Lord, the Sun returns,
Till the Spirit's gentle rain,
Bids the heart revive again.
Then the stone is turned to flesh
And each grace springs forth afresh.

3.
Lord, afford a spring to me!
Let me feel like what I see;
Ah! my winter has been long
Chilled my hope, and stopped my song!
Winter threatened to destroy
Faith, and love and every joy.
If thy life was in the root
Still I could not yield thee fruit.

4.
Speak, and by thy gracious voice
Make my drooping soul rejoice.
O beloved Saviour haste,
Tell me all the storms are past.
On thy garden deign to smile
Raise the plants enrich the soil;
Soon thy presence will restore
Life, to what seemed dead before.

5.
Lord! I long to be at home
Where these changes never come!
Where the saints no winter fear
Where 'tis spring throughout the year:
How unlike this state below!
There the flowers unwithering blow;
There no chilling blasts annoy,
All is bloom, and song, and joy.

[Olney Hymns, Book 2, Hymn 33, written for 21 April 1776. See www.johnnewton.org/hymns/spring.]

[The Enchantment broken]
1.
Blinded in youth by Satan's arts,
The world, to our unpractised hearts,
A flattering prospect shows;
Our fancy forms a thousand schemes
Of gay delights, and golden dreams
And undisturbed repose.

2.
So in the desert's dreary waste
By magic power produced in haste
As old Romances say;
Castles and groves, and music sweet,
The senses of the traveller cheat,
And stop him in his way.

3,
But while he listens with surprise
The charm dissolves, the vision dies,
'Twas but enchanted ground:
Thus if the Lord our spirits touch
The world, which promised us so much,
A wilderness is found.

4.
At first we start, and feel distressed,
Convinced we never can have rest
In such a wretched place;
But he whose mercy breaks the charm
Reveals his own Almighty Arm,
And bids us seek his face.

5.
Then we begin to live indeed,
When from our sin and bondage freed
By this beloved Friend;
We follow him from day to day,
Assured of grace through all the way,
And glory at the end.

[Olney Hymns, Book 2, Hymn 100, entitled ‘The enchantment dissolved’, written for 16 February 1777. See www.johnnewton.org/hymns/enchantment.]
[on the back: Published in “L'Observateur Chrétien” Island of Jersey 27th July 1833, the first sheet only][Published as ‘No. 1’, this includes, except for the 2 paragraphs on Collins and the subsequent 2 paragraphs, the full letter without the hymns]

Endnotes:

[1]	1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
[2]	Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
[3]	John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
[4]	Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
[5]	Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
[6]	James Gardiner (1738-1799), rector of Yardley Hastings (near Olney), brother of William Gardiner (b. 1735) of Sleaford.

Acknowledgements:
Morgan Museum and Library MA 733.5

14/05/2026