John Newton to Elizabeth Cuningham



4 August 1777

My dear Sister

The black wax will prepare you for opening the letter, and as it is written by me, and I tell you the Lord is still pleased to spare your dear sister to me, your thoughts will readily occur to the true occasion of this letter. Had the event been less sudden, I should have informed you sooner of what might be in a little time expected. But though our Father [1] was taken ill on the 17th last month, and was rather weaker and poorly from that time, we had no expectation of his speedy departure till last Friday about one in the afternoon. A very sensible change then took place, and the Lord released him from all his pains (which have been continual and very great) on Saturday morning at five o’clock.

Mr Romaine [2] came hither on Sunday. My father was much rejoiced to see him, and expressed himself to him very comfortably. Mr Romaine conversed and prayed with [him] two or three times, and was one of the last persons to whom he spoke on Friday evening. I thought it providential, that the only Gospel minister, whom he knew and had formerly, should be sent as it were on purpose to close his eyes, and to receive his dying testimony of his faith in Jesus, and his assured hope of immortality.

His sufferings were extreme from the disorder in his legs, especially for about a twelve month past, and his patience as remarkable. I never heard him utter a repining word, but the more he felt, the more he prayed. He could not often long for a release, but always said he was willing to wait the Lord’s time.

Considering what he endured and the comfortable hope in Christ which he possessed unshaken in life and in death, I cannot consider his removal as a subject for grief. Had the Lord been pleased to prolong his life for many years, I trust we should never have been weary of doing everything in our power, to alleviate his burdens, and to administer to his consolation. But I am pleased to think of him now, as safely arrived where neither sin or sorrow can reach him and joining with the blessed before the throne in singing the praises of him who has redeemed us to God by his own blood.

Your dear sister likewise acquiesces in the Lord’s will – but though she feels no more upon his account in her spirit, than must and should be felt on the breaking of so near a connection, yet her flesh is weak. The complaint in her head last winter, though the Lord for some months has in a great measure freed her from it – has made her less able to bear surprise, and to give attention to things that require thought and care than formerly. It was the thing that met her waking thoughts on Saturday, and bore hard upon her – that night sleep almost departed from her eyes. Her head was quite ill yesterday, and she is very poorly today but as the Lord gr [granted] to give her sleep last night. I hope when he is lodged in the grave, and the hurry of the funeral is over, she will get better, and that the Lord will graciously support her through all he appoints. He is wise and gracious – his promise is sure, and his compassions infinite. On him we desire to trust – to him we desire to submit.

This is but a letter of notice. My head, hands and heart are too full, to enlarge about other things at present. We are careful about Aunt Soan [3] – but I fear my Dear’s spirits are too weak, to bear another visit to Chatham, and to engage in the care of breaking up her house and removing her, if she could be prepared to remove. I wish either Mr Cunningham or you could find it convenient to come into the South. But if you do, she hopes it will not be by water, while the coast is infested by American privateers. We shall be glad to hear from you very soon, and then you may expect to hear again from me. We join in love to you both and to the children.

I am your very affectionate brother
John Newton
 
Olney ye 4th August 1777
My birthday – I now enter my 53rd


Endnotes:
 
 [1] George Catlett (1701-1777), father of Polly and her sister Elizabeth, who came to live with the Newtons in Olney in his old age.
[2] William Romaine (1714-1795), rector of St Ann's Blackfriars (with St Andrew by the Wardrobe) and lecturer at St Dunstan's.
[3] Aunt Susanna Soan (1782), Polly's aunt and wife of the Rev Jonathan Soan (c.1690-1768), Headmaster of the Kings School Rochester, who married the Newtons at St Margaret's Rochester.


Acknowledgements:
Lambeth Palace Library, MS 2935, ff 254-255