Letters and Conversational Remarks

Though the publication of the letters of Whitfield, Cowper, Romaine, Cadogan, and many other valuable characters, after their decease, may be deemed a sufficient apology for publishing the no less valuable letters of the late worthy Mr-Newton; still it may be proper and satisfactory to state the circumstances which induced me to send them abroad at the present time.

On the Lord’s day evening after the death of Mr. Newton, I preached a sermon in Kingsland Chapel, in reference to that event. Before concludingthe discourse, I read a few extracts from those letters which he wrote to me while re. siding .in Edinburgh, wherein his views respecting his final dismission were very impressively stated. Since that time 1 have been repeatedly requested to publish such letters from him as were in my possession. This led me to look over the correspondence, which appeared so truly interesting’ that I was induced to make a selection, leaving out whatever I thought he would have suppressed had he revised them himself for publication.

I was peculiarly pleased to find, on reviewing my papers, that immediately after Mr. Newton became incapable to carry on epistolary correspondence, I had kept journals of my various visits to London, previous to my settling in its neighbourhood j and that in these journals I had inserted the substance of many conversations which I had with that excellent man. This I did entirely for my own gratification. I cannot, iv

however, help viewing the period of my commencing thi» practice as having- been overruled by a higher hand, especially as it happened immediately after Mr. Newton’s eye-sight was so impaired as to render him unable to write any more letters to his friends; so that the letters and conversations make a connected history of that valuable man, for the last eighteen years of his life.

Having finished my extracts, I put them aside, not to be published till after my own dissolution. Since which time, various friends at a distance, who knew that Air. Newton had written to me many valuable letters, have very strenuously urged their immediate publication, observing, that every day I withheld them unnecessarily from the public, I was sinfully withholding a mean of great usefulness. This determined me to send them to press as soon as 1 conveniently could.

I have only to add that I enjoyed great pleasure in performing the task of transcriber. Indeed, it is the only book I have published that I was sorry when I came to the conclusion. I have been edified and comforted almost by every page, and have no doubt but many readers will be affected in the same way. They are commended to the care and blessing of a gracious God.

JOHN CAMPBELL.

KINGSLAND,
December 16, 180*.

DEAR SIR,

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I AM sorry Dr. M**** should occasion trouble to himself or others. Whatever judgment may be formed of his book, the truth which he opposes will stand firm. It is the very rock on which the church is built, against which, neither force, nor policy, nor sophistry can prevail. I see not how your judicatories can avoid noticing it, unless they give up your public doctrinal standards as untenable. At the same time, I fear that judicial censure will add to his zeal in a bad cause, and likewise add to his fame, and make his book more inquired after. Unless he can be convinced, he will never think himself confuted. And heart conviction is the work of the Lord alone.

The plausible and temperate manner in which he writes, makes his book, in my opinion, more dangerous than all the volumes which Dr. Priestleyhas published. However, as you observe, the great Head of the church will take care of his own cause, and of his own people. Such things have been from the beginning. There must be heresies. But they who know the Saviour’s name, will put their trust in him, when his opposers have done their utmost to prevent it.

May the peace and blessing of the Lord be With you, and with all who love him in sincerity. I am

Your affectionate friend and servant,
J. N-

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