1778 July 8   My dear Madam   I was apprehensive that if I had not previous notice of the time when Mr Gardiner would be in these parts, I might have but little opportunity of seeing him. And so the event proved. On the Saturday when he called, he found me under an indispensable engagement of going to Bedford on Monday morning, from whence I could not return till Saturday. [1] However I hasted home to dinner that day, expecting the pleasure of his company and Mr Collins in the afternoon, but they did not come, nor did I hear any more of them, but I hope to hear from you that the Lord gave them a satisfactory journey home, and that Mr Gardiner found you better in health upon his return.   Our conversation during the little time they were here, was of course upon generals. I need not tell you that Mr Gardiner heard me the next day. My text was Luke 18:29,30 which led me to consider what was the equivalent, or rather the over-balance which the Gospel proposed and bestowed upon those who received it, which made them a rich amends for all they can possibly lose or suffer on account of their profession. [2] An over-balance indeed! Pardon, peace, communion, a covenant blessing upon all our temporal concerns, a liberty of casting our care upon the Lord, an interest in all the precious promises, victory over death, and then everlasting life. They called a few minutes after church, and as I said, I hoped to see them again, but was disappointed. Mr H Collins [3] and I looked at each other, as if we would willingly have been acquainted, but time would not permit. Please to remember me to him, and tell him we should be glad to see him again.   Your letter is too short to furnish me with much subject matter for filling up this paper. I was sorry to hear of your ill-health. Though I know if the Lord did not intend you a blessing by illness, you would be always well. It is highly desirable to be satisfied with his will, both in what affects ourselves or our friends, and we may be so, without divesting ourselves of sympathy and feeling for each other. The religion of Jesus is very different from Stoicism. The Lord knows and remembers our frame – and allow to us that afflictions for the present are not joyous but grievous, only joyous upon the account of the good fruits which we know they will in due time by his blessing yield to us. In this view, as coming from him, tokens of his love, and certain forerunners of spiritual benefits, we may bid them welcome. When your indisposition has answered the gracious end for which he has appointed it, and afforded you some new manifestation of his wisdom and love, I shall hope to hear it is removed, according to the promise Jeremiah 33:6. [4]   I have known Mr BB Collins long, and think I know him well. I believe few people esteem him more highly than I do. His natural and acquired abilities are considerable, and in spirituality and devotedness to God he seems to have an eminence seldom found in so young a Minister. If I advise him it is with deference, if I blame him it is with great reluctance. There is a something in his spirit which humbles and shames me and were it not that I have the Bible before my eyes, my partiality might tempt me to follow him in all things. But I must not, I cannot – in giving himself up to the conduct of impulses and impressions, he is certainly mistaken and this wrong principle will be productive of some inconveniencies. I hope and believe with you that the Lord whom he serves will preserve him from gross errors, but my friendship wishes him if possible free from blemish. And were it not that I know the Head of the Church does and permits all things in wisdom, and will make everything productive of good in the issue, I could sit down and weep to see so amiable a person, and so well furnished and qualified for great usefulness, disposed to throw unnecessary obstacles in his own way, and while he confesses himself a frail mortal like others, yet treating all advice and correction with indifference, and acting as if he were in the fullest sense inspired and infallible. I have continued to act the part of a friend, I have written to him with great tenderness, but I endeavoured to be faithful. [5] My last letter went about six weeks ago, but I have received no answer. I find he must quit his curacy, and I am informed he is strongly solicited by Mr Wesley’s people in Hull to settle with them and that it is expected he will comply. [6] Now if he fixes chiefly in Hull, the consequence will be painful. It will increase and entail divisions and dissensions among the serious people who were at peace among themselves till he went there. He will be considered as the head of a party, a post which I would hope he is not ambitious of and it will be at Hull, where there are several able and faithful ministers both in and out of the Establishment, as it was at Corinth – people as they are differently affected will say, I am for Milner, [7] I am for King, I am for Collins. Angry passions will be raised, and the minds of hearers sadly diverted from the One thing needful to fight and dispute about instruments. [8] Such are my fears – I shall be glad to be mistaken. I see that Satan is not only a lion and a serpent, but that he can transform himself into an angel of light, and make even those who aim at the destruction of his kingdom, in some measure subservient to his designs; and seldom is he more successful in this way, than when he can prevail upon any, under pretence of honouring the Holy Spirit, to set up impulses as a rule of conduct, in distinction to the written word. In my dear friend Collins I consider this tendency rather as a calamity than a fault. His nervous system is highly sensible, his imagination of course lively – and as the frame of his mind is spiritual, impressions from mere natural causes assume a spiritual cast. If I mistake not, his susceptibility of impressions springs from his habit and constitution, and I am sometimes fearful, lest the effects should strengthen the cause which produces them. But the Lord loves him – therefore he is in safe hands. God moves in a mysterious way, but he does all things well.   The day is at hand, when he will condescend to unfold the plan, method and design of all his dispensations. Every cloud and difficulty will remove. And how shall we love, praise and wonder, when we have a comprehensive view of the whole, and the admirable harmony, concatenation and mutual dependence of the several parts. A work worthy of a God! It will be a sight worth dying for. At present we can only see it in little detached pieces, and must be content to believe for the rest.   The effects of lukewarmness and conformity to the world in professors, [9] are often, as you observe, very awful. But the humble and simple-hearted shall be kept in safety. While we are jealous of ourselves, aware of the snares with which we are encompassed, and looking to Jesus to lead and guide us, we are in no real danger. The Lord has said, He that walketh humbly walketh surely, and his word cannot fail. We join in affectionate respects to you and Mr Gardiner.   I am My dear Madam Your obliged and obedient servant J Newton   Olney ye 8 July 78 [to] Mrs Gardiner Leasingham near Sleaford Lincolnshire   [on the back: Published in “L'Observateur Chrétien” Island of Jersey 18… (off edge of image)]   Endnotes:    [1] Newton’s Diary Sunday 14 June 1778: ‘Last night Mr Barham and Miss P_ came – had likewise a visit from Mr Gardiner of Leasingham  and Mr Collins, who were at church this morning.’ [2] Luke 18:29,30 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. [3] Henry Collins of Blankney, grazier and nephew of Thomas Irwin Bury – therefore brother or cousin of Brian Bury Collins. [4] Jeremiah 33:6 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth. [5] This would appear to be linked to the undated ‘Letter V’ (probably written on 31 May 1778 according to Newton’s diary) in  ‘Five letters to Mr C’ in Newton’s Cardiphonia and in his Works: ‘I am ready to think you were so far determined before you applied to the bishop, as to be rather pleased than disappointed by a refusal which seemed to afford you liberty to preach at large. As your testimonium was not countersigned, the consequence was no other than might have been expected; yet I have been told (how true I know not) that the bishop would have passed over the informality, if you had not, unasked by him, avowed yourself a Methodist.’ Though Collins might be useful as an itinerant, some Injudicious followers would ‘resemble you in nothing but your eagerness to post from place to place. From such measures, in time, proceed errors, parties, contentions, offences, enthusiasm, spiritual pride, and a noisy, ostentatious form of godliness, but little of that power and life of faith which shows itself by humility, meekness, and love.’ A parochial minister, however, ‘who lives among his people, who sees and converses with them frequently, and exemplifies his doctrine in their view by his practice, having knowledge of their states, trials, growth, and dangers, suits himself to their various occasions, and, by the blessing of God, builds them up, and brings them forward in faith and holiness.’ His name ‘is not in so many mouths as that of the itinerant, it is upon the hearts of the people of his charge. He lives with them as a father with his children.’ [6] Collins was obliged to leave his curacy at St Mary’s, Hull through his tactlessness with parishioners while King was ill. He then published, on 28 July 1778, an even more tactless pamphlet addressed to them. John Wesley’s Methodists met at the Meeting House in Manor Alley, Hull, where Joseph Benson (1749-1821) of Hull was their main preacher. Collins preached in Wesley’s London West Street Chapel in 1779 at the inauguration of the Naval & Military Bible Society and accompanied John and Charles Wesley to their chapel in Bath in November 1779, helping them ‘now and then’, also covering at times for John Berridge of Everton. He was eventually ordained priest by the Bishop of Chester in 1781 and served as assistant curate of Christ Church Macclesfield for a while before resuming an itinerant ministry. [7] Joseph Milner (1745-1797), Afternoon Lecturer (and vicar from 1797) at Holy Trinity Hull and Head Master of Hull Grammar School. Milner was inspired by Newton’s Review of Ecclesiastical History to write his own History of the Church of Christ. [8] Newton’s hymn ‘Martha and Mary’, on Luke 10:38-42, focuses on the one thing needful (v42) – to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear his word. See www.johnnewton.org/marthandmary for the context of Olney Hymns, Book 1, Hymn 100. [9] ‘professors’ of the faith Acknowledgements: Morgan Museum and Library MA 733.6

14/05/2026