The Lord Will Provide | John Newton (Olney Hymns)

The church we have been attending for the past month or so is in the midst of a Bible Conference. The theme is "Grace Abounding," and both sermons today by Dr. Benton were a blessing. This evening's message was based upon John 16:33,

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (ESV)

The logic of Jesus' argument, Dr. Benton explained, is that:

A) If the world is the source of our trouble (i.e. accident, adversity, and anxiety), and
B) Jesus has already overcome the world, then
C) In Christ there are no such things as accidents, adversities, and anxieties.

God's providence is at work in all incidents ("In God's world there are no 'What if's'.").
Yes, we have an Adversary, but he can not destroy us.
We have no Gospel-reason for being anxious.

We closed with the following hymn found in Olney Hymns. It seemed to fit the theme of the message very well.

Hymn 7
John Newton
10,10,11,11
The LORD will provide.

Though troubles assail
And dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail
And foes all unite;
Yet one thing secures us,
Whatever betide,
The scripture assures us,
The Lord will provide.

The birds without barn
Or storehouse are fed,
From them let us learn
To trust for our bread:
His saints, what is fitting,
Shall ne’er he denied,
So long as ’tis written,
The Lord will provide.

We may, like the ships,
By tempest be tossed
On perilous deeps,
But cannot be lost.
Though Satan enrages
The wind and the tide,
The promise engages,
The Lord will provide.

His call we obey
Like Abram of old,
Not knowing our way,
But faith makes us bold;
For though we are strangers
We have a good Guide,
And trust in all dangers,
The Lord will provide.

When Satan appears
To stop up our path,
And fill us with fears,
We triumph by faith;
He cannot take from us,
Though oft he has tried,
This heart–cheering promise,
The Lord will provide.

He tells us we’re weak,
Our hope is in vain,
The good that we seek
We ne’er shall obtain,
But when such suggestions
Our spirits have plied,
This answers all questions,
The Lord will provide.

No strength of our own,
Or goodness we claim,
Yet since we have known
The Savior’s great name;
In this our strong tower
For safety we hide,
The Lord is our power,
The Lord will provide.

When life sinks apace
And death is in view,
This word of his grace
Shall comfort us through:
No fearing or doubting
With Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting,
The Lord will provide.

This hymn is coupled with William Cowper's Jehovah-Jireh, The LORD will provide (Hymn 6) based upon Genesis 22:14. This particular hymns concludes with the following two stanzas:

Blest proofs of pow’r and grace divine,

That meet us in his word!

May every deep–felt care of mine

Be trusted with the Lord.

Wait for his seasonable aid,

And though it tarry wait:

The promise may be long–delayed,

But cannot come too late.

The Lord Will Provide | John Newton (Olney Hymns)

How Welcome is the Day of Rest!

The Lord's Day
by John Newton

How welcome to the saints, when pressed
With six days noise, and care, and toil,
Is the returning day of rest,
Which hides them from the world awhile?

Now, from the throng withdrawn away,
They seem to breathe a different air;
Composed and softened by the day,
All things another aspect wear.

How happy if their lot is cast,
Where statedly the gospel sounds
The word is honey to their taste,
Renews their strength, and heals their wounds!

Though pinched with poverty at home,
With sharp afflictions daily fed;
It makes amends, if they can come
To GOD'S own house for heav'nly bread!

With joy they hasten to the place,
Where they their Savior oft have met;
And while they feast upon his grace,
Their burdens and their griefs forget.

This favored lot, my friends, is ours,
May we the privilege improve;
And find these consecrated hours,
Sweet earnests of the joys above!

We thank thee for thy day, O Lord,
Here we thy promised presence seek;
Open thine hand, with blessings stored,
And give us Manna for the week.

~from Olney Hymns, published this day in 1779

How Welcome is the Day of Rest!

Book Review--Letters of John Newton

Letters of John Newton. With Biographical Sketches and Notes by Josiah Bull. Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2007. 416 pp, Hardcover. $27.00.

Reviewed by Tim Ashcraft.

(Review copy courtesy of Banner of Truth.)

Purchase: BOT | WTS ($18.90) | CBD ($24.99)

ISBNs: 0851519512 / 9780851519517

Special Features: Biographical sketches of correspondents, occasional explanatory notes, outline description of letters in the table of contents.

Many fundamental and evangelical Christians are familiar with the name John Newton. Perhaps we have heard how God transformed the blasphemous slave trader into a shining servant of Jesus Christ. Or maybe we know him only as the author of “Amazing Grace.” In his own day Newton was known not only as a powerful preacher and a wonderful hymnist but also as a letter writer par excellence. People who could not visit him “sought his help by letter, and it was this that brought the best out of Newton” (p. xi). In fact, he appears to have viewed his letter writing as his main contribution to the church during the Eighteenth Century Revival (p. xi).

The subject of this review is a fresh edition of his letters, “not to be confused with the Letters of John Newton first published by the Trust in 1960 and reprinted several times since” (p. v). The older edition, a paperback, contains thirty-nine letters, a few of which are reprinted in this new edition. But “this much larger selection contains many more letters, including several that had not been previously published” (p. v). Newton’s letters appeared as individual books before his death in 1807, the most popular being Cardiphonia: or the Utterance of the Heart (1781), a rare volume today. Except for the small paperback, I am not aware of any recent editions of Newton’s letters other than the letters contained in the six-volume Works of John Newton. So I am happy to see this beautiful new hardback from Banner of Truth.

(Read the full review here.)

____________________
Banner of Truth has also published the following collections, of which readers should also be aware.

• Letters of Thomas Chalmers with Introduction by Iain H. Murray. (Banner of Truth, 2007), 576 pages/Hardcover.
• Letters of Samuel Rutherford. (Banner of Truth, 2006), 744 pages/Hardcover.

Book Review--Letters of John Newton

200th Anniversary of John Newton's Death

John Newton was born July 24, 1725 in London to a godly mother and an irreligious, sea-faring father. His mother died when he was six. Left mainly to himself, Newton became a debauched sailor—a miserable outcast on the coast of West Africa for two years; a slave-trading sea-captain until an epileptic seizure ended his career; a well-paid "surveyor of tides" in Liverpool; a loved pastor of two congregations in Olney and London for 43 years; a devoted husband to Mary for 40 years until she died in 1790; a personal friend to William Wilberforce, Charles Simeon, Henry Martyn, William Carey, John Wesley, George Whitefield; and, finally, the author of the most famous hymn in the English language, Amazing Grace.[1] He died on December 21, 1807 at the age of 82.

(John Piper, "John Newton: The Tough Roots of His Habitual Tenderness",
2001 Bethlehem Conference for Pastors)

For a bit on the life and ministry of John Newton I would like to refer you to Tim's article "A Wretch Like Me" posted on Newton's birthday.

(HT: Desiring God Blog, "Thank God for John Newton")

200th Anniversary of John Newton's Death

Battling Our Inner Traitor

Much is being said these days in the media concerning evangelical and even fundamental preachers falling into gross sin. The failures of these very public men seem to occur mostly in the areas of moral and financial accountability. Whenever such things happen, the godly and ungodly are both shocked. How can trusted Christian leaders do such things? While the due process of law runs its course and the media have a heyday, Christians wrestle with this question of how.

Yes, Satan attacks Christian leaders in his attempt to hinder the gospel, and he is pictured in the Bible as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). And we shouldn’t be dismissive of the scriptural warning. But sometimes I think we tend to assign all the blame to him, implying that we are mere victims and, therefore, not completely responsible for our actions.

The same passage that warns of Satan’s threat also instruct pastors to “shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2-3 NASB). Peter sees the threat of personal ambition as well as the threat of Satan’s attack. It is this inner traitor that tends to be granted immunity when he needs to be dealt with mercilessly. Paul refers to this traitor as “the flesh” (see Galatians 5:16-26).

John Newton recognized this traitor within and wrote to a fellow minister asking for prayer in his struggle with the flesh. Newton had a vivid way of describing this struggle with himself:

I have a troublesome inmate, a lodger, who assumes as if the house were his own, and is a perpetual incumbrance, and spoils all. He has long been noted for his evil ways; but though generally known, is not easily avoided…. Time was when I thought I would shut the door, to keep him out of my house, but my precaution came too late; he was already within; and to turn him out by head and shoulders is beyond my power; nay, I cannot interdict him from any one single apartment…. We often meet and jostle and snarl at each other; but sometimes (would you believe it?) I lose all my suspicion, and am disposed to treat him as an intimate friend. This inconsistency of mine I believe greatly encourages him, for I verily believe he would be ashamed and afraid to be seen by me, if I always kept him at a proper distance. However, we both lay such a strong claim to the same dwelling, that I believe the only way of settling the dispute will be (which the Landlord himself has spoken of) to pull down the house over our heads. There seems something disagreeable in this mode of proceeding; but from what I have read in an old book, I form a hope that when things come to this crisis, I shall escape, and my enemy will be crushed in the ruins. (Letters of John Newton. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2007, pp. 307-308)

While we keep watch around us for our adversary the devil, we should be just as diligent to look within and keep our guard up against this inner usurper and struggle with him until the Lord takes him down in ruin and sets us free in perpetual righteousness.

Battling Our Inner Traitor

What Grows Disciples?

There is an interesting article over at the Christianity Today blog. It concerns a multi-year study done by influential mega-church Willow Creek to determine the value of its program-driven philosophy of ministry to grow professing Christians into mature disciples of Christ. According to Willow Creek pastor Bill Hybels,

Some of the stuff that we have put millions of dollars into thinking it would really help our people grow and develop spiritually, when the data actually came back it wasn’t helping people that much. Other things that we didn’t put that much money into and didn’t put much staff against is stuff our people are crying out for.

What Hybels concluded is,

We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and become Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become ‘self feeders.’ We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their bible between service, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own.

While one wonders if this will bring about any serious shift in the philosophy of Willow Creek, it is encouraging, though not surprising, to find professing believers eventually “crying out” for something for which they sense a real need. So how has this “felt need” been met in the past? Anglican minister John Newton, counseling a young Christian on patiently persevering in spiritual growth, has this to say:

In a sense, we are often hindering him by our impatience and unbelief; but strictly speaking, when He really begins the good work, and gives us a desire which will be satisfied with nothing short of himself, He will not be hindered from carrying it on: for He has said, I will work, and none shall let it…. It is our part to be abased before him, and quietly to hope and wait for his salvation in the use of his appointed means. The power, success, and blessing, are wholly from himself…. Men indeed often plan what, for want of skill or ability, or from unforeseen disappointments, they are unable to execute. But nothing can disappoint the heavenly Builder; nor will He ever be reproached with forsaking the work of his own hands, or beginning that which He could not or would not accomplish. Phil. 1:6. (Letters of John Newton, pp. 217-219, The Banner of Truth Trust, 2007, original emphasis)

Spiritual growth is the special work of the Lord. However, as Newton points out, we should be using the divinely appointed means of Bible reading, prayer, worship, service, etc. to strive toward maturity and, at the same time, be trusting the Lord to provide in due time what He has promised. Growth is gradual, and, eventually, we will begin to notice lasting changes in us that can be ascribed only to the quiet, inner working of the Lord. Believers need to be taught this, and the programs should be developed as the need arises to help Christians in the use of these time-tested means.

I’d like to commend to you the Letters of John Newton for rich scriptural counseling. Whether you are in the position of needing good counsel or the position of providing counsel to others, Newton will help you. He always points the reader to the Scriptures and has a well-rounded view of scriptural teaching.

Thanks to Justin Taylor for the tip about the Christianity Today article.

What other solid works on Christian growth would you recommend?

What Grows Disciples?

“A Wretch Like Me”—John Newton (July 24, 1725-Dec. 20, 1807)

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

The author of these well-known words was born 282 years ago today. This year is significant as it also marks the 200^th anniversary of Newton’s death (Dec. 20; Dec. 21 according to Wikipedia).

John Newton was born in London, England to a shipmaster and a devout Christian mother, who brought him up in the nonconformist tradition. Newton’s mother, Elizabeth, died when John was 6 or 7 years old, after which he went to boarding school for two years. Having learned the basics of Latin, John then joined his father for several sea voyages before being pressed into service in the British Navy. Attempting to desert, John was captured and reduced in rank to a common seaman. At his request he was transferred to a slave ship going to Africa. There he actually became a slave to a woman who treated him harshly until he was rescued by a sea captain who was a friend of his father’s.

Newton learned the ways of the godless while at sea. Apparently forsaking the training of his youth, he outdid many of his contemporaries in blasphemy and other forms of sin. Returning to England from Africa, his ship encountered a violent storm, which damaged the ship and threatened their lives. This was when John Newton began to think about God and prayed for mercy. Back in England John began to read the Bible and Christian literature; he also avoided sins he was previously known for but still participated in the slave trade for a few more years. While commanding a slave ship in West Africa, sick with a fever and realizing his spiritual deficiencies, John Newton finally cast himself on the mercy of God and put his trust in Jesus Christ. The one who was lost was now found.

John left seafaring and the slave trade and took work at the port of Liverpool, studying Hebrew and Greek in his spare time. He also enjoyed fellowship with John Wesley and George Whitefield and became a lay preacher himself. He applied to the ministry of the Church of England and was accepted several years later. Newton ministered in Olney for several years before going to St. Mary Woolnoth Church in London. As a pastor and author Newton became very popular, his churches growing under his leadership. His friendship with poet William Cowper no doubt inspired Newton’s own literary gifts, and he became a noted hymnist as well. Many of Newton’s books continue to be reprinted today, along with his collected Works.

In his later ministry Newton’s influence on William Wilberforce helped to end the slave trade. God had been working in the younger man’s heart, and it was through Newton’s ministry that Wilberforce was brought to full faith in Christ. Wilberforce, a Member of Parliament, fought long and fierce opposition to end a godless practice. Newton, the former slave-trader, joined the campaign and fought on Christian principles to end the trade. Newton lived to see the victory on Feb. 23, 1807.

John Newton is best known today as the author of “Amazing Grace;” however, many of his books continue to keep his memory alive. Books of note include Out of the Depths, his autobiography. He is also famous in Christian circles for his Letters and Cardiphonia: or the Utterance of the Heart. Newton collaborated with William Cowper on a hymnal called Olney Hymns, which is available as a download and as a book from the Cowper and Newton Museum in Olney. I recommend visiting the museum website. It has much to offer.

John Newton’s legacy shows that anyone who comes to God through faith in His Son will find full pardon and redemption. Newton stands as an example along with the Apostle Paul:

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:12-17 NASB)

“A Wretch Like Me”—John Newton (July 24, 1725-Dec. 20, 1807)

Wise Counsel on Reading from John Newton

I was just reading some of the latest issue of FrontLine Magazine (July/August 2006, Vol. 16, No. 4) and I came upon the following quotes in an article written by Mark Minnick. The title of the article is Would You Like Some Wise Counsel?

His article is a "potpourri of excerpts from [John Newton's] letters to preachers." Amongst many excellent topics is that of Reading. Here is some of Newton's advise:

January 11, 1769. Next to the word of God, I like those books best which give an account of the lives and experiences of his people.... Some of the letters and lives in Fox's Acts and Monuments, in the third volume, have been very useful to me. But no book of this kind has been more welcome to me than the Life of Mr. Brainerd, of New England, re-published a few years since at Edinburgh, and I believe sold by Dilly, in London.... I suppose you have read Augustine's Confessions. In that book I think there is a lively description of the workings of the heart, and of the Lord's methods in drawing him to himself. It has given me satisfaction to meet with experiences very much like my own, in a book written so long ago. But nature and grace have been the same in every age (VI, 211-12).

1784. I know no author who is worthy the honour of being followed absolutely and without reserve (V, 86).

I love this last quote. I'm going to add it to the blog header. Great advise! Thank you brother Newton.

Banner of Truth has published six volumes of his collected works.

The works of the Rev. John Newton,: Containing, an authentic narrative, etc., letters on religious subjects, cardiphonia, discourses intended for the pulpit, ... Messiah, occasional sermons, and tracts,

Wise Counsel on Reading from John Newton