New Year's Evening 1766
Num 10v29

Numbers 10:29
And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law,
We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you:
come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.
[preached Sunday evening 1 January 1766]
 
Though I am not wholly insensible of the difficulty and importance of my ministry amongst you in general, yet I have desired to be and I hope I am peculiarly affected with a concern for the success of the service now before us. It has been upon my heart and my prayers for some time, and I address myself to it with the more cheerfulness because I expect to be assisted with the prayers, not only of all in this assembly who know how to pray, but likewise by friends in other places, who have promised to be mindful of me before the Lord at this hour. Experience sadly convinces me how little good effect my poor labours have had upon those who have grown old and hardened in the habits of sin, but the Lord has I trust in some instances given witness to the power of his word in the hearts of young persons. Glad therefore am I of an opportunity to address the rising generation. As I told you last year, our hopes under God are fixed upon you. Blessed be his name he has raised a people in this place to show forth his praise, and to set their seal to his truth – but many of them are in declining years – they are going the way of all living flesh – and their hearts are pained for the ark of God, their bowels[i.e.hearts] yearn over their children and young friends – they know that unless the Lord has a remnant among the youth, they have little security for the continuance of the gospel here. The fear lest when they are gone, you who are to fill up their places in the world should forget the Lord, has caused them to pour forth many a petition and to shed many a tear before the throne. The Lord grant that we may find tonight, that these prayers and tears have not been poured forth in vain. The ground of my present address you will find in Numbers 10:29 (speak to the above purport before naming the text).
 
The wonders God had wrought for Israel induced Moses father-in-law Jethro to visit them in the wilderness. (It is thought Hobab was his son for the word will signify brother-in-law likewise). Moses had a desire to make the friendship and relation between them an occasion of leading him to the knowledge and worship of God – qd You have seen us and rejoiced in our prosperity – but be not content with seeing, we invite you to share in it. The God who has blessed us will bless you. Cast in your lot with us. Why should you [turn]back – where can you be so well? Come with us and you will never have reason to repent it. We have great things in view, and if your heart is stirred up to go, you would be as welcome as we.
 
These words may be well accommodated to ourselves. What Moses said to Hobab we who have tasted the Lord is gracious say to you, as many of you as have not yet set out. We are journeying. Here is:
  1. An account how it is with us at present
  2. An invitation to others
  3. The warrant and encouragement we have to invite you.
 
1. In the account we can give of ourselves you will observe:
  1.1 Our present state – Journeying
We would not deceive you nor hide the truth. We are as yet but travellers through the wilderness. And here you see both sides.
    1.1.1 People in a journey are exposed to:
      1.1.1.1 changes of weather
      1.1.1.2 bad roads
      1.1.1.3 troublesome company
      1.1.1.4 uncertain accommodations
      1.1.1.5 weariness
    Our journey lies through thick and thin as we say, and we meet many a trouble and discouragement by the way, but let not this deter you, for like people well provided for a journey we have:
    1. a good guide
    2. a good guard
    3. sure provision
    This you may suppose by the event, for notwithstanding all our sufferings and fears, the hand of our God has brought us thus far.
 
  1.2 Our future hope
We [do] not run at an uncertainty, but are travelling to the place [of] which the Lord said:
    1.2.1 The place is worth all we can suffer by the way – see a brief description Psalm 16:11, [1] 1 Peter 1:4. [2]
    1.2.2 We shall not be disappointed. He has said I will give it and his word is sure. When we compare the light afflictions of this life with that glory we cannot but with Moses say:
 
2. Come thou with us
We would not go without you. Why will you die here in the wilderness?
  2.1 Come to the ordinances. If you find a faint desire in your heart – this is the way to quicken and increase it.
  2.2 Come to Jesus – we have found him a faithful and merciful high priest and so shall you. There is good encouragement for: [3]
 
3. We will do you good
Alas we can do nothing of ourselves, but the Lord works this way to make us helpful one to another – we will do all in our power to encourage and help you:
  3.1 By telling you what he has done for us
  3.2 By telling you the mistakes we have made that you may avoid them
  3.3 By sympathising with you in your troubles
  3.4 By praying for you
 
4. The Lord has spoke good etc.
  4.1 Who are Israel? Where would you look for Israel of old? Why, when you hear how the Lord loved them you might expect to find them in honour and happiness, and so they were at last, but you will first find them in Egypt. So the spiritual Israel are known only to the Lord till he brings them forth out of darkness into life. They are for a while lying among the pots. [4] Such were some of you. The Lord has spoken good concerning poor, helpless, worthless sinners, that whensoever his Spirit awakens their hearts, they may have good encouragement to turn to him. This is the:
  4.2 He has spoken good:
    4.2.1 to pardon their sins
    4.2.2 to receive them as children
    4.2.3 to take the charge of them in time
    4.2.4 to be their portion forever
 
Let me then address:
 
1. The children of religious parents
So long as we are spared to meet upon these occasions – I hope to be as a faithful watchman in your ears. You lie more under my eye and I grieve to see how some of you go on. When you have broke your parents’ hearts and brought their grey hairs down with sorrow to the grave, then perhaps it may be your turn to grieve. But however that may be, if you do not go with us, if you [do] not to know your father’s God, your mother's God – you will be the most miserable of all. Dreadful will be your case if they that brought you into the world, that have prayed and wept over you so often, must stand up as swift witnesses against you at the great day. Think how you have hated instruction and cast reproof behind you – how you have mocked the power of godliness perhaps in your nearest friends, at least in everybody else. O if the Lord gives you a sense of your perverseness, disobedience and profaneness – how will you tremble. And the Lord grant you may tremble at your danger before it is too late to avoid it.
2. The children of religious parents
So long as we are spared to meet upon these occasions – I hope to be as a faithful watchman in your ears. You lie more under my eye and I grieve to see how some of you go on. When you have broke your parents’ hearts and brought their grey hairs down with sorrow to the grave, then perhaps it may be your turn to grieve. But however that may be, if you do not go with us, if you [do] not to know your father’s God, your mother's God – you will be the most miserable of all. Dreadful will be your case if they that brought you into the world, that have prayed and wept over you so often, must stand up as swift witnesses against you at the great day. Think how you have hated instruction and cast reproof behind you – how you have mocked the power of godliness perhaps in your nearest friends, at least in everybody else. O if the Lord gives you a sense of your perverseness, disobedience and profaneness – how will you tremble. And the Lord grant you may tremble at your danger before it is too late to avoid it.
3. Some young persons are already setting out with us
Bless God for early impressions of grace. Flee youthful lusts. Follow on to know the Lord.
4. I would speak to the whole assembly young and old, rich and poor, one with another:
No good like that the Lord has spoken concerning Israel – take heed how you despise it – no time like the present – you have seen the year enter, but who will see it close? Today therefore while it is called today hear his voice. The Lord give his blessing that you begin this new year with a new life, and at [last] come to the full possession of all that good which he has spoken concerning Israel.

Endnotes:
[1] Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
[2] 1 Peter 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
[3] Newton wrote here: (*omission, to be supplied at the end); at the end he wrote (*To come in at page 50, before 3). In this transcript his omission is inserted where he intended, slightly changing the numbering.
[4] Psalm 68:13 Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

Acknowledgements:
Cowper & Newton Museum, John Newton's notebook N44