1787 July 24 My dear Madam,   You asked my advice and I gave it, so far we both did right, but if I expected you implicitly to follow my directions, or if you thought yourself bound to follow them, we should both be wrong. When I differ from you, which is not likely to be often, I have reason to be diffident of my own judgement, and in what concerns your personal conduct, the probability is strongly on the side of your determining right, were it only for the obvious reason, that you are acquainted with many circumstances of which I am ignorant, and which, if I knew them, would perhaps have the same weight and the same effect with me, as with yourself. My thoughts on the point you proposed, appeared to me to have some weight, but if what you have to put in the other scale be heavier, I am very willing that my opinion should mount up and kick the beam. I believe the Lord has given you a desire to know and do his will, and therefore I am not much afraid of your making a mistake, in any point that is nearly connected with your comfort.   I knew nothing of Mr Caldwell but from you, but from what you write, I thought and still think it probable, that before very long, he will either submit to the “novel ordination”, or leave Sleaford. [1] It seems to me rather a question of expedience, than of absolute duty, when you are fully satisfied of the expedients, it is fit you should determine by your own views, and not by mine.   In the answer the Lord has given to your prayers respecting your son, he has likewise given you encouragement to continue waiting upon him for others of your family. Nothing can be effectively done till his time comes, and then everything is easy. Such mercies are well worth waiting for. Mr G_ might be sometimes at St Mary’s when I did not see him, but I was glad to see him there at all. And he told me he had heard some others of our preachers. I hope the Lord’s time in his favour will come, and when it does, if it be his pleasure to work by any particular preacher or sermon, he will be led willingly though perhaps unwittingly to the right spot at the right season. The methods of God’s providence are always subservient to his grace. Or he can with equal ease and efficacy speak to the heart, in the house, or the field, or upon the road, as in a church. He is found of them that sought him not, and when he thus finds them, then they begin in good earnest to seek him. Sooner they will not, and therefore they cannot. In the meantime I doubt not but the Lord will enable you by the meekness and wisdom of your conduct, to preach to him daily, even when you do not speak a word. The Gospel cannot be more powerfully preached, than when it is exemplified, in a suitable and consistent practice. The force of this I believe is generally felt, though it may not be always acknowledged, and sooner or later it prevails over a thousand obstacles. But as I said there is a waiting time and a praying time. The husbandman after sowing the seed, waits long for the precious fruit, but the harvest makes amends. Be not discouraged Madam, though nothing can be effectively done till the Lord appear, when he will work “none shall let it”. [2] The patient prayer of faith will not be finally disappointed. Though the night may be very dark, the day will break at the appointed hour. And while the Lord’s ear is open and his arm powerful, we have good warrant from his word to hope for a happy issue.   Miss Watson [3] was in St Mary’s lately, and we hoped for the pleasure of her company before she left town, but she was prevented. If she is with you when this comes to hand, please to present our compliments, and tell her that we shall be very glad to see her when she returns.   I am glad you are not without thoughts of coming to London, for if we are to meet (as I hope) I think it more likely to be here than at Sleaford. Though it would give us great pleasure to visit you at your own house, there are so many difficulties in the way, that I give up the thought as impracticable. But if we may have you here it will suffice. All is in the Lord’s hands, he can bring us together upon earth if he sees it good, if not I hope we shall meet in a better place.   Mrs Newton has been tolerably well of late, though to many it has been a sickly and dying time. [4] How many houses are daily made houses of mourning, but I and mine are still preserved, while many have fallen around us.   I can neither begin nor finish a letter when I would. This has been near a week in hand, as though it waited for yours of ye 21st which came yesterday. I wish I could furnish you with a Curate. But really to recommend a Minister to people, or people to Minister is a delicate business. It is not everyone would do for Sleaford, and the person whom I might think likely, might expect to hear something of the place to determine his preference. I could tell him indeed that Mrs Gardiner lived there, which, if he knew her as well as I, would be a strong inducement, but I know not what other bait I could hold out. I think no one will think of Sleaford without a fixed stipend not below the customary line. A man might preach the Gospel well, and yet not be disposed to keep a school. [5] But after all Gospel Curates, are scarce. I know no one unemployed and I should think the best way would be to get one from Cambridge ordained upon Mr Waterson’s title.   I cannot tell whether Mr Dornford [6] referred to the father or the son. The latter I am most acquainted with. I never enquired whether he be Arminian or not, but I hope both he and his wife are good Christians. They frequently hear me when they are in town, and I baptised and buried their child. I should have no objection to a Minister merely from his recommendation. But perhaps a man who might be acceptable in London, would not be so fully fledged in what now commonly passes for Calvinism in country places, as to give satisfaction.   Our disputes are not owing to the want of more light, so much as to pride, self-will and the want of love. Thus it will be with too many in the present state of human nature. But in heaven there will be neither Arminians nor Calvinists, Methodists nor Dissenters. Through mercy and my present connections, there is greater stress laid upon things in which Christians agree, than on those wherein they are not all of a mind, and I hear of no disputes or animosities.   We write in sincerest regards to you, with our respects to Mr Gardiner.   I am Dear Madam Your affectionate and obliged John Newton   No. 6 24 July 87   [franked: Robert Thornton] London twenty-fourth July 1787 Mrs Gardiner Sleaford London Endnotes:    [1] By 1792 Newton was soliciting Charles Grant (1746-1823) on Caldwell’s behalf, who, for ‘private circumstances which cannot be mentioned, and which if they were, would not be to his dishonour, make him wish to retire from Sleaford’. Newton assured Grant: ‘Mr Caldwell is a man of exemplary and established character, a solid, judicious, useful and powerful preacher. But he understands neither Latin nor Greek, nor Irish nor Welsh. Why the two former languages, should be more indispensably necessary, than the two latter, to a man who is to preach in plain English, to a plain people, I cannot tell. But sic visi superiorers. If I were a Bishop I should be glad to draw such men into the church … The dissenters at Sleaford were few till he went there; they are now numerous and flourishing… If you think proper, I would request you to mention it to Mr Wilberforce, when you have opportunity'. Newton subsequently assured Wilberforce that Caldwell was ‘a man truly respectable for natural abilities, ministerial gifts, and devotedness of heart to the Lord and his cause. I think him beyond the ordinary standard of dissenting ministers in those  respects; and I am much confirmed in this judgment, by the conversation I have had with him, and from what I have heard of him, since he has been at London.’ Caldwell eventually settled as the minister at the Silver Street Meeting in London in 1800. His first sermon there was from 1 Corinthians 2:2, I am determined to know nothing among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified. [2] Isaiah 43:13 Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it? [3] Miss Watson? John Watson, chair turner, is listed in The Universal British Directory of Trade (London: 1793), vol 4. for Seaford/ [4] Along with measles and typhus, London was especially affected in 1787 by “scarlatina & 'the sore throat' disease”. [5] There were two schools in Sleaford during this period: William Alvey’s Charity School, founded in 1729 by a legacy from William Alvey (d.1729), a churchwarden of St Denys (where the school possibly functioned), and Carre’s School, founded in 1604 by Robert Carre (1539-1606), a local wool merchant. Edward Waterson, vicar of Sleaford, was the Headmaster of Carre’s. [6] Either Sir Josiah Dornford (1734-1810) of Deptford, a member of the court of common council of the city of London and the author of several pamphlets on civic affairs and the reform of debtors prisons, or his son Josiah Dornford (1764-1797), then studying at Trinity College, Oxford. Acknowledgements: Morgan Museum and Library MA 733.36

28/05/2026