1786 January 28



My dear Madam
 
I was not pleased with myself, when the arrival of your favour of ye 14th instant, reminded me that your former of ye 1st November last, is still unanswered. I now thank you for both. A desire to have my sermons on the Messiah published, [1] before the season of Grand Musical exhibition returns, has constrained me to appear inattentive to you, and to some other dear friends. [2] My book is now in the press, but the revisal of the sheets, and the fabricating preface etc, will call for most of the little time I can save, out of the daily business which arises. By Easter I hope for a little more leisure. But whenever you intimate a wish for a speedy answer, I should be ashamed to put you off long with the plea of business, however urgent. For as I must have time for eating and sleeping, I ought to break in upon that, rather than leave you in suspense whether I sympathise with you or not, when you inform me of your trials.
 
Be pleased, Madam, to cast your eye, with me upon Isaiah 42:16. [3] There, I believe, you will read your history (and I hope mine likewise) in miniature. A part of that gracious promise has already been fulfilled to us, which we may accept as a pledge of the performance of the whole. We were once blind, then the Lord conducted us, in his providence, while we little thought of him, by a way that we knew not. We thought we directed ourselves, but he guided us and overruled our plans in subserviency to his merciful designs in our favour, till in his hour of love, he shined into our hearts. From that time we have had some knowledge of the paths of righteousness and peace, to which we were once utter strangers. Already he has in a degree given us light for darkness, and made many a crooked thing straight before us. He has engaged to do these things again and again for us, as new occasions arise, and he has said he will not forsake us. Let us praise him for the past and trust to his care and tenderness, the present and the future. If we met with no crooked things, how should we [be] able to admire his wisdom, power and goodness, in making them straight, in his appointed season?
 
You have the throne of grace, My dear Madam, and the best counsellor always at hand. I know not well how to advise as to particulars; even if I lived in the house with you, I should think myself incompetent, much more at this distance. However I cannot advise you to give up the good practice which you have maintained for so many years, and which the Lord has already made a blessing to your youngest daughter. [4] You have need of patience, but encourage yourself with the thought that neither the eldest, [5] nor any one of your family is out of his reach. What you cannot effect, by much repeated persuasion, he can effect in a moment, by a single glance of thought. It seems indeed but an uncomfortable prospect, to drag them, as it were, from the card-table to prayer. Yet little advantage can be expected from giving them up entirely to themselves. I wish you therefore by all means to persevere, while you do not find it quite impracticable. Say to yourself, I will try one day more. And when the next day comes, say again, I will try another day, and so on. Thus take up your burden from day to day, and hope for better things tomorrow – till they come. The Lord has an hour – may he enable you to wait for it.
 
I have been much interrupted since I began writing. But am willing to send what I can write, by this post, lest you should think me negligent. Be of good courage, Madam, the Lord reigns. He is always near you – when your spirit is overwhelmed within you, he knoweth your path, he knows what supports you need, and what time and in what way, deliverance will be best for you. The arms of his grace are long to reach to the farthest end of your case, and strong to subdue the most powerful difficulties. He calls his people worms, but he says, his worms shall thresh the mountains. The things which are not joyous but grievous shall yield the peaceful fruits of righteousness. Only believe, and you shall see his salvation.
 
If it be the Lord’s pleasure to give an habitation nearer to his house and people, he will incline your heart to pray for it; because it doubles the relish of all his favours, to receive them in answer to prayer. And I think we are allowed to tell him our wants and wishes, as things appear to us, with freedom, as speaking to our best friend. But, we are short-sighted, and our desires for a change of situation, cannot be too much guarded, by a submission to his wise and holy will. This is not only our duty, as dependent creatures, but our wisdom and interest likewise. For we are short-sighted to consequences, and know not what may depend upon any single step we take. We feel the inconveniencies of our present lot, which we might in part avoid, by a change. But that change would likewise bring its own trials, which might perhaps pinch us, no less than those which we now feel.
 
As to Sandeman – I can only say – the Lord be praised, who preserved you from the net spread for your feet. It is not needful to read books, pro and con, to know whether he is right. The doctrines which teach us humility and spirituality and love, must be right. The contrary effects of Sandeman’s doctrine, sufficiently prove them to be wrong.
 
But I must perforce break off. My Dear has been lately ill with a sore throat, but I hope is better. Upon the whole, her health though not robust is tolerable. Our child is well. I am much as when you saw me. We join in respects to Mr Gardiner – with thanks for hare and ham, both which came safe and good.
 
I am Madam,
Your affectionate and obliged friend and servant
John Newton
 
Hoxton 28 January 1786

[to]
Mrs Gardiner
near Sleaford
Lincolnshire
 

Endnotes:
 
 [1] John Newton, Messiah: Fifty Expository Discourses on the Oratorio of Handel (London: 1786).
[2] The Grand Musical Festival began on 31 May 1786 at Westminster Cathedral.
[3] Isaiah 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
[4] Sarah Myra Gardiner was baptised on 16 July 1777 at Leasingham. She came to stay in the Newton household for some months and married (with Newton officiating) Newton’s nephew Benjamin Nind (baptised on 17 10 1773 at Sutton Courtenay) on 14 December 1796 at St George’s in the Borough. Sarah died on 4 July 1801 and was buried at St Mary Woonoth. Benjamin died on 2 March 1867 at Peckham and was buried nearby in Nunhead Cemetery, Southwark.
[5] Susanna Gardiner was baptised on 18 November 1770 at New Sleaford. Newton referred to her as ‘Flirtilla’ (www.johnnewton.org/flirtilla). She ‘proved quite disobedient, married a worthless man, in defiance of her parents’ wishes’, wrote Newton to Nathaniel Hillier (1740-1810) in 1800. By 1800 her husband had left her and her parents were struggling to support her.

Acknowledgements:
Morgan Museum and Library MA 733.29

26/05/2026