1783 November 27? My dear Madam,   Your last favour is without date; when my opinion is asked I would if I could answer very soon, especially when consulted by such a friend as you. I hope as it is, you will not think me very tardy. The proverb which occurred to you, A burnt child dreads the fire, I think was a very seasonable admonition. If as a friend to the common cause, you can assist the people either in procuring or supporting a Minister, you will be glad to do it. But I cannot think, that in your situation you are bound to take a very active much less a leading part in the business. Especially after what has passed. I wish as well to Meeting house folks as to Church folks – and therefore I wish you to give them every friendly assistance that is prudently in your power, but I cannot wish you to take any steps that might imply you were interested in them as a party. I hope many, I hope the most of them are good folks, but I believe there is a good deal of self-will amongst them, and a certain littleness and narrowness of thinking, which will not coalesce with your liberal turn of mind. If Mr Gardiner was scandalised by the affair of Mr Bristol, he had but too much cause; and if his acquaintance with Mr Brodbelt has been a mean of removing stumbling blocks out of his way, it is a mercy – A regard to your own peace and to his welfare will justify you in being very cautious of opening a way for the like uneasiness again. You had reason to hope well of Mr Bristol’s settlement, but you were disappointed – something of the same kind may happen again. I hope it will not, but if it should, I hope you will stand unconnected with it. If I knew of any minister likely to suit them, I would tell you, but at present I do not. I should be very careful whom I recommended, and if a person on whom I could fully depend should come in my way, I should perhaps on his account, take time to consider, whether Sleaford was as fit for him, as he for the place and this would lead me to beg from you an account of the people and their circumstances. But I have little expectation of being able to serve them. As to yourself, I think, in this point, you may safely make Mr Gardiner your casuist. You will readily go as far in it as he approves, and I cannot think you are bound to go farther. As to the censure of warm people, who are not proper judges, it need not make you uneasy, while you can simply appeal to the Lord that you desire to please.   If I thought you capable of flattery, My dear Madam, the pretty things you are disposed to say of me would not hurt me much. The danger is when we are overrated by those whom we know are sincere, and whose judgement in other respects we highly value. You meant as you wrote, but you were mistaken in your opinion of me. I desire your prayers, I prize your friendship, I wish not to forfeit your esteem. Let our correspondence be, as between two sinners who have obtained mercy of the Lord, who can do everything that he is pleased to strengthen us to do, and who can do nothing without him. In these points we are exactly equal and alike. I do not wonder that you think better of me than of yourself. Such is the tendency of true grace according to the Lord’s precept by the Apostle. Philippians 2:3. [1] But the same precept speaks to me likewise. I believe all our hearts are much alike, but they who have the most spiritual discernment will think their own the worst.   I rejoice that the Lord makes your new situation comfortable to you. [2] He has taught you a very important truth, that the moment we are reconciled to the Cross he appoints us, the greatest part of the weight of it is removed. Things otherwise hard become easy, when our wills are brought into subjection to his. Many even of the Lord’s people are perplexed and troubled for want of knowing or attending to this. They think the difficulty lies in externals, and if these were altered to their wish, they should do better, but the disorder lies chiefly within. Changes of place or posture will affect little relief in a fever, the illness makes every place and posture unpleasant. When the fever is cured the other complaints go off with it. The great secret of possessing so much happiness as is compatible with the present state of things, is a firm persuasion that every event in which we are concerned, is under the direction of the wisdom and goodness of God, that the smallest as well the greatest, are designed to work together for our good advantage, and that therefore he chooses better for us, than we could possibly choose for ourselves. If he is right, so far as our judgement differs from his, we must be wrong. We see things by piece-meal – he views the whole frame of our concerns in all their dependencies and consequences. Could we see them in the same comprehension, we should be exactly of his mind, and confess that he does all things well. What we cannot yet see it is our duty and our privilege to believe; that which we know not now, we shall know hereafter.   I am glad Mr Brodbelt answers the character I gave of him. I hoped indeed that I knew him too well to be disappointed in him. I am glad for his sake, that he is acquainted with you and Mr Gardiner, and hope it will be for farther good.   Poor Mr Morse! I had a doleful note from him yesterday. He has a friend whom I thought would have been able to serve him affectionately before now, and who I am certain has endeavoured earnestly to do it, but the Lord’s time is not yet come it seems. I truly feel for him. But to him likewise I trust all shall work for good in the end. But to be destitute and unprovided with a wife and children is no small trial of faith and patience. I expect however it helps him as a preacher.   Please to present our united respects to Mr Gardiner. Mrs Newton is in the main tolerably well. She esteems herself obliged to you for your intention of sending cranberries, no less than if you could have sent them. The lightning was often tremendous indeed in the summer – but what a mercy that when cranberries were blasted, sinners were spared. My letter has been several days in hand, but I at length have reached the proper place for assuring you that I am sincerely Dear Madam, Your obliged and affectionate servant John Newton   Hoxton ye 27 November 83 Endnotes:    [1] Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. [2] Newton’s letters from at least April 1784 were addressed to Mrs Gardiner ‘near Sleaford’, and from November 1784 to ‘Westfield Farm’, which is in Leasingham, 2 miles north of Sleaford. Acknowledgements: Morgan Museum and Library MA 733.21

26/05/2026