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when he received them, he had never heard of Calvin's name."

As his faculties visibly and rapidly declined in his last years, a friend urged him to desist from speaking in public before he was absolutely compelled. He replied with unusual energy, "I cannot stop. What! shall the old African blasphemer stop while he can speak ?"

ing God. When sin provoked the Lord to leave his temple, it became the habitation of devils. I apprehend we are always under influence, either good or bad; perhaps both."

The epithet great is often given to the apostle Paul; but I question the propriety of it. He was not behind the chief, but Peter and John were great in the same sense, and were equally penmen of the holy scriptures.'

In his family, Mr. N. might be admired, more safely than imi.

Mr. Newton was a very candid and friendly critic, and was often applied to by young authors for his opinion and remarks; which he would give very can. tated. His excessive attachment didly, and sometimes under the to Mrs. N. is so fully displayed name of Nibblings. On one of in his Narrative, and confirmed these occasions, a practical essay in the two volumes he thought was put into his hand, which he it proper to publish, entitled, approved; but a letter was ap"Letters to a Wife," that the pended, addressed to an obscure reader will need no information and contemptible writer, who had on this subject. Some of his said very unwarrantable and ab. friends wished this violent atsurd things on the subject, and tachment had been cast more inwhom therefore the writer attack- to the shade, as tending to far. ed with little ceremony. The nish a spur where human nature following is a specimen of some generally needs a curb. He used, of Mr. Newton's Nibblings: indeed to speak of such attach"Were the affair mine, I would ments in the abstract, as idolatry; take no notice of Mr. : but, though his own was providenif I did, it should be with the tially ordered to be the main hope, at least with the desire, hinge on which his preservation of doing good, even to him. This and deliverance turned, while in would make me avoid every harsh his worst state. Good men, epithet. He is not likely to be however, cannot be too cautious benefitted by calling him a fool. how they give sanction by their The evangelists simply relate what expressions or example, to a is said and done, and use no bit-passion which, when not under terness nor severity, even when speaking of Herod, Pilate, or Ju. das. I wish their manner was more adopted in controversy." With this unusual degree of Speaking of the Fall, and of benevolence and affection, it was Adam being a federal head, he not extraordinary that the spirremarks, "I think agency should itual interests of his servants be taken into the account. I sup- were brought forward, and ex. pose, Adam was created without amined severally every Sunday spot or blemish, but still man ; afternoon; and that being treatthat he was the temple of the lived like children, they should grow

sober regulation, has overwhelmed not only families, but states, with disgrace and ruin.

old in his service. In short, Mr. N. could live no longer than he could love it is no wonder, therefore, if his nieces had more of his heart than is generally af. forded to their own children by the fondest parents. It has already been mentioned that his house was an asylum for the perplexed and afflicted. Young ministers were peculiarly the objects of his attention: be instructed them, he encouraged them, he warned them; and might truly be said to be a father in Christ, spending and being spent for the interest of his church. In order thus to execute the various avo. cations of the day, he used to rise early; he seldom was found abroad in the evening, and was exact in his appointments.

Of his writings, I think little need be said here. They are wide in circulation and best speak for themselves....The Sermons Mr. N. published at Liverpool, after being refused on his first application for orders, were in tended to shew what he would have preached, had he been admitted. They are highly credit. able to his understanding and to his heart. The facility with which he attained so much of the learned languages seems partly accounted for, from his being able to acquire so early, a neat and natural style in his own language, and that under such evident disadvantages. The Review of Ecclesiastical History, so far as it proceeded, has been much esteemed; and, if it had done no more than excite the Rev. J. Milner (as that most valuable and instructive author informs us it did) to pursue Mr. N.'s idea more largely, it was sufficient

success.'

It must be evident to any one who observes the spirit of all his sermons, hymns, tracts, &c. that nothing is aimed at, which should be met by critical investigation. In the preface to his hymns, he remarks, "Though I would not offend readers of taste by a wilfu! coarseness and negligence, I do not write professed. ly for them. I have simply declared my own views and feelings as I might have done, if I had composed hymns in some of the newly discovered islands in the South Sea, where no person had any knowledge of the name of Jesus but myself."

To dwell, therefore, with a critical eye, on this part of his public character, would be ab. surd and impertinent, and to erect a tribunal to which he seems not amenable. He appears to have paid no regard to a nice ear, or an accurate reviewer; but preferring a style at once neat and perspicuous, to have laid out himself entirely for the service of the church of God, and more especially for the tried and ex. perienced part of its members.

His chief excellence seemed to lie in the easy and natural style of his epistolary correspondence. His letters will be read while real religion exists; and they are the best draught of his own mind.

He had so largely communicated with his friends in this way, that I have heard him say, "He thought, if his letters were col. lected, they would make several folios." He selected many of these for publication, and expressed a hope.that no other person would take that liberty with the rest, which were so widely spread abroad. In this,

however, he was disappointed and grieved, as he once remarked to me, and for which reason, I do not annex any letters that I received from him. He esteemed that collection published under the title of Cardiphonia as the most useful of his writings, and mentioned various instances of the benefits which he heard they had conveyed to many.

His Apologia, or defence of conformity, was written on occasion of some reflections (perhaps only jocular) cast on him at that time. His Letters to a Wife, written during his three voyages to Africa, and published 1793, have been received with less satisfaction than most of his other writings. But his Messiah, his Letters to the Rev. Mr. Vantier, chaplain at the Cape, his Memoirs of the Rev. John Cowper (brother to the poet) and those of the Rev. Mr. Grim shaw of Yorkshire, together with his single sermons and tracts have been well received, and will remain a public benefit.

To speak of his writings in the mass, they certainly possess what many have aimed at, but very few attained, namely, originality. They are the language of the heart; they shew a deep experience of its religious feel ings, a continual anxiety to sym. pathize with man in his wants, and to direct him to his only

resources.

His conversation and familiar habits with his friends, were more peculiar, amusing, and instructive, than any I ever witnessed. It is difficult to convey a clear idea of them by description. I venture, therefore, to add a few pages of what I may call his table-talk, which I

took down, at different times, both in company and in private, from his lips.

A small portion only, of these familiar remarks are here annexed.

Mr. Newton was a great observer of Providence, even in little things. "It may seem of small consequence," said he, one day to a friend, "whether, in returning from hence, you go up Cateaton street, or down the Old Jewry; yet in going one way or the other, you may meet a person capable of serving you; and this circumstance may have an effect on all your future life."

He lamented the evils he saw around him; but he did not like to meddle where he saw he could do no good. "I," said he once, lifting up his fist, "I have tried to make crooked things straight, till I have made these knuckles sore; and now I must leave it to the Lord."

Speaking of the importance of motives, he would say, "if I wanted a man to fly, I must contrive to find him wings; and thus, if I would successfully enforce moral duties, I must advance evangelical motives."

I should have thought mowers very idle people; but they work while they whet their scythes. Now devotedness to God, whether it mows, or whets the scythe, still goes on with the work!

My course of study, like that of a surgeon, has principally consisted in walking the hospital.

My principal method of defeating heresy, is by establishing truth.-One proposes to fill a bushel with tares: now if I can fill it first with wheat, I shall defy his attempts.

A Christian in the world, is like a man who has a long intimacy with one who at length he finds out was the murderer of a kind father the intimacy, after this, will surely be broken.

Candor will always allow much for inexperience. I have been thirty years forming my own views; and in the course of this time, some of my hills have been sinking, and some of my vallies have risen: but how unreasonable would it be to expect all this should take place in an. other person, and that in the course of a year or two.

We are surprised at the fall of a famous professor; but in the sight of God, the man was gone before; it is only we that have now discovered it. He that despiseth small things, shall fall by little and little.

The devil told a lie when he said, All these things are mine, and to whomsoever I will, I give them; for if he had the disposal of preferments, since he knows the effect of them, you and I, brother C, should soon be dignitaries.

If an angel were sent to find the most perfect man, he would probably not find him composing a body of divinity; but perhaps a cripple in a poor-house, whom the parish wish dead; but humbled before God, with far lower thoughts of himself than others think of him.

If two angels came down from heaven to execute a divine command, and one was appointed to conduct an empire, and the other to sweep a street in it, they would feel no inclination to choose employments.

In divinity, as well as in the other professions, there are the

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I would not give a straw for that assurance which sin will not damp. If David had come from his adultery, and had talked of his assurance at that time, I should have despised his speech.

Lu.

There is the analogy of faith: it is a master-key, which not only opens particular doors, but carries you through the whole house; but an attachment to a rigid system is dangerous. ther once turned out the Epistle of St. James, because it disturb. ed his system. Dr. Owen will be ashamed of his wisdom and clear. ness five minutes after he has been in heaven. I shall preach, perhaps, very usefully upon two opposite texts, while kept apart; but if I attempt nicely to reconcile them, it is ten to one if I don't begin to bungle.

Contrivers of systems on the earth, are like contrivers of systems in the heavens; where the sun and moon keep the same course in spite of the philosophers.

When a man says he received a blessing under a sermon, I be gin to inquire who this man is who speaks of the help he has received. The Roman people proved the effect they received under a sermon of Antony, when they flew to avenge the death of Cæsar.

The Lord has reasons, far be yond our ken, for opening a wide door, while he stops the mouth of a useful preacher. John Bun, yan would not have done half the

good he did, if he had remained preaching in Bedford, instead of being shut up in Bedford prison. Doctor Taylor, of Norwich, said to me, Sir, I have collated every word in the Hebrew Scriptures seventeen times; and it is very strange if the doctrine of atonement you hold, should not have been found by me.' I am not surprised at this: I once went to light my candle with the extinguisher on it. Now, prejudices from education, learning, &c. of. ten forman extinguisher. It is not enough that you bring the candle; you must remove the extinguisher.

'Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' A man may live in a deep mine in Hungary, never having seen the light of the sun: he may have received accounts of prospects, and, by the help of a candle, may have examined a few engravings of them; but let him be brought out of the mine, and set on the mountain, what a dif. ference appears!

I have many books I cannot sit down to read; they are, indeed, good and sound; but, like halfpence, there goes a great quantity to a little amount. There are silver books, and a few golden books; but I have

one book worth more than them all, called the Bible; and that is a book of bank notes.

When some people talk of religion, they mean they have heard so many sermons, and performed so many devotions, and thus mistake the means for the end; but true religion is an habitual recollection of God, and intention to serve him; and this turns every thing to gold. We are apt to suppose that we need VOL. II. New Series.

something splendid to evince our devotion; but true religion equals things; washing plates and clean. ing shoes is a high office, if per. formed in a right spirit. If three angels were sent to earth, they would feel perfect indifference who should perform the part of prime minister, parish-minister, or watchman.

Ministers would overrate their labors, if they did not think it worth while to be born, and spend ten thousand years in labor and contempt, to recover one soul.

I feel like a man who has no money in his pocket, but is allowed to draw for all he wants upon one infinitely rich; I am, therefore, at once both a beggar and a rich man.

A COPY OF THE EXORDIUM OF MR. NEWTON'S WILL, DATED JUNE 13, 1803.

IN the name of God, Amen. I, John Newton, of Coleman street Buildings in the parish of St. Stephen, Coleman Street, in the city of London, Clerk, being through mercy in good health, and of sound and disposing mind, memory, and understanding, although in the seventy-eighth year of my age, do, for the settlement of my temporal concerns, and for the disposal of all the worldly estate which it has pleased the Lord in his good providence to give me, make this my last will and testament as follows: I commit my soul to my gracious God and Saviour, who mercifully spar. ed and prevented me, when I was an apostate, a blasphemer, and an infidel, and delivered me from that state of misery, on the coast of Africa, into which my obstinate wickedness had plunged me;

W

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