1787 May 17
My dear Madam,
When I received your favour of the 24 April, I purposed answering it in a day or two – but I have been prevented, and the lapse of time is sufficient to require another apology. Only I know you are kind enough to make allowances for me.
Mr W_’s second proposal for bringing a right Curate to Sleaford, seems much more promising than the former. I shall be very glad to hear that a proper person is found and admitted.
I confess myself a little surprised, that just now, when there seems some hopeful prospect of the Gospel being preached in the Church, you should be almost resolved to receive the Sacrament in the Meeting, which you have hitherto declined, at times when circumstances might have pleaded more strongly for it. I am glad you say “I shall take time to weigh the matter.” I agree with you, that there are no scriptural objections against receiving the Sacrament at a Meeting any more than in a Church. And what I wrote some time ago, respecting Mr Caldwell and his usefulness at Sleaford I may plead as proof that I am not very High in my notions of the difference between a Church or a Meeting. But in your situation I cannot judge it expedient to enter so far into a connection with Dissenters and Irregulars, as receiving the Lord’s Supper with them in the Meeting would amount to. I conceive you may receive more benefit from them and be more useful to them by keeping as you are, ready to help them any way you can, and hearing their preachers more or less frequently, as circumstances may direct. A nearer union with them than this will lead you into embarrassments, abridge your liberty, and even lessen your influence among them; for instead of looking up to you as now, they would then probably take upon them to guide you, and perhaps to quarrel with you, if you should not choose to go all lengths with them, and to what lengths they might on some future occasion expect you to go, who can say? Your own recollection of past times may enable you to judge better than I can. Though Mr Gardiner might leave you to your own liberty, I suppose it would not be quite pleasing to him; and I have all along agreed with you in thinking, that whatever is not necessary in point of conscience is better avoided were it only upon his account. But I should give you the same advice were he entirely out of the question. If Mr Caldwell should be grieved by your not complying with his wish, I am sorry for it, I do not wonder that the prospect of your acceding, would be pleasing to him and the people. But your views are larger than theirs, and you move upon a larger scale, and are therefore better qualified to judge for yourself than they are to judge for you. I hope therefore when you consider all the possible consequences of such a step, and what advantage it might give them to involve you more than necessary in their petty and party disputes, you will judge it right to remain as you have been for so many years.
I never heard of Mr Caldwell but from you, and consequently can have no reason to doubt that your opinion of him is well-founded; if he be really humble and diffident, you are the less liable to be mistaken. I hope your attendance on his preaching will continue to be pleasant and profitable to you. But from the idea your former letters have given me of the state of the people at Sleaford, as well as from the quarter which supplies them with preachers (one of whom you complained of lately in strong terms) I cannot willingly consent to your being considered as joined to them, which you certainly would be thought to be, if you received the Sacrament among them. That connection (though I hope there is good done in it) appears to me but as a rope of sand; and the power of ordination assumed of late, has in my view so little value or validity, that I rate the preachers who are ordained, no higher than those who are not, and I would as willingly receive the Sacrament myself from Mr Caldwell, as from the person who you say is ordered to take his place for that purpose. I know not what I wrote when you consulted me upon the same point while Mr Bristol was with you, but I think my sentiments coincided with your own, and I believe the same reasonings will apply in the present case.
Mr Gardiner was very kind when in London. He called on us three or four times, and once came purposely to tea and stayed more than two hours with us. We were very glad to see him. I saw him once at my church, and he told me that he had been there more than once. I beg you would present our respects to him, and our repeated thanks for his obliging and cordial invitation to Sleaford, which we should very willingly accept if it was in our power. We told him how much we should rejoice to see you again in London, and his answer seemed not to forbid us hoping for that pleasure some time. We have now a good house, and could offer you an apartment with which I hope you could make shift, at least you would be sure of a hearty welcome. And I hope whenever you do come, you will consent to be inmate with us, while you stay.
I congratulate you on the pleasing prospect you have of your son. [1] May it be more confirmed from day to day, and made prove a happy earnest of the Lord’s goodness to your whole family.
My letter has been three days in hand, but I have at last got near the bottom of the sheet. I shall wish to hear from you soon, for I am a little anxious about your determination respecting the Sacrament at the Meeting.
We join in sincere love and respect, entreating a remembrance in your prayers for me and mine.
I am, My Dear Madam
Your affectionate and obliged friend and servant
John Newton
Coleman Street buildings
17 May 87
I should not have spoken my mind so freely, had I not been wanting in confidence to you.
[franked]
London eighteenth May 1787
Mrs Gardiner
Sleaford
Lincolnshire
Robert Thornton
Endnotes:
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[1] |
When the Gardiners' son came to London ‘to improve himself in business’ under one of Newton’s hearers, Mr [Thomas?] Nelson, linen draper, his father William snr wrote from Sleaford to commend him to Newton for his kind advice, friendly attention and prayers, ‘that he may be restrained from the fatal dissipation so eagerly pursued by young men on their first coming to London’. |
Acknowledgements:
Morgan Museum and Library MA 733.35 |
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