1779 February 16   My dear Madam   I find your favour of 19th August from Buxton amongst my unanswered letters. I am sorry it has lain there so long, but it shall be (as it ought) amongst the first which I acknowledge, now I am returning to the pleasing employment of correspondence. I have been much detained from this service, excepting only letters which required an immediate answer, for several months past. Mrs Newton’s frequent indispositions have required much of my time, have often engrossed my attention, and sometimes filled me with feelings which are not favourable to application of any kind. She has been often ill, and sometimes we have thought her in danger. If the Lord is pleased ever to gratify her with the pleasure of a personal interview (a great pleasure it would be to her) you will understand each other’s language about nervous disorders and violent headaches, which are among her familiar acquaintance. A cholic in December, and a pain in her stomach the following months, were rather new visitants, and they were both very alarming and violent. But after 8 or 10 hours extreme pain on her part, and proportionable anxiety on mine, the Lord was pleased to give relief. She is at present tolerably well. Excuse this detail. Few people who never saw you, would trouble you with such particulars; but I feel with much sensibility in your concerns, and therefore I am not afraid of wearying you by relating my own. By the Lord’s mercy my spirit under these trials, has been in general kept in some degree of dependence upon his goodness and submission to his will. I am sure he does all things well, that we are never in heaviness without a need be; and our trials are sweetened and alleviated by a thousand undeserved comforts. I have been enabled to resign myself and my all, to his wise and gracious management; and I desire to stand to the surrender, and to renew it every day. Yet the flesh will feel and shrink, when we perceive the worm nibbling at the root of that gourd, which above all the rest, we wish to be spared. I am a poor, frail, inconsistent creature, but when the Lord strengthens me I am strong; and I rely upon his All-sufficiency and promise, to make my strength equal to my day; otherwise I should behave most shamefully, contradict my principles and preaching, and after inculcating submission upon others, should myself exhibit a miserable picture of despondency and self-will.   I have been busied at every interval I could command since October, in transcribing my hymns with some of my dear friend Mr Cowper’s, for the press; [1] which has been another cause of my running into arrears in the article of letter writing. This task I finished yesterday. And you will probably ere long see a book advertised in the London papers, by the title of Olney Hymns. If any of them may afford you pleasure or comfort in the perusal, I shall have reason to be thankful. I am a debtor to the whole church of the redeemed, so far as my name or influence may reach, but I have a particular interest in your consolation.   Though the Lord afflicted you sorely, he did not give you over to death. Had I seen you in the circumstances you relate, I should from your anxiety and conflicts have confidently predicted your recovery. Your illness gave you near and serious thoughts of a removal, but had death itself been actually near you, you would have seen him in a form very different from that under which your apprehensions painted him. You would have seen him disarmed of his sting, you would have welcomed him, as a friendly messenger, sent to invite you into the presence of him whom unseen you love. Notwithstanding the weakness of your spirits, and the malice of your enemy, who if permitted is usually most busy at such times, subjected you to fears; your concern for the honour of the Lord and his Gospel, your solicitude lest anything might escape you, that should seem to disparage your profession; and your thought, that God would be glorified even if you should perish, are sufficient proofs to me, that the Lord was very near you, even when you feared he was at a distance. However that thought was a mistake. It is true if he had cut you off in your sins and ignorance, he would have been glorified. But if, it were possible you could perish, after having shown you his salvation, after having invited, encouraged and enabled you to put your trust under the shadow of his wings, [ ] n that case he would not be glorified but dishonoured. His glory and your soul must then miscarry together. They are embarked in the same bottom; had he been pleased to kill you, he would not have shown you such things as these. His promise that none shall pluck those out of his hands, who come to him for mercy must stand good.   How would the powers of darkness boast, if but one praying soul were lost. The Lord loves and will surely do you good. You are safe now, and will be happy when in good time, he shall enable you, more steadfastly to answer all charges and objections, with this single consideration, Christ has died etc, as the Apostle does Romans 8:34. [2]   My paper is full or I could tattle on. I must reserve a line for our respects to Mr Gardiner, and Mr H Collins. I was sorry to miss the pleasure of seeing them again, but most so for the occasion, only I know the Lord does all things well, and that the sickness he sent you, shall prove for your [health?].   I am dear Madam affectionately yours J Newton   Olney 16 February 79 [to] Mrs Gardiner Leasingham near Sleaford Lincolnshire Endnotes:    [1] William Cowper (1731-1800), had lived in Olney from 1767. His relapse into deep depression put an end to his hymn writing. Olney Hymns contains 67 hymns by Cowper and 281 by Newton. See www.johnnewton.org/hymns/preface. [2] Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Acknowledgements: Morgan Museum and Library MA 733.7

14/05/2026