London, April 2, 1798

MY DEAR SIR,

I KNOW not how much matter I have to thank you for, but it seems high time to make some acknowledgment, though at present, perhaps, I must be brief. I have but just seen your friend, Miss D***, and told her that we should be glad to see her again. Send as many Scots folks as you please; if they bring the olive leaf in their mouth, they will be welcome at No. 6.

I rejoice in the success of the northern mission. May it still increase! Yes! I trust the Lord is spreading and reviving his work in our land, and if so, I care not by what instruments, or under what mode or name the good cause is promoted.

Mr. H*** brought me Mr. Black’s Sermon on Tuesday, but I have not yet had time to read it. My hands are full, full, full, and my growing years do not add to my activity.

I cannot speak as you do of remarkable discoveries, &c. I trust I do walk by faith; 1 certainly do not walk by sight. All my hope, light, and comfort is derived from a little book which I can carry in my pocket. It is given to me to believe that what I read in this book is true. I find my malady, with all its symptoms, accurately described, and having tried the remedy therein proposed, I feel, in a measure, the good effects. Though my cure is not yet perfected, I trust I am in a state of convalescence, and that I shall Hot die but live. I would be thankful for daylight, and I should like to share with you in the sunshine; but the Lord knows what is best for me. On the other side, 1 am seldom tempest-tossed. I am more frequently becalmed and inert, than agitated with storms; and I am such a fair-weather sailor, that I seem content to go quietly on, though my progress is but slow.

I believe they who come the nearest to the apostle’s translation, (2 Cor. xii.) must have a proportionable share of his thorn in the flesh, and the buffetings of Satan. A ship would be in danger, with a strong wind and much sail abroad, unless xvell ballasted. I am often obliged to row for want of wind. Rowing is not so pleasant, nor so speedy a movement, as sailing; but it is more free from the risk of being overset. Any thing should be welcome that checks the growth of that abomination, pride; and that worst of all abominations, spiritual pride. The Lord is pleased to afford me much liberty and acceptance in my public service, if I was equally comfortable in private, I know not what might be the event, for my heart is still desperately wicked, and deeply deceitful.

I suppose the introduction to the Northern Tour will not be relished by every one: but the arguments in favour of itinerancy and lay preaching will not be easily refuted. Yet still, I think, lay preachers should be sent, if not by bishops, consistories, or elders, at least by some religious persons or societies, who are competent to judge of their fitness. Perhaps even this would not be necessary if all who undertake the service were men of character and abilities, like your friends, and influenced by their motives. But the position, that every man who thinks himself qualified to preach, has therefore a warrant to go forth, is productive of many bad effects on our side of the Tweed. Some of them, though thy can smite with the hand, stamp with the foot, and speak with a loud voice, do not well understand what thy say,, nor whereof thy affirm; their preaching is crude, often erroneous. They diffuse pride, censoriousness, antinomianism,and party rage amongst their adherents; for there are few so bad, but they have some adherents. The characters of others are very suspicious, they run about to the neglect of their proper business and their families,, ami perhaps become bankrupts, and cause the good way to be evil spoken of.

It is said, (p. 13.) that if it can be shewn that one person was converted by lay preaching, it proves that the instrument was warranted to preach. But I know a man who was excluded from *****’s society, for known and repeated acts of wickedness, and yet after his expulsion he continued preaching, and I believe he w as owned to the awakening not of one or two, but of many sinners, perhaps of many scores; but I cannot think such a man had a warrant to preach. And though Paul was glad if any good was done by those who preached Christ out of envy and strife, I question if he would say they had a warrant to preach while in such a spirit. If all lay preachers were like-minded with Messrs. H*** and A***, I would pray the Lord to increase their number a hundred fold. -We have some such in England, but not a few who would be better employed at the plough or the loom. A man who is more fond of novelty, than of honest labour or of being always called plain Tom or Dick, having a good stock of self-conceit, transforms himself into a preacher — he then excepts to be styled Mr. Thomas, perhaps the Rev. “Mr. Thomas, to be excused from work, and to look almost like a gentleman. I fear such motives as these may stimulate some to be missionaries, both for at home, and for abroad. When these are invited to the houses of the affluent, courted and caressed by people of the first characters, laden with gifts and presents, &c. considering what human nature is, I cannot wonder if this sudden transition, from obscurity to honour and public notice, has a tendency to turn their heads, and make them think themselves persons of no small consequence. I pray for the coming of our Lord’s kingdom, but it has not usually come with ostentation, and as it were with sound of trumpet.

I thought to have put you off with half a sheet, but 1 have filled it, and therefore must write something on this, and not send you much blank paper. I must look again over your letters.

But first I must tell you that my poor old head forgot to send some copies of the sermon I lately printed, preached on the day of thanksgiving. Whether any of them have found their way to Edinburgh without my help, I know not, or whether they are yet to be had at Johnson’s. I believe he sent one, at least, to be put in a volume of my detached papers. An edition of all my printings has been long in hand at Edinburgh, in 12mo. the six volumes, two Messiahs, and the smaller pieces, will make nine volumes: but when they will appear who can tell? I have expected them for about or above a twelvemonth.

I suppose I have already noticed the particulars in yours cf the 23d December; but it appears to me as a new letter. Your account of the young.

man executed for forgery is awful*.’ Sin first deceives, and then hardens. So it served me and nothing but omnipotent grace could have softened such a heart as mine. In sickness and in many dangers 1 seemed no more afraid of death than of sleep. Nay, had I not been re”-

* Believing it likely to be useful to insert an account of the young wan to whom Mr. Newton refers, I have sub. joined the following letter from my friend Mr. Aikman, minister of College-street Chapel, Edinburgh, whe visited him while under sentence of death, (and from whom I originally had my information,) which contains a concise and impressive statement of his case.

“Edinburgh, November 7, 1803.

* MY BEAR SIR,

“THE request of your letter brings to my remembrance one of the most melancholy examples of human depravity that I ever met with.

“The person to whom your inquiries refer, and whom I visited when under sentence of death in this city, was a youth of a most engaging address, and one who had enjoyed the advantage of a liberal education. At our first interview, when I visited him in company with our much esteemed and deceased friend, the late Mr. B***, (one of the ministers of this city) he heard what was stated with seeming attention, and appeared thankful for instruction. Previous to my seeing him a second time, he was visited by a clergyman of very opposite sentiments to those ef Mr. B***. Whether it was in consequence of his instructions, or not, I cannot say; but in the course of conversation upon this occasion, he plainly told me, that he could by no means accede to the doctrine of salvation by free and sovereign grase. If mea were to be saved, he wg$ strained by a strong invisible hand, f should probably have destroyed myself; for my life was miserable, and I thought myself quite sure, like the French philosophers, that death was an eternal sleep. Was ever such a wretch, such a signal monument of mercy!

persuaded it must be in consequence of their good works. I observed to him, that in this case his situation was unspeakably alarming He was now under sentence of death, and in all probability would suffer the execution of that sentence. In his present circumstances, chained at he was to the floor of a prison, he was precluded from the very possibility of doing any good work, or of making any reparation to society for any part of his past misconduct. Such sentiments therefore, I observed, must necessarily exclude him from all hope towards God.

“He perceived the justice of this melancholy inference, and acknowledged that he was certainly condemned upon his own principles. I was much affected with the unhappy condition of this youth, and endeavoured with all possible tenderness and affection, to warn him of his -danger, and to lead his attention to the gospel, which is so completely and divinely adapted to impart peace and hope to the very worst of men, if they receive its blessed message: but all was in vain- He buoyed himself up, I believe, with the hope of life, yet so little influence had his professed principles upon his conduct, that in endeavouring to make his escape from the prison, (in which he was unsuccessful) he made an attempt on the life of the turnkey. When he found that all his plans were defeated, he swallowed poison with a view to avoid the ignominy of a public execution: but in this also his object was frustrated. Medical assistance being obtained, the effects of

I know not if infidelity has greatly spread, though the avowal of it is more public. Many, perhaps rcost, were heart-infidels before they read the books to which they ascribe their new wisdom. But the writings of Paine and others, like the spear of Ithurial, have brought them forth in their true characters. Infidelity is now enthroned at Rome. Popery is no more, for there is no more pope, and many of the cardinals have sung hymns to the praise of French liberty: but the Roman Catholic religion, so called, still subsists, in many parts of Christendom. Therefore I think, infidelity has not done all its work. It will proceed lu the extent or its commission, but no farther; and when it has finished its work, it will receive its wages. How far this commission may reach, we know not, but we know the Lord

the poison were so far counteracted that his life was preserved until the day appointed by the law, when he publicly suffered the sentence annexed to his offence.

“The foregoing’ mournful history needs no comment. To those who know the grace of God it will suggest motives for thanksgiving to that God by whose grace they have been made to differ, and it will surely lead us to commiserate deeply, the situation of those unhappy men, who, in the near prospect of eternity, are taught to put their trust in refuges of lies, by men who are the decided enemies, while professing to be the friends of the Lord Jesus.

“I am, my dear friend, affectionately yours,

“JOHN A1KMAN.’* has marked the bounds beyond which it cannot pass. I think neither Mr. Fleming, nor any other commentator of the prophets foresaw the wonderful revolution which has taken place within these four yours. They thought France would be scourged, but were not aware that France was to be the scourge of Europe.* Events are the best expounders of prophecy. May not Dan. vii. 25. have some reference to these times: but I stop. My business is to preach Jesus Christ crucified, and leave temporal concerns in the hands of him whose counsel shall stand, and lrho will do all his pleasure. Verily it shall be well with the righteous. He will either preserve them from the evils they apprehend, or give them strength according to their day. It will make little difference to them a hundred years hence,

* The following is the extract from Willison’s Balm of Gilead, a book published about the year 1740, to which Mr. Newton referred, p. 9.

“Before antichrist’s fall, one of the ten kingdoms which supported the beast shall undergo a marvellous revolution, Rev. xi. 13. ‘The same hour there was a great earthquake, and the tenth pait of the city fell ‘By which tenth part is to be understood one of the ten kingdoms into which the great Romish Babylon was divided. This, many take to be the kingdom of France, it being the tenth and last of the kingdom as to the time of rise, and that which gave Rome the denomination of the beast with ten horns; ;.nd also it being the only one of the ten kingdoms, that was never conquered since its rise.”

whether they lived here in peace, or in the midst of trouble.

He says to his people, See that ye be not terrified. Lo, I am with you always, your sun and your shield. But he likewise commands them to watch and pray, that they may maintain a spirit suitable to the times in which they live. We have no just cause to be afraid for ourselves, if we are duly affected with the sin and misery that surrounds us. There is a secret mark of protection put upon those who sigh and mourn for what they cannot prevent. The Lord is pleading his own cause, and the glory of his holy name should be the nearest and dearest concern to our hearts. But though I can write with much seeming composure while I sit quietly by the fire-side, I am aware that if such things as we have deserved, were actually to come upon us, I should tremble like a leaf, and prove a very coward, if left to myself. But he has said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. I rest my hope upon his faithful promise.

My health and ability for public service are -still mercifully preserved. Dear Miss C***, and all my little family, are tolerably well. I trust we have tokens of his favourable presence in our assemblies. Hitherto the Lord has helped us. I have good reason to praise him for what is past, and have I not equ?l reason to trust him for the future?

We unite in love to you, and all friends, as if named, and request a continuance of your prayers for me and mine. May the Lord bless you in all your concerns and connexions.

I am

Your affectionate friend and servant,

J. N.