God Hiding and Revealing by John Newton¹

What to Fear

1. What to fear. (1) A worldly spirit. When such a spirit prevails it is inconsistent with a work of grace and, in whatever degree it is indulged, it will proportionately retard and abate the light and comfort of our souls. The Lord compares the cares and pleasures of this life to thorns, unprofitable and painful; they produce no fruit, but they wound and tear. Yes, they are thorns in the eyes, which will prevent the great things of God from being perceived.

(2) A spirit of self-dependence. Do not be “wise in your own conceits”. “If any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.” God gives wisdom to the lowly, but He confounds the devices of the proud. His promises of teaching, leading and guiding are made to the meek, the simple and those who are little in their own eyes.

What to Pray For

1. What to pray for. A simple child-like temper, so that you may come to the Word as to the light and look beyond yourselves for the assistance of the Holy Spirit. Without Him your most laboured inquiries will only lead you further and further from the truth.

How to Examine Yourselves

1. How to examine yourselves. Not by your notions and attainments in knowledge, for these you may have in a considerable degree and yet be wholly destitute of true grace. The Word of God supposes it possible that people may have great gifts, flaming zeal and much success, yet they may have no true love to God and be in His sight no better than sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. But if you would know your state, examine it by your prevailing desires. Are your notions of grace effective to lead you in the path of duty? Do you hunger and thirst for an increase of holiness? Does the knowledge you have of Christ lead you to love and trust Him? Are you poor in spirit? You know nothing aright if you do not know yourselves.

You that are believers

1. You that are believers may see cause to praise the Lord for His dispensations towards you.

(1) If you were wise in men’s esteem, you might have continued fools to the end of your lives. If the Lord has taught you the secret of them that fear Him, if He has shown you the way of salvation, if He has directed your feet in the paths of His commandments, then you have the true wisdom which shall be your light through life, and in death your glory.

(2) Therefore do not be grieved that you are strangers to human wisdom and glory. These things, which others prize so highly, you may give up contentedly and say, Lord, it is enough if Thou art mine. Indeed you have good reason to praise His wisdom and goodness for preserving you from those temptations which have ensnared and endangered so many.

(3) Do you desire more of this true wisdom? Seek it in the way in which you have received the first beginnings. Be frequent and earnest in secret prayer. Study the Word of God, and study it not to reconcile it, to make it bend to your sentiments, but to draw all your sentiments from it, to copy it into your heart, and express it in your conduct. Be cautious of paying too much regard to persons and parties. One is your master, even Christ. Stand fast in the liberty with which He has made you free; and while you humbly endeavour to profit by all, do not resign your understanding to any but to Him who is the only wise God, the only effectual and infallible Teacher. Compare the experience of what passes within your own breast with the observations you make of what daily occurs around you, and bring all your remarks and experiences to the touchstone of God’s holy Word.

Thus you shall grow in knowledge and in grace and, amidst the various discouragements which may arise from remaining ignorance in yourselves or others, take comfort in reflecting on the fact that you are drawing near to the land of light, where there will be no darkness at all. Then you shall know as you are known; your love and your joy shall likewise be perfect; and you shall be satisfied with the rivers of pleasure which are before the throne of God, world without end.

¹The conclusion of a sermon on: “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Mt 11:25). It is taken, with editing, from Newton’s Works, vol 2.