John Newton
Without any preamble, I purpose now to give a few thoughts on the meaning of that name which was first obtained at Antioch – in other words, what it is to be a Christian. What effects (making allowance for the unavoidable infirmities resulting from the present state of mortality) may be expected from a real experimental knowledge of the gospel? I would not suggest that none are Christians who do not come up to the character I would describe – for then I fear I should unchristian myself – but only to consider what the Scripture encourages us to aim at as the prize of our high calling in this life. It is generally allowed and lamented that we are too apt to live below our privileges, and to stop short of what the Spirit and the promises of the gospel point out to us as attainable.
Alexander Pope’s2 admired line, “An honest man’s the noblest work of God”, may be admitted as a truth, when rightly explained. A Christian is the noblest work of God in this visible world and bears a much brighter impression of His glory and goodness than the sun in the firmament, and none but a Christian can be strictly and properly honest. All others are too much under the power of self to do universally to others as they would that others should do unto them; nothing but uniform conduct on this principle deserves the name of honesty.
The Christian is a new creature, born and taught from above. He has been convinced of his guilt and misery as a sinner, has fled for refuge to the hope set before him, has seen the Son and believed on Him; his natural prejudices against the glory and grace of God’s salvation have been subdued and silenced by Almighty power; he has accepted the Beloved and is made acceptable in Him. He now knows the Lord, has renounced the confused, distant, uncomfortable notions he once formed of God, and beholds Him in Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life, the only door by which we can enter to any true satisfying knowledge of God, or communion with Him. But he
1Taken with editing from Newton’s Works, vol 1. This is the first part of letter in a series of “Letters to a Nobleman”.
2An English poet of the early eighteenth century.
sees God in Christ, reconciled, a Father, a Saviour and a Friend, who has freely forgiven him all his sins, and given him the Spirit of adoption. He is now no longer a servant, much less a stranger, but a son; and because a son, he is an heir already of all the promises, admitted to the throne of grace, and assured of eternal glory.
The gospel is designed to give us not only a peradventure or a probability, but a certainty, both of our acceptance and our perseverance, till death shall be swallowed up in life. And though many are sadly fluctuating and perplexed upon this head, and perhaps all are so for a season; yet there are those who can say, “We know that we are of God”. Therefore they are steadfast and unmoveable in His way; because they are confident that their labour shall not be in vain, but that they shall be present with their Lord when they shall be absent from the body. This is the state of the advanced, experienced Christian, who has been enabled to make his profession the chief business of his life. He is strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Everyone who has this hope in Christ, purifies himself, even as He is pure.
I would now attempt a sketch of the Christian’s temper, formed upon these principles and hopes, under the leading branches of its exercise, respecting God, himself and his fellow creatures.
The Christian’s state of mind towards God is evidenced by humility. He has received from Gethsemane and Golgotha such a sense of the evil of sin and of the holiness of God, combined with His matchless love to sinners, as has deeply penetrated his heart. He has a moving remembrance of the state of rebellion and enmity against this holy and good God in which he once lived, and he has a quick perception of the defilements and defects which still debase his best services. His mouth is therefore stopped as to boasting; he is vile in his own eyes, and is filled with wonder that the Lord should visit such a sinner with such a salvation. He sees so vast a disproportion between the obligations he is under to grace, and the returns he makes, that he is disposed, indeed constrained, to adopt the Apostle’s words without affectation – to account himself less than the least of all saints. Knowing his own heart, while he sees only the outside of others, he is not easily persuaded there can be a believer upon earth so faint, so unfruitful, so unworthy as himself.
Yet, though abased, he is not discouraged, for he enjoys peace. The dignity, offices, blood, righteousness, faithfulness and compassion of the Redeemer, in whom he rests, trusts and lives, for wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, are adequate to all his needs and wishes. They provide him with an answer to every objection, and give him no less confidence in God than if he were as sinless as an angel; for he sees that, though sin has abounded in him, grace has much more abounded in Jesus. With
respect to the past, all things have become new; with respect to the present and future, he leans upon an Almighty arm, and relies upon the word and power which made the heavens and the earth and upholds them.
Though he feels himself unworthy of the smallest mercies, he claims the greatest blessings that God can bestow and expects them. And being rooted and grounded in the knowledge and love of Christ, his peace abides; it is not greatly affected, either by the variation of his own frames, or by the changes of God’s dispensations towards him while here. With such a sense of himself, such a heartfelt peace and heavenly hope, how can his spirit but breathe love to his God and Saviour? It is indeed the perfection of his character and happiness that his soul is united by love to the chief good. The love of Christ is the joy of his heart and the spring of his obedience.
With his Saviour’s presence, he finds a heaven begun upon earth; without it, all the other glories of the heavenly state would not content him. He knows the excellence of Christ; His love to sinners, especially His dying love; His love to himself, in seeking and saving him when lost, saving him to the uttermost.
But I must stop. Your Lordship can better conceive than I can describe how and why Jesus is dear to the heart that knows Him. That part of the Christian’s life which is not employed in the active service of his Lord is chiefly spent in seeking and maintaining communion with Him. For this he plies the throne, and studies the word of grace, and frequents the ordinances, where the Lord has promised to meet with His people. These are his golden hours; and when thus employed, how poor and trivial does all that the world calls great and important appear in his eyes! Yes, he is anxious to keep up heart communion with his Beloved in his busiest scenes; and so far as he can succeed, it alleviates all his labours and sweetens all his troubles. And when he is neither communing with his Lord, nor acting for Him, he accounts his time lost and is ashamed and grieved.
The truth of his love is manifested by submission. This is twofold, and in each of these ways, the submission is absolute and without reserve. He submits to God’s revealed will, as made known to him by precept and by God’s own example. He aims to tread in his Saviour’s footsteps and makes conscience of all His commandments, without exception and without hesitation. Again, he submits to God’s will in providence: he yields to His sovereignty, acquiesces in His wisdom; he knows he has no right to complain of anything because he is a sinner; and he has no reason to complain because he is sure the Lord does all things well. Therefore this submission is not forced, but is an act of trust. He knows he is unable to choose for himself; and therefore rejoices that the Lord has undertaken to manage his affairs for him. And if
he was compelled to make his own choice, he could only choose that all his concerns should remain in that hand to which he has already committed them.
Thus he judges of public as well as of his personal affairs. He cannot be an unmoved spectator of national sins, nor without apprehension about the consequences they deserve; he feels, and almost trembles, for others, but he himself dwells under the shadow of the Almighty, in a sanctuary that cannot be forced. Therefore, if he would see the earth shaken and the mountains cast into the midst of the sea, his heart would not be greatly moved, for God is his refuge; the Lord reigns. He sees his Saviour’s hand directing every dark appearance and overruling all of them so that he accomplishes His own great purposes.
This satisfies him and, though the winds and waves are high, he can venture his own little boat into the storm, for he has an infallible and almighty Pilot on board with him. Indeed, why should he fear, when he has nothing to lose? His best concerns are safe; and he holds other things as gifts from his Lord, to whose call he is ready to resign them, in whatever way He pleases; knowing well that creatures, and the instruments they use, cannot of themselves touch a hair of his head without the Lord’s permission – and that if He does permit them, it must be for the best.