1786 October 31
My dear Madam,
When you ask my advice, it seems a call upon me to write immediately. But my delay, which is often unavoidable, will I hope, do no harm. I think that either you do not need advice, or I am not the proper person to advise you, for we usually so jump in our opinions, that I have seldom more to do, than to return to you your own sentiments, in other words. I need no arguments to convince me, that you are not bound to hazard an hour’s peace at home, nor even to lose your own time, by attending on such preaching as you describe. You must expect, as you hint, to be censured by the ignorant, and the prejudiced. We should not willingly offend even these; but to act contrary to the direction of sound judgement, in order to please them by adopting and countenancing their mistakes would be wrong. While you ask counsel of the Lord, and your mind is upright in his sight, ignorant and passionate censure, is not deserving your notice. You see I can only say, what you have said before me. I am afraid there is too much that bears the name of preaching and professing the Gospel, especially in some country places, which little deserves the encouragement, or attention of those, who truly understand the Gospel, and are concerned for its honour. Rash and unscriptural assertions, bitter and contentious tempers, are utterly unsuitable to that Gospel which the Apostles preached. They spoke the truth in love.
My concern for your late indispositions, is abated by the assurance you give me of your recovery, and by a persuasion, that you are of the happy number, to whom sickness, when the Lord appoints it, is no less beneficial than health. All things work together for good, to them that love God. [1] Each of these are things, taken singly, perhaps seem to have little meaning, but in their proper order and connection, as the wisdom of our Great Shepherd disposes them, when thus brought together, they all work for good. We cannot say that any one stone in the arch of the bridge is the chief supported of the arch, but every stone is necessary and equally so. The Lord moves in a mysterious way, but he does nothing, he permits nothing, in vain.
In answer to your kind enquiries, I have to inform you (I wish I was more thankful) that I continue much as I was when you saw me. I need not tell you that I am older, but I do not feel that the difference of years, has hitherto abated my health or my spirits. And I go on, in my Ministry (the chief point for which life, at my years, should seem desirable) with as little inconvenience or weariness as formally. I am sooner wearied with walking than I once was, and I find a little failure in memory, or rather in recollection, but not so as to affect my preaching. In the course of a year I seldom know a day’s indisposition, or an hour’s pain. I am however going down the hill of life, but the descent, as yet, is so gentle, that I can scarcely perceive it, and sometimes catch myself at forming schemes, and indulging prospects, as though I were still young. I may be ashamed to confess it, but it is truth. When I had the Messiah in hand, I could not suppress a desire, if the Lord pleased to be spared to finish it. This desire was granted, but I seem still well reconciled to the thought of living, a little, and a little longer. If it was solely with the hope of being useful in my station, I ought to be at least willing to live – but I am afraid considerations of a much inferior nature, have too great weight with me.
My dear Mrs Newton, though not without returns of indisposition, is upon the whole tolerably well, and I think has been rather better since our removal into the City. We are comfortable in our new habitation. She joins with me in love, with respects to Mrs[Mr intended] Gardiner, and thanks you for the cranberries. Our child, now tall enough to pass for a woman, is well, peace is within our walls – few families I think can be more united. I am indeed highly favoured. A happy fireside at home, kind and pleasing connections abroad – an affectionate and thriving people to preach to – and if I have some trials, they are comparatively few and small – excepting those which I feel from an unbelieving, deceitful heart.
About ye middle of August we went to Southampton, from thence to Bath and Bristol. In this tour we saw old friends, and acquired new ones, and I had many pleasing opportunities of preaching. We were abroad a month, came home in safety, and found all well on our return. Few have more cause, than I, to say, What shall I render unto the Lord, for all his mercies? [2]
I mean to send you with this, a funeral sermon I preached for my friend the late Dr Conyers. [3] He was an eminent Minister, and obtained an honourable dismission: he was struck with death in the pulpit, the moment he had pronounced the blessing after sermon. He was carried out of church, through a large, weeping congregation, and expired in about three hours. What a glorious transition!
As your friend, whom you mention, speaks only in her own house, with the approbation of her husband, is exemplary, humble and consistent in her conduct, and willing herself to attend public ordinances, I am willing to believe, that she is in the path of duty. [4] If she herself is satisfied, that the Lord has led her into this path and owns her in it, I would not discourage her, if I could. It is rather a singular case but not wholly so. We have a woman preacher at London, Mrs Wallis, the Matron of Guy’s Hospital, a person of eminent grace and humility. [5] She was led to speak first in the Women’s Wards – she long withstood the thought of speaking to the Men, but could not have peace of mind till she complied. She has been many years in this practice; and for many years neither Treasurer, Governors, Physicians, Surgeons, have given her any disturbance. Every Wednesday when the patients are discharged, she has them all into her apartment before they leave the house. She supposes that she speaks yearly to about three thousand people, and has been very useful. Many have been brought from darkness to light by her ministry, if you will allow me to call it so, and some who now preach the Gospel to others, received the knowledge of it from her, when some disease or distress sent them to the hospital. There is perhaps scarcely a woman in London more generally known or respected by all parties of the religious and by many who have no religion. I believe women are not usually called to public service, but there are exempt cases. Your friend’s may be one. And if she be right, it is no great matter to her what people at a distance, and unacquainted with her motives and leadings may say of her.
I am at the bottom of my paper – and it is time to come to a clusion, by assuring you once more, that I am
Dear Madam,
Your affectionate and obliged servant
John Newton
Coleman Street Buildings
31 October [1786]
[The year 1786 can be identified by the fact that the Newtons had just moved to Coleman Street Buildings and he had recently preached the Funeral Sermon for Dr Conyers.]
Endnotes:
|
[1] |
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. |
|
[2] |
Psalm 116:12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? |
|
[3] |
John Newton, A Sermon Preached in the Parish Church of St Paul’s, Deptford, on Sunday, the 7th of May, 1786, on the Lamented Occasion of the Death of Richard Conyers, Late Rector of That Parish (London: 1786). |
|
[4] |
Newly married Ellen Christian (née Gretton) (1756-1791), a dressmaker and daughter of a Church of England clergyman, wrote to her husband William Christian (1756-1834) of Skillington from Sarah Gardiner’s in 1783, 'I have spoken two nights, and am to speak again tonight if it pleases God. May good be done, and I shall be truly thankful... My dear Mrs G is in a most trying situation indeed. None can judge what she goes through, but those who see her. Mr G is now gone to London, so that we shall, I hope, be freer from company; for though he behaved remarkably civil to me, yet we could not be so comfortable whilst he was here... Accept dear Mrs Gardiner’s best love.' |
|
[5] |
Sarah Wallis (d. 1794), Matron of Guy’s Hospital, had been known to Newton since his ministry in Olney, when some of his parishioners who had been inmates of the hospital reported on her ‘kindness to the patients’. |
Acknowledgements:
Morgan Museum and Library MA 733.31
|
Print