John Newton’s Letters Difficulties and snares April 15, 1776.My dear Sir,I often rejoice on your behalf. Your call out of the world was a singular, comfortable instance of the power of grace. And when I consider the difficulties and snares of your situation, and that you have been kept in the middle path, preserved from undue compliances […]
Living Commentary! Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. – Psalm 119:117 We are poor, weak, inconsistent creatures if left but a little to ourselves. When I think how cold, dull and heartless I have been; how often I have wandered, how often trifled […]
The importance and truth of the Gospel salvation is witnessed to in heaven, by “the Father, the Word, and the Spirit.” It is witnessed to on earth, by “the Spirit, the water, and the blood,” 1Jo. 26 5:7-8. The spirit, in 1Jo. 26 5:8, (I apprehend) denotes a Divine light in the understanding, communicated by the […]
My only causes of complaint (Letters of John Newton) I am blessed with perfect health, and all things have been well with us abroad and at home. My only causes of complaint arise from my depraved nature and the workings of indwelling sin. I wish I was more humbled for them, and watchful against them. I […]
You will have a much lower opinion of yourself! (John Newton) Depend upon it—if you walk closely with God for forty years, at the end of that time you will have a much lower opinion of yourself than you have now! You will understand something of . . . Abraham’s feeling when he says, “I am dust and […]
If my pocket was full of stones! (Letters of John Newton) John 8:4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. John 8:5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? If my pocket was full of stones, I have […]
He drank the whole cup! (Letters of John Newton) “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble! Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas!” Psalm 46:1-2 November 2, 1761 My dear sister, Let us not be greatly […]
As many heads as a Hydra, and as many lives as a cat! (John Newton) Beware of SELF! This is the worst enemy we have to deal with! Self-will, self-wisdom, self-righteousness, self-seeking, self-dependence, and self-boasting. It is a large family — and I cannot count up all the branches! They are all nearly related to […]
John Newton’s Letters On the gradual increase of gospel illumination Dear Sir, The day is now breaking: how beautiful its appearance! how welcome the expectation of the approaching sun! It is this thought makes the dawn agreeable, that it is the presage of a brighter light; otherwise, if we expect no more day than it […]
They will never perish! (J. C. Philpot, “The Incorruptible Inheritance” 1865) 1Pet. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1Pet. 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, […]