John Newton's Letters
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September,
1764.
My
dear Madam--Your welfare I rejoice in; your warfare I understand something of.
Paul describes his own case in a few words, "Without were fightings; within were
fears." Does not this comprehend all you would say? And how are you to
know experimentally either your own weakness--or the power, wisdom, and grace
of God, seasonably and sufficiently afforded--but by frequent and various
trials? How are the graces of patience, resignation, meekness, and faith, to be
discovered and increased--but by exercise? The Lord has chosen, called, and
armed us for the fight; and shall we wish to be excused? Shall we not rather
rejoice that we have the honor to appear in such a cause, under such a Captain,
such a banner, and in such company? A complete suit of armor is
provided, irresistible weapons, and precious balm to heal us if
perchance we receive a wound, and precious cordials to revive us when
we are in danger of fainting.
Further,
we are assured of the victory beforehand; and oh what a crown is
prepared for every conqueror, which Jesus, the righteous Judge, the gracious
Savior, shall place upon every faithful head with his own hand! Then let us not
be weary and faint, for in due season we shall reap. The time is short; yet a
little while, and the struggle of indwelling sin, and the contradiction of
surrounding sinners--shall be known no more.
You
are blessed, because you hunger and thirst after righteousness. He whose name is Amen, has
said you shall be filled. To claim the promise is to make it our own; yet it is
befitting us to practice submission and patience, not in temporals only--but
also in spirituals. We should be ashamed and grieved at our slow progress,
so far as it is properly chargeable to our remissness and miscarriage; yet we
must not expect to receive everything at once--but wait for a gradual increase.
Nor should we forget to be thankful for what we may account a little--in
comparison of the much we suppose others have received.
A little grace,
a spark of true love to God, a grain of living faith,
though small as mustard-seed--is worth a thousand worlds! One drop of
the water of life gives interest in and pledge, of the whole fountain. It
befits the Lord's people to be thankful. To acknowledge his goodness in what we
have received--is the surest as well as the pleasantest method of obtaining
more. Nor should the grief, arising from what we know and feel of our own
hearts--rob us of the honor, comfort and joy, which the word of God designs us,
in what is there recorded of the person, offices, and grace of Jesus, and the
relations He is pleased to stand in to his people. . . .
Though
the believer is nothing in himself--yet having all in
Jesus--he may rejoice in his name all the day. May the Lord enable us so to do.
The joy of the Lord is the strength of his people: whereas unbelief makes
our hands hang down, and our knees feeble, dispirits ourselves, and discourages
others; and though it steals upon us under a semblance of humility--it is
indeed the very essence of pride. By inward and outward exercises, the Lord is
promoting the best desire of your heart, and answering your daily prayers.
Would you have assurance? The true solid assurance is to be obtained no other way.
When
young Christians are greatly comforted with the Lord's love and presence, their
doubts and fears are for that season, at an end. But this is not assurance; so
soon as the Lord hides his face--they are troubled, and ready to question the
very foundation of hope. Assurance grows by repeated conflict, by our
repeated experimental proof of the Lord's power and goodness to save; when we
have been brought very low and helped, sorely wounded and healed, cast down and
raised again, have given up all hope--and been suddenly snatched from danger,
and placed in safety; and when these things have been repeated to us and in us
a thousand times over, we begin to learn to trust simply to the word and power
of God, beyond and against appearances; and this trust, when habitual and
strong, bears the name of assurance; for even assurance has degrees.
You
have good reason, madam, to suppose that the love of the best Christians to an
unseen Savior--is far short of what it ought to be. If your heart is like mine,
and you examine your love to Christ by the warmth and frequency of your
emotions towards him--you will often be in a sad suspense, whether or not you
love him at all. The best mark to judge by, and which He has given us for that
purpose--is to inquire if his word and will have a
prevailing, governing influence upon our lives and temper. If we love him--we
do endeavor to keep his commandments. And if we have a desire to please him--we
undoubtedly love him.
Obedience is the best test; and when, amidst
all our imperfections, we can humbly appeal concerning the sincerity of our
desires--this is a mercy for which we ought to be greatly thankful. He who has
brought us to will--will likewise enable us to do according to
his good pleasure. I doubt not but the Lord whom you love, and on whom you
depend, will lead you in a sure way, and establish, and strengthen, and settle
you in his love and grace. Indeed He has done great things for you already. . .
.
As
to daily occurrences, it is best to believe that a daily portion of both
comforts and crosses, each one the most suitable to our case, is adjusted and
appointed by the hand which was once nailed to the cross for us! Where the path
of duty and prudence leads--there is the best situation we could possibly be in
at that juncture. We are not required to afflict ourselves immoderately for
what is not in our power to prevent, nor should anything that affords occasions
for mortifying the spirit of self be accounted unnecessary.
I
am, my dear madam,
Your
obliged and affectionate servant,
John
Newton
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