11 November 1777   My dear Madam,   I believe Mr Pugh informed you that I was in London, whither your obliging letters followed me, and from whence we returned about the 25 last month. I have been ever since watching for a good hour to thank you for your favour as well for your trouble in transcribing my papers. A task to which I should not willingly have subjected you, had I been aware you would have done it with your own hand.   I greatly rejoiced to hear the Lord had brought you happily through the season, of which you seemed to have a formidable apprehension when in prospect. In that instance as in many others, the enemy laboured to distress you with false alarms. You will find all his alarms equally false; and in the meantime, though fears and apprehensions are not pleasing, they are to you sanctified, and have a good effect to keep you always upon your guard, and preserve your attention wakeful towards the Lord, who is able to keep you. And perhaps as you yourself hint, the Lord has wise and gracious reasons for permitting you to be thus exercised.   Your situation is delicate, difficult and not without its snares. Many cases I suppose must occur in which you find it not easy to draw the line, between scruple and duty, between complying too little or too much with the circumstances around you. And yet difficult as this seems in theory, so that I suppose it not possible for one person to lay down rules for another, in such cases – yet to an upright, humble and meek spirit, the practice is comparatively easy, for the wisdom which comes from above is sought and obtained, and imperceptibly influences the conduct, so that though to the person’s own apprehension, there may be a danger of committing mistakes in everything, bystanders will be forced to acknowledge a propriety, consistence and temperate steadiness, which is exceedingly ornamental to the Gospel, one of the most powerful and probable means of recommending it to others. 1 Peter 3:1,2. [1] The Lord has appointed you your post, and I doubt not but he does and will direct and support you in it. And I hope you will not only advert to your own imperfections, but likewise take a thankful and admiring notice of that power and grace which preserves you from falling, when your path itself is slippery as glass.   There is a certain feeling in an awakened heart, which in some respects wears the appearance of unbelief, and the soul often mistakes it for unbelief, and charges itself with guilt on account of it, when in reality it is a very different principle, and has a gracious nature and tendency. This I may call jealousy, it springs from love and leads to prayer. You have its language and aim: Solomons Song 8:6,7. [2] It is a consciousness of unworthiness and weakness, a fear of being deceived, mistaken and betrayed, accompanied with a high sense of the preciousness of Christ, and an earnest desire of his favour. Unbelief is selfish, impatient and slothful, indisposes to the use of appointed means, and will have things in its own way and time. Jealousy, has the love, image, honour and will of the Saviour in view, can take no seeming denial, will be stopped by no discouragement, dreads nothing so much as Sin, and continues waiting and watching at the throne of Grace. It is owing without doubt to the weakness of faith, for there is enough in the Gospel if rightly understood, to overrule and preclude every anxious fear, but its tendency is to Him who will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax. [3] He will not despise it; on the contrary is it that lowly contrite, tender, trembling frame of spirit, in which he delights and with which he has promised to dwell. Isaiah 57:15 and 66:2. [4] It is a preservative from pride, security and presumption. And disposes the soul to a humble acquiescence under providential trials, and to meekness, tenderness and compassion towards the infirmities of others. I believe most of your complaints spring from this source, and are tokens to you of salvation, and that of God. Fear not, He will be with you, he will give you strength according to your day. Though we are encouraged not to fear, as though anything either in us, or in our enemies, can possibly separate us from his love, yet there is a sense in which it is said, Blessed is the man that feareth always! [5]   I am at a loss what to say upon the point you propose. When a Clergyman is grossly immoral and indecent, I cannot think it a duty to attend upon him. [6] But then as you observe, there are many who do not know or will not understand the true reason of abstaining from public worship, and are glad of any plea or example that may give them something of a sanction for abstaining likewise, though their motive is no other than a disregard to the whole of religion – which makes a difficulty on that side. And I have thought that with respect to ignorant and unprincipled people, as alas! the most are in almost every parish, the very custom of going to church, though they get no real advantage by it, is so far desirable to be preserved, that it keeps them out of harms way, and prevents them from sinking into a hardened contempt of the Sabbath. As you are but the second head of your family, you must be the best judge how far it is proper or practicable to attend upon some neighbouring Minister, who does not give the like offence. Perhaps if a few persons of character and property would unite in an application to the Bishop, it would not be impossible to remove such a man as you describe, from his curacy. After all, though I do not think you sin by going – I am persuaded you do not sin, when you judge it best to stay away. And I doubt not but the Lord whom you serve, will direct you to what is best upon the whole. Except I were upon the spot, and knew every circumstance both at home and abroad, I could not venture to give you positive advice either way. And perhaps not even then. Nor do you need it. No one can be so properly qualified to judge for you, as you are for yourself.   I rejoice in the possibility of seeing you at Olney before long. Please to give our respects to Mr Gardiner and tell him that we should be very glad to receive not only you, but him also under our roof, and nothing should be wanting on our part, to make the visit agreeable as long as convenient to himself.   Mrs Newton is not perfectly well from all uneasiness in her head but she is comparatively so. Enough so, to call for much praise to the Lord our healer, who answered us in the day of our great distress. For there was very little human probability, for some time after she was taken, that she would ever be so well as she now is. She sends her affectionate respects to you, and longs to know you personally. I beg you to give our love to Mr Pugh when you see him. I have had two letters from Mr Collins since I wrote to you last, which give sufficient evidence that the Lord is with him of a truth. Only I wish his zeal may not exceed his strength and spirits. I am my dear Madam, Your affectionate and obliged servant John Newton   Olney ye 11 November 77 Endnotes:    [1] 1 Peter 3:1,2 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. [2] Solomon's Song 8:6,7 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. [3] Isaiah 42:3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. [4] Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Isaiah 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. [5] Psalm 112:1 Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. [6] The Gardiners were living in Leasingham at this time, where John Neville Birch (1726-1779), who also held the perpetual curacies of Nether Whitacre and Over Whitacre, was the Rector of Leasingham with Roxholme. Perhaps there may have been a curate at Leasingham. Acknowledgements: The Morgan Library & Museum MA 733.2

14/05/2026