Tony Baker
Tony Baker
(1938-2023)
We are very sad to announce the death of one of our founder trustees, Tony Baker. Tony's encouragement to publish and circulate previously unpublished material by John Newton led to the formation of the JNP. His advice and prayerful encouragement has been invaluable to us and to me personally over many years.
 

Well done thou good and faithful servant...
enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

Matthew 25:21
 
For Tony himself, to be Home with Christ is 'far better'
(Philippians 1:23)
As Newton expressed in his New Year's hymn for 1 January 1776,
for those who know Christ's forgiveness and grace:
But the happiest year they know
Is their last, which leads them home.
 
Tony's funeral will be on Monday 29 January at 1.30pm, Holy Trinity Eastbourne
 
James Dudley-Smith, a former curate to Tony Baker, writes in Evangelicals Now:
'Tony was an evangelical statesman in the Church of England, a lifelong preacher and lecturer, pastor and servant of Christ.'
click to read the full article courtesy of EN.
 

JNP Trustees'

Meeting

January 2023



L to R:

Back row
Ben Virgo, Ed Veale, Martin Hines, Marylynn Rouse

Front row
Mike Swales, Tony Baker
JNP Trustees 2023#2
 
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
1 Thessalonians 4:13,14
 
Tony's favourite Newton hymn, based on Proverbs 18:24
A friend that sticketh closer than a brother
One there is, above all others,
Well deserves the name of friend;
His is love beyond a brother's,
Costly, free, and knows no end:
They who once his kindness prove,
Find it everlasting love!
 
Which of all our friends to save us,
Could or would have shed their blood?
But our Jesus died to have us
Reconciled, in him to God:
This was boundless love indeed!
Jesus is a friend in need.
Men, when raised to lofty stations,
Often know their friends no more;
Slight and scorn their poor relations
Though they valued them before.
But our Saviour always owns
Those whom he redeemed with groans.
 
When he lived on earth abased,
Friend of sinners was his name;
Now, above all glory raised,
He rejoices in the same:
Still he calls them brethren, friends,
And to all their wants attends.
Could we bear from one another,
What he daily bears from us?
Yet this glorious Friend and Brother,
Loves us though we treat him thus:
Though for good we render ill,
He accounts us brethren still.
 
O for grace our hearts to soften!
Teach us, Lord, at length to love;
We, alas! forget too often,
What a Friend we have above:
But when home our souls are brought,
We will love thee as we ought.
 
Olney Hymns, Book 1, Hymn 53
 

former JNP Chairman,

John Langlois OBE,

interviews trustee

Tony Baker

about

Ministry on my mind

 
 
Tony's last sermon, preached at Holy Trinity Eastbourne on the 60th anniversary of his ordination, was from Matthew 24:3-14
But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Listen here

text here
keep enduring keep anticipating keep rejoicing video here
Matthew 24:3-14 (ESV)
As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
 

A new publication from The John Newton Project !

 

A new publication from The John Newton Project !

 
  Rhys
Rhys Bezzant

Here we meet no detached preacher elevated above his congregation … His glorious ministry of mentoring is in evidence here once again.
1767 Diary Brian
Brian Edwards

More than any biography of Newton, these diaries reveal the inner struggles of the great pastor and preacher of the gospel.
 
    MS 2941 f62v-63 and thus#1    

available from our website shop here

Australian Presbyterian ARTICLE LINKS Anglian Church League
 
 

NEW!


Previously unpublished letters

to Thomas & Sophia Ring

of Reading


Thomas and Sophia

ThosRing sig                 Sophia sig

Available now:

Newly transcribed sermons

preached by Newton in 1767


Sunday morning 7 June 1767
John 16:14

Sunday afternoon 6 June 1767
Ezekiel 16:63

Thursday evening 25 June 1767
John 1:48

Sunday afternoon 9 August 1767
Matthew 11:6

Sunday afternoon 16 August 1767
Proverbs 29:25

Sunday morning 30 August 1767
Job 34:29

Sunday afternoon 30 August 1767
Matthew 5:5
 
 
365 (331 x 452) 4th

2023


4th edition !



365 days

with Newton



available from

Day One

...consistently biblical (to share the Word of God), spiritual (to promote walking with God),
simple (to make biblical truth and principles plain), and practical (to inculcate personal
holiness and sound relationships in church and society).
Alec Motyer

...no reader who will approach the book with a receptive heart
will not be drawn closer to God by the warmth of John Newton’s practical
Christian counsel and pastoral exposition
Timothy Dudley-Smith
 
'The Most Reverend the Primate and Patriarch of the Southern Hemisphere'
Richard Johnson 2

John Newton's Letters

to Richard Johnson

RJ Messiah
  

1 January 2023
250 years since Amazing Grace sermon & hymn on 1 January 1773

Timescredo
reproduced with the kind permission of The Times pdf   or    The Times

New Year's Morning 1773


AG 250th

NewYear

1773 Jan 1 preached

I preached this forenoon from 1 Chronicles 17:16,17
And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God, for thou hast also spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come,
and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God.
   

The hymn Amazing Grace
is an exposition and application
of 1 Chronicles 17.

a few examples...
v 1 Chronicles 17 Amazing Grace hymn
v8 'I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you' Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come.
v10 'And I will subdue all your enemies.' He will my shield and portion be
v26 ...you have promised this good thing to your servant The Lord has promised good to me

More examples to download here.           Related links here and here and here.
AGvimeo
(compiled for 240th anniversary)
Click on the video for a summary of how the hymn matches the Bible passage.
 
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 Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Amazing Grace

as written by

John Newton

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear,      
The hour I first believed!
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
OH AG1
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;                                  
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

Faith's review
and expectation


1 Chronicles 17:16,17
 
   

download
A5 leaflets 
here


(hymn & explanation)
A51 A52
 

Much more about Amazing Grace under this group heading here

   
Xmas card 2022
see Newton's sermon on this text from his Messiah Series Isaiah 7:14
  

Christmas morning 1767

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father),
full of grace and truth.

John 1:14
John 1v14#

  Have you seen this glory?

 

Nothing else is worth a thought!

see Newton's Christmas Day sermon on this text

   

Christmas evening 1767

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse,
which shall stand for an ensign of the people;
to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

Isaiah 11:10

Isaiah 11v1

The rest which he affords his people
is a glorious rest.

  see Newton's Christmas Day sermon on this text
 

Well done, thou good and faithful servant… enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Matthew 25:21

O that crown #pa-63053016 1 HM  

On the death of a believer

   
In vain my fancy strives to paint
The moment after death;
The glories that surround the saint,
When yielding up its breath.
On harps of gold they praise his name,
His face they always view;
Then let us followers be of them,
That we may praise him too.
One gentle sigh their fetters breaks,
We scarce can say, ‘They’re gone!’
Before the willing spirit takes
Her mansion near the throne.
Their faith and patience, love and zeal,
Should make their memory dear;
And, Lord, do thou the prayers fulfil,
They offered for us here!
Faith strives, but all its efforts fail,
To trace her in her flight;
No eye can pierce within the veil
Which hides that world of light.
While they have gained, we losers are,
We miss them day by day;
But thou canst every breach repair,
And wipe our tears away.
see Jesus   Thus much (and this is all) we know,
They are completely blest;
Have done with sin, and care, and woe,
And with their Saviour rest.
We pray, as in Elisha’s case,
When great Elijah went,
May double portions of thy grace,
To us who stay, be sent.
  John Newton
Olney Hymns, Book 2, Hymn 72
from John Newton's sermon on Amazing Grace  
   

'O that crown, that kingdom, that eternal weight of glory!

We are travelling home to God.

We shall soon see Jesus...'

 
 

Amazing Grace: A5 flyer with background info

 
A5 leaflet AG Page1# A5 leaflet AG Page2#
 
Download a pdf of the flyer from here  
Download more detailed background to the source of the words here  
  
pa-63053016 1 HM2
The Service of Thanksgiving
to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen
concludes with John Newton’s hymn
Glorious things of thee are spoken
Zion, city of our God
200 v1 Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God!
He, whose word cannot be broken,
Formed thee for his own abode:
On the rock of ages founded,
What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
Thou may'st smile at all thy foes.
 
Olney river#   See! the streams of living waters
  Springing from eternal love;
  Well supply thy sons and daughters,
  And all fear of want remove:
  Who can faint while such a river
  Ever flows their thirst to assuage?

  Zion v2 grace

  Grace, which like the Lord, the Giver,
  Never fails from age to age.
see the full hymn here
 

Jesus my all

Why should I fear the darkest hour,
Or tremble at the tempter's power?
Jesus vouchsafes to be my tower.
 
Though hot the fight; why quit the field?
Why must I either flee or yield,
Since Jesus is my mighty shield?
 
When creature comforts fade and die,
Worldlings may weep; but why should I?
Jesus still lives, and still is nigh.
 
Though all the flocks and herds were dead,
My soul a famine need not dread,
For Jesus is my living bread.
I know not what may soon betide,
Or how my wants shall be supplied;
But Jesus knows, and will provide.
 
Though sin would fill me with distress,
The throne of grace I dare address;
For Jesus is my righteousness.
 
Though faint my prayers, and cold my love,
My steadfast hope shall not remove,
While Jesus intercedes above.
 
Against me earth and hell combine;
But on my side is power divine;
Jesus is all, and He is mine.
John Newton
Olney Hymns, Book 3, Hymn 46
  
SNL mkr Olney 1773

the source of the words to Amazing Grace
preached forenoonAmazing Grace on Sunday Night Live  video
link
arrow up arrow down2 radio
link
both programmes will stay online a few weeks
Pam Rhodes

Glorious things of thee
are spoken


Sunday 16th between 9am and 10am

Hearts & Hymns

timecode 1:09:28
the source of the words to Glorious things of thee
are spoken


Link here to the hymn
on JNP website
   
AGv1

The words for Amazing Grace come from 1 Chronicles 17

  1 Chronicles 17 Amazing Grace hymn
v7 Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep... Amazing grace…
that saved a wretch like me.
v8 and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come.
v9 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more... Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
v10 And I will subdue all your enemies He will my shield and portion be
v16 Who am I, O Lord God...? That saved a wretch like me!
v16 ...that you have brought me thus far? 'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far
v17 You have also spoken ... for a great while to come As long as life endures
v23 And now, O Lord, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant ... be established forever, and do as you have spoken His word my hope secures
v26 ...you have promised this good thing to your servant The Lord has promised good to me
verses
12, 14, 22, 23, 24, 27
 (the words occurs eight times!)
... for ever
Will be forever mine
   

Available now!

 

John Newton's

previously

unpublished

diary:


1766

9780955963537 1766diary
 
 review of Newton's 1766 diary  Commendations:  
 
SimonVibert

Simon Vibert

'the

prime

pastoral

call'

'There is richness in reading his daily personal analysis, and a challenge to apply the medicine of God's word to our own life and walk.

And, for me, reading his diary provides a day by day reminder of the prime pastoral call.'

RichardCoombs

Richard Coombs

'the heart

of

pastoral

ministry'

'Above all, one discovers the heart of pastoral ministry –

continual self-examination of having a soft, responsive heart to indwelling personal sin; continual prayers for the people of his congregation; and an ecumenical spirit of encouragement toward pastors of surrounding churches.'
   
 
 

Newton's prayer

for New Year's Eve 1766:


JN signature

 
‘I want more liberty at a throne of grace, more knowledge of the Scripture,
more zeal for God, more love to souls.

I want larger measures of humility, thankfulness, spirituality and faith.

I want wisdom, courage, patience, tenderness in my work,
and I want to see my poor labours
attended with a more abundant and extensive blessing.

I want a single eye and a simple heart,
to follow, trust and obey the Lord, like a little child.’
 
 
   

PLUS...
 

a review by Peter Barnes

 

of Newton's diary for 1765:
 

See the Australian Presbyterian here.

9780955963520 diary
 
 
 
 ‘In the evening preached the Anniversary sermon to the young people from Numbers 10:29'

And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law,
We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you:
come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.
journey
Num 10v29

Numbers 10:29

For New Year’s Evening

1766

'Come thou with us'
and read Newton's sermon here.
Num 10v29 come
 

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds

Cant 1 3 very sound blueCant 1 3 sweeter than music bl
View a background to the hymn on Hymn of the Day July 2021 at the Hymn Society of Great Britain & Ireland here.
View the full sermon John Newton preached on Sunday morning 3 March 1765, which this hymn expounds, here.
 

Hot off the Press !

John Newton's Diary for 1765 is now available from our shop

Johnny Juckes
Oak Hill January 2021
9780955963520 diary Simon Manchester
Formerly Minister St Thomas North Sydney
'It is a privilege of the highest order to read Newton’s account of 1765, with such superb footnotes. There is so much spiritual treasure here, so much to learn from a senior saint sharing his heart, his awareness of his sin, recording his pattern of life and ministry, his preaching and writing, his children’s ministry, his travelling, his horizons, his extensive correspondence and his friendships with fellow ministers, as well as his sorrows and suffering as small pox and early death took many of his friends and his flock, and through it all his daily delight in the grace of God.' 'Here is John Newton, in his fortieth year of life and his second year in ministry,  setting out the struggles in his heart and the mercies of God - with rare ability. Who else thinks to liken himself to Gideon's dry fleece, admits that little things often send his imagination wild or recognises that preaching cures him of many of his own complaints? He groans "under the weight of indwelling sin" and "rejoices to know that Jesus is my righteousness". He recognises his "faint...affections" and yet is "favoured with liberty" in his ministry. How much we can identify with this and be thankful it's put so well. Can I suggest that an hour with this 1765 diary will vastly outweigh any hour with your television ? Can I thank Marylynn Rouse profoundly for setting out  the text, the pictures and the wonderful footnotes? And can we thank the Lord enough for His grace to us and through us - as Newton puts it  so freshly and honestly?'
You can also purchase Newton's diary for 1764 from our shop here.
 

coming on

1 January 2021


on its 248th anniversary
 

Background to

Amazing Grace

at the Hymn Society of Great Britain & Ireland

 
Hymn of the Day - Advent to Ep
Resources for Amazing Grace are also available here.
 
Xmas 2020

Happy Christmas!

Newton quotes are from his sermon on

Isaiah 9:2 in the Messiah series here.

Newton's Christmas Day

sermons for 1765:

morning:  

  
Isaiah 45:8

Do you look upon Christmas as an extraordinary day?

If you know Jesus and his righteousness, you know how to keep Christmas all the year round.
evening: 1 John 4:9,10

What is the subject you love to talk of, when you are most free and in best spirits?

 
 

John Newton's Christmas Day sermons 1765

Christmas Morning Christmas Evening
Isaiah 45:8
Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it.
1 John 4:9,10
 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Isaiah 45v8  Zion 1 John 4 astonishing
the sum of his message is:
Say unto Zion: Thy God cometh
astonishing—
God spared not his own Son but sent him into the world
in the form of a servant
   

New Sermon Series

John 3 Discourses

12 previously unpublished sermons by John Newton from John 3:1-21


including John 3:16
 
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.

 
John 3 16 wonderful love#
'We live in the midst of wonders. Everything which our eyes can view in earth or sea or sky – from the grass in the field to the glorious sun in the firmament – proclaim to an attentive observer a wonder-working God.

'But there is a wonder beyond all that appears in the visible creation or in common providence – to this my text at present directs our meditations – the wonderful Love of GodGod so loved so beyond expression, so beyond description, that he gave his Son... etc.

'May this amazing instance of the love of God, be so impressed upon our hearts by his Holy Spirit,
as to enkindle in us a flame of love to him who has thus loved us.'
 

New Sermon Series

Transfig start

On the

Transfiguration

a series of 13 sermons

 
 
Packer sepia cropped We join with many in paying tribute to and giving thanks for the enormously influential life of Dr JI Packer who went home to be with the Lord on 17 July 2020, aged 93.

You can read many tributes at acl.asn.au.
Dr JI Packer  
Packer's commendation as a Member of the Board of Reference of the JNP:

'Whitefield was flamboyant, Wesley was masterful, Newton was unobtrusive. Yet Newton was indubitably one of the three greatest eighteenth-century evangelical leaders. As a warm-hearted pastoral counsellor, in groups and by letter, he had no peer; as a producer of plain hymns for plain people he was one of the greatest; and the wisdom of his preaching, for all its old-fashioned fulsomeness, is stellar and searching. The commitment of The John Newton Project to giving us his Complete Works is cause for joy.'
 
 
Cant 1v3 knew nothing fear bs Cant 1v3 knew nothing till bw
I knew nothing about the fear of God... till I began to know a little of Christ
Swilly 8 April

John Newton took his first steps ashore as a believer on 8 April 1748.

 
Here is a taste of what he felt that day, taken from his sermon , as in 365 days with Newton:
sermon on on the Song of Solomon 1:3 on website here or in extract from 365 days with Newton here:
365 (331 x 452) 365 days 8 April
 
9780955963513 diary

John Newton's

Diary:

1764

 

First publication

for over 250 years !!

   
 
DSCN7593

Sunday 26 February 1764

This afternoon I received a letter from Mr Haweis, informing me that in consequence of my last
he had prevailed on
Lord Dartmouth to give me the presentation of
Olney in Buckinghamshire.
 
20190516 163313

 
 

John Newton's Diary now available to buy from our shop

download A4 poster        download A5 flyer
£5 plus p&p
 

1780 Jan 1

1780 Jan 1 O lead

Xmas Day 2019

Christmas Day at Olney 2019


'O lead me and guide me for thy Name sake.

Hitherto thou hast helped, accept my praise for the past, prepare me for the future,
and be my Lord,
my Shepherd,
my Counsellor,
my Comforter.'

1 January 1780

John Newton's Diary

 
 
 

Christmas at Olney

1767

vicaragedoorsnow John Newton's Christmas Day

sermon notes on

John 1:14
&
Isaiah 11:10
 
John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father),
full of grace and truth.
John 1v14#

Have you seen this glory?

Nothing else is worth a thought!

 
 
 
fivebell

The Cuningham Family


of Five Bell Lane
Rochester

and

Pittarthie Castle
Anstruther
Pittarthie Castle
Newton's brother-in-law and sister-in-law
and his nephew and two nieces
Links to James, Elizabeth, John, Susie and Eliza Cuningham
 
wheattares

Hints for explaining
the Parable of the Tares,
to show the truth of Scripture
from the accomplishment
in experience and observation


   
 

New Hymns:

 
Olney Hymns Book 3

35 ms hymns
mostly dated
with diary entries alongside
OH3 "The Hymns are distributed into three Books...

The third Book is miscellaneous, comprising a variety of subjects relative to a life of faith in the Son of God, which have no express reference either to a single text of Scripture, or to any determinate season or incident. These are farther subdivided into distinct heads."
183 v1 Met the children. The 32nd chapter of Genesis came in course [v24: And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day], and I expounded more largely than usual for the sake of my guests.

We had I think a pleasant time at the Great House.
I spoke a Hymn No. 5 Vol. 2, On Faith's arguments against fear and complaint.
 

   

 

New Sermons:

   
Individual:   Deuteronomy 33:29 1 Thessalonians 5:25
Series:   2 Samuel 23:5 (3 sermons) Hebrews 13:20,21 (4 sermons)
 

 

 

Newton

on

Pilgrim's

Progress:

Bunyan
,,, the Lord, the great, the effectual, the only effectual teacher, made [Bunyan],
in an eminent degree, an able and successful minister of the New Testament.

It is probable that only the people to whom he personally preached
would have been benefited by his zeal and experience,
had not the Lord permitted the rage of his enemies to prevail against him
for a season.
Diary:    Tuesday 1 December 1772
At the Great house began the Pilgrims Progress again, which I formerly went through in about two and a half years…
Diary:    Saturday 29 July 1775
At Mr Thornton’s request drew up a short preface for his New Edition of the first part of the Pilgrim’s Progress with notes chiefly by Mr King.
 

 

 

Richard Johnson


aka
 

‘The Most Reverend

the Primate

and Patriarch

of the Southern

Hemisphere’

 
(as addressed by John Newton)
RichardJohnson
missionary spirit

new files:

 

Johnson explaining

his call to be

a missionary

here

 

Letters from Newton

to Johnson

(et al)

here

 
  previous file on Johnson here (in Who's Who)

(more soon in that one - hopefully!)
 
 
     

Monday 21 January 2019 from 04:40 to 05:43 GMT

Last chance to see a total lunar eclipse until 2029 !!

 

'Tonight I attended an eclipse of the moon.' 

eclipse moon cred eclipse
'I thought, my Lord, of Thine eclipse. 

The horrible darkness which overwhelmed Thy mind
when Thou saidst, ’Why hast Thou forsaken Me?’ 

Ah, sin was the cause – my sin.'
I endeavoured to draw some meditations from it, which gave rise to a hymn:
 
The moon in silver glory shone,
And not a cloud in sight;
When suddenly a shade begun
To intercept her light.
251 v1 How fast across her orb it spread,
How fast her light withdrew!
A circle, tinged with languid red,
Was all appeared in view.
While many with unmeaning eye
Gaze on thy works in vain;
Assist me, Lord, that I may try
Instruction to obtain.
 
Fain would my thankful heart and lips
Unite in praise to thee;
And meditate on thy eclipse,
In sad Gethsemane.
Thy people's guilt, a heavy load!
(When standing in their room)
Deprived thee of the light of God,
And filled thy soul with gloom.
 
How punctually eclipses move,
Obedient to thy will!
Thus shall thy faithfulness and love,
Thy promises fulfill
Dark, like the moon without the sun,
I mourn thine absence, Lord!
For light or comfort have I none,
But what thy beams afford.
 
But lo! the hour draws near apace,
When changes shall be o'er;
Then shall I see thee face to face,
And be eclipsed no more.
'Yes, there is a better world, where our sun shall no more go down,
neither the moon withdraw its shining – Or rather both moon and sun shall be needless,
for the Lord himself shall be the Everlasting Unclouded light of his people.'
JN signature
   
catechism 18 price


'He is Lord of all (Acts 10:36).

To put our whole trust in him, to seek all our help from him,

to aim entirely at his glory,

and to yield him unfeigned and universal obedience –

This is indeed to believe in him.'


 

John Newton's Lectures
on the Apostle's Creed

Catechism
'The substance of this Creed is the peculiar property of a Christian – it expresses not the things in which they differ, but in which they all agree.'

'It is not the repeating this Creed by rote like a parrot that will prove any to be a Christian unless there is likewise the true knowledge and experience in the heart.'
'If you believe in him, you trust not in yourselves, you love not your sins, you are breathing after holiness,
you walk in some measure as he walked.
The Lord make us all partakers of this precious faith.'
click here to view these Lectures
 

the great design of his coming into the world...

Christmas Evening 1769

Xmas 2018 4
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Luke 19:10
 
We have here an occasion which has been often made successful – curiosity. 

Zacchaeus did not press through the multitude to Jesus; he only wanted to see him from the top of a tree as he passed by. 

But behold Jesus, whom he thought a stranger, looked up and called him by his name –
 
divine power accompanied the word,
grace reached his heart,
and that day salvation came to his house. 
 
O that it may be so with some present.

...to seek and to save that which was lost

click here for the full sermon

   

    Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God!

Easter 1775001 Easter Sunday    Easter 1775001 hymn200
Newton's hymn written for

Easter Day 1775


based on:
Isaiah 33:20,21;
Psalm 87:3; Psalm 132:14;
Matthew 16:16; Isaiah 26:1;
Psalm 46:4; Isaiah 4:5,6;
Revelation 1:6

Olney Hymns, Book 1, Hymn 60
200 v1

The City of God


Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion , city of our God!

He, whose word cannot be broken,
Formed thee for his own abode:
On the rock of ages founded,
What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded
Thou may'st smile at all thy foes.
See! the streams of living waters
Springing from eternal love;
Well supply thy sons and daughters,
And all fear of want remove:
Who can faint while such a river
Ever flows their thirst to assuage?
Grace, which like the Lord, the giver,
Never fails from age to age.

Round each habitation hovering,
See the cloud and fire appear!
For a glory and a covering,
Showing that the Lord is near:
Thus deriving from their banner
Light by night, and shade by day;
Safe they feed upon the manna
Which he gives them when they pray.
To view the whole hymn
in Newton's hand
see here (and next page)

ZionJ
Blest inhabitants of Zion,
Washed in the Redeemer's blood!
Jesus, whom their souls rely on,
Makes them kings and priests to God:
'Tis his love his people raises
Over self to reign as kings,
And as priests, his solemn praises
Each for a thank-offering brings.

Saviour, if of Zion's city
I through grace a member am;
Let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in thy name:
Fading is the worldling's pleasure,
All his boasted pomp and show;
Solid joys and lasting treasure,
None but Zion's children know.
click here to view diary entries for when this hymn was written
 
Jonathan Aitken, on our Board of Reference, was recently ordained to be a prison chaplain.
Aitken
In the video below Jonathan discusses John Newton's own thoughts
on contemplating ordination.
John Newton's 'Miscellaneous thoughts' on ordination, Ministry on my mind, can be purchased from our shop here
or read online here.
 

Amazing Grace sung in its original context !

John Newton took inspiration for the words for his hymn Amazing Grace directly from 1 Chronicles 17
Gafcon crowdsteps
A crowd like this had just processed through the gates of Jerusalem with the Ark of the Covenant

King David wanted to build a Temple to house it

The Lord told him He would build David a house instead -

pointing to the Messiah:

Jesus Christ, the son of David

 


Photo: GAFCON
   
On 1 January 1773 Newton urged his congregation to imitate David's thankfulness as they reviewed their past year and considered their future expectations:
   
  1 Chronicles 17 Amazing Grace
v7 ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep...' Amazing grace…
that saved a wretch like me.
v8 'and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you' Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come
v9 'And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more...' Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
v10 'And I will subdue all your enemies.' He will my shield and portion be
v16 'Who am I, O Lord God...?' That saved a wretch like me!
v16 '...that you have brought me thus far?' 'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far
v17 'You have also spoken ... for a great while to come' As long as life endures
v23 And now, O Lord, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant ... be established forever, and do as you have spoken His word my hope secures
v26 ...you have promised this good thing to your servant The Lord has promised good to me
v12
v14
v22
v23
v24
v27
 (the word occurs eight times!)
 

"... for ever"

Will be forever mine.

Faith's review and expectation:

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.          

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed!             

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

 
John Newton, Olney Hymns, 1779, Book 1, Hymn 41

for more resources on Amazing Grace click here

(sermon, hymn, origin, PowerPoint slides, video)
 

New:  Olney Hymns, Book 2 – with diary entries

Pleasing Spring!


241 Pleasing spring

Pleasing spring again is here!

241 winter
Where, in winter, all was snow
241 flowers
Now the flowers in clusters grow
Lord, afford a spring to me!
Let me feel like what I see;
241 v1 what a change
What a change has taken place!
Emblem of the spring of grace;
link to more hymns in Olney Hymns Book 2
 

NEW DIARY FOR MARCH 1755 CLICK HERE

1755 Mar 1 Lord assist
   Lord assist and work in me by thy Grace

1755 Mar 21 Yesterday heard Ro
Yesterday heard Mr Romaine                
Romaine
William Romaine
St Dunstans
Thursday lecturer at St Dunstan's
 
Jer 50 title Heads
'If ever a sense of the worth of souls is impressed upon my heart
(and I hope it sometimes is),
if ever I find myself willing to spend and be spent for you,
if I can ever adopt with sincerity the Apostle’s words, and say,
Being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you,
not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us
[1 Thessalonians 2:7],
it is peculiarly so at the return of this opportunity.'
Jer 50 text They shall ask the way to Zion
with their faces thitherward, saying,
Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant
that shall not be forgotten.
Jer 50 set Zionward
They who are sincere will set their faces Zionward.
 
read Newton's sermon on Jeremiah 50:5 for New Year's Evening 1774 here

 

Happy Christmas !

Sample pages from 365 days with Newton:

for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

365 cover 214 x 293jpg

download demo pdf
£9.36
10ofthose.com

£10
dayone.co.uk

£12
amazon.co.uk

$24
amazon.com
Isaiah 7:14 Emmanuel 3
Matthew 2:2 Matt 2 v2 born king b of all
 
sunrise

quotes from Newton's Messiah sermons:
 
No. 7    Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
No 7 Sun arose

the Sun arose, the shadows vanished

read the sermon
 
No. 8     Isaiah 9:2
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
No 8 true light

To those who received him, he was the light, the true light, the Sun.

No 8 He is the sun

he is the Sun that enlightens our darkness

read the sermon
 
No. 12    Isaiah 35:5,6
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing.
No 12 sun heart

the Sun of Righteousness himself has shined into their heart

read the sermon
 

perform your own Messiah by Mr Handel & Mr Newton with these resources

 

Amazing Grace...

quick links: Intro texts sermon hymn tune resources
 

New Addition !

John Newton's unpublished diary for February 1755

direct link here
 

Extracts:

 
Saturday 1 February
1755 Feb 2 desirous
'I am desirous to accept the Lord Jesus upon his own terms.
I hope I hate sin, as sin, and am desirous to be delivered from it at any rate…'
Sunday 2 February
Catlett Family Bible
Mary born
22 January 1728/9 Old Style is equivalent to 2 February 1729 New Style

'This being the anniversary of _[my dear Polly’s] birth, I desire to render my hearty thanks to our Gracious Lord for continuing all his mercies to us both thus far, for delivering us in all our fears, separations and sicknesses, and giving us the prospect of another year. O that this goodness may more powerfully constrain us to his service.
Lord accept and inspire for thy mercy’s sake. Draw us and we will run after thee.'
Wednesday 5 February
Samuel Brewer
(1724-1796)
Pastor of Stepney Independent Meeting
Sam Brewer mw42016 'Went to see Mr Brewer... stayed two hours with him,
and loathe to part at last.

methinks I am always remarkably lively,
and clear in his company'
Thursday 6 February
One thing I know, that happen what will, it shall be well with them that fear the Lord. His glorious name is a strong tower in the day of trouble and he knoweth them that put their trust in him. Lord have mercy upon me and _[my dear Polly]; give us a timely knowledge of our saving interest in the Redeemer’s covenant that he may be unto us as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, and as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. Isaiah 32:2
rivers of water
Wednesday 12 February
I was one that owed not a few pence but 10,000 talents, the chief of sinners, and I had if possible less than others to pay, not seemingly so much as an hour’s time to offer at a composition... and yet it has pleased God to speak peace unto me. Lord not unto me but unto thy name be the Glory and the praise.
Twenty years later Newton wrote a hymn on this same text (Luke 7:42)
244 v1a
see full Hymn No. 244
Ten thousand talents once I owed,
And nothing had to pay;
But Jesus freed me from the load,
And washed my debt away.
Olney Hymns, Book 3, Hymn 67
 
read the full transcript for February 1755 here
 

Resources for a short concert on Amazing Grace

Six of the earliest known tunes for Amazing Grace

as premiered at St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe, March 2017


English Chamber Choir    St Andrew btW
audio by The English Chamber Choir music score by Guy Protheroe background by the JNP
download mp3 download pdf download pdf
 
BBC worldservice
 
BBC Soul Music

The hymn Amazing Grace has inspired and uplifted people all over the world. We hear about its influence on the civil rights movement in America, how it changed the fate of a British soldier in the Arabian desert, and its unexpected appearance in the film Star Trek: the Wrath of Khan.

We also hear the story of John Newton, the man who wrote it. Taken from his first love, he was press ganged into service at sea, shackled to a ship’s deck for 40 hours and contemplated murdering his captain. But he wrote the hymn after his ship was caught in a terrible storm and he, miraculously, survived.
 
(Photo: Ship sailing in a storm. Credit: Thinkstock)
   

Eclectic Society notes for 1787 - 1789

previously unpublished

     

Question: What is the nature and extent of Christian perfection?

William Jarvis Abdy (1755-1823)
John Bacon, RA (1740-1799)
Ely Bates (1743-1812)
Richard Cecil (1748-1810)
John Clayton (1754-1843)
Henry Foster (1745-1844)
James Edward Gambier (1759-1839)
1787 Apr 30 Eclectics William Goode (1762-1816)
Mr Lawson (?)
John Newton (1725-1807)
George Pattrick (1746-1800)
John Pearson, FRS (1758-1826)
Thomas Scott (1747-1821)
Basil Woodd (1760-1831)
Country Member: Thomas Robinson (1749-1813)

see here

 

 

Re-united in the rectory of St Andrew by the Wardrobe, Thursday 30 March 2017

CMS plaque
Laus Deo per Jesus Christum
Church Missionary Society
Instituted April 12, 1799
In this room the committee meetings of the society were held from June 17, 1799
to January 3, 1812: and here on January 3 1804, its first missionaries were appointed
to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.
Blackfriars rectory
Eclectics mss

Newton's Eclectic Society notebook

(read his notes here)

 
Bacons teapot
the silver teapot
engraved:


"Bequeathed to the Eclectic Society by John Bacon Esqre, late one of its Members, as a token of his affectionate regard"
portrait CU
Newton's portrait
by John Russell
(with reflections!)
 

Two of the display posters from this event:

CMS origin
CMS Minutes
   
William Romaine  1756 Mar 29 Mr Romaine 1755 Mar 21 Yesterday heard Ro
(Newton's diary, 21 March 1755)
William GoodeMr Goode b
rectory

(CMS Minutes 17 June 1799)
1755 Mar 21 O may God
'O may God increase the number of faithful labourers where they are so much wanted,
and give an abundant success to their ministry.'
 
Video interview fromchristian-heritage-london
 

New sermon series: On the Parable of the Prodigal

Plantane Island



Ten sermons

from

Luke 15:11-20

 

Luke history

 

'the history and the mystery'


 


Image: Plantane Island, Sierra Leone

copyright & courtesy of Tom Bradley
www.tom-bradley.com
LINK TO SERMON SERIES
 

Happy New Year!

 

New Year's Evening 1778

1778 Jan 1 youth prayer

"O my Lord hear prayer for our youth
cause thine own voice to be heard in their hearts"

 

link to sermon on Acts 20:26,27 for New Year's Evening (1 January) 1778

all the counsel of God

Acts 20 26 27 all counsel of G
"as I am deeply indebted to Grace,
so it has been my study and pleasure, to proclaim the doctrines of Grace"

 
Acts 20 26 27 pleasure
 
Christmas 2016 JNP
Matt 2 v2  Xmas 1777

Christmas Morning 1777

   
Matthew 2:2
Where is he that is born King of the Jews?
For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
   

Born a king ...

King of all ...

Matt 2 v2 born king bw Matt 2 v2  king all b
The enquirers: Wise men of the East
Their guidance: no common star
Matt 2 no common star

without this one star,
the knowledge of all the rest would have left them miserable

read the sermon outline

 

New Year's Morning 1778

Psalm 71 9 New Year
Psalm 71:9
Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
Psalm 71 9 not helpless 2 This is not a helpless cry –
 
but the prayer of faith
read the sermon outline
 
  Isaiah 32 2 No 4 Xt  
 

Christ is all in all!

 
     

new

previously
unpublished

Sermon Series

No 197 v1

Isaiah 32:2


And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest;
as rivers of water in a dry place,
as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
 

1.

a hiding place

as an hiding place

2.

Is 32 2 difficulties

'the difficulties are not all over!'

3.

streams of grace

as rivers of water

4.

almighty rock

as the shadow of a great rock

  

'New Britain'

The Origin of the Tune
Most Commonly Used Today

Carl P Daw, Jr
Adjunct Professor of Hymnology
Curator of the Hymnological Collections
Boston University

Carl P Daw Jr
   

STOP PRESS !!

John Newton: Sweet Singer of Israel

 

New Downloads !

Resources for Amazing Grace:

sermon, hymn, origin, PowerPoint, video

     
Our dear friend
and hugely supportive member of our
Board of Reference
 

Alec Motyer


went home to be with the Lord
on Friday 26 August 2016
Alec Alec speaking on Messiah
We wholeheartedly agree with Newton in this hymn:
 
While they have gained, we losers are,
We miss them day by day;
But thou canst every breach repair,
And wipe our tears away.
Olney Hymns, Book 2, Hymn 72
One of Alec's favourite hymns was How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
Cant 1 3 very sound blue
Cant 1 3 sweeter than music bl
 
How sweet the name of JESUS sounds
In a believer's ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds
And drives away his fear.
 
It makes the wounded spirit whole
And calms the troubled breast;
'Tis manna to the hungry soul
And to the weary rest.
 
Dear name!  the rock on which I build,
My shield and hiding place;
My never-failing treasury filled
With boundless stores of grace.
By Thee my prayers acceptance gain
Altho' with sin defiled;
Satan accuses me in vain
And I am owned a child.
 
JESUS!  my Shepherd, Husband, Friend,
My Prophet, Priest and King;
My LORD, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.
 
Weak is the effort of my heart
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art
I'll praise Thee as I ought.
'Till then I would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath;
And may the music of Thy name
Refresh my soul in death.
Olney Hymns, Book 1, Hymn 57
Read the sermon on the text for this hymns, Song of Solomon 1:3
Thy name is as ointment poured forth.
 
  heaven navy

"And I

saw

heaven

opened..."



Revelation 19:11
  sunset
 

Sermon Series on Revelation 19:11-16

 
   
 

to read this previously unpublished series of 12 sermons by John Newton: click here

 
 
extracts from Revelation 19:11-16 series
No. 2 No. 9 No. 10
Rev 19 2 faithful Rev 19 9 abounded Rev 19 10 Gospel
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse;
and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True
Here the pride of all human glory is stained and the stain of sin is removed – mercy and truth, righteousness and peace meet together. This separates indeed between the joints and marrow, the soul and spirit.
 

John Newton's previously unpublished diary for 1755

 
transcripts beginning now...

January 1755

Memorandum: 20th January 1755

1755 Jan 20 Memo

I came to a determination, to begin keeping a regular Diary (as God shall enable me) of the state and daily frame of my soul, and the gracious dealings of God unto me.  The advice and experience of others who have left upon record, the benefit they have found by this practice, has long made me desirous to imitate them; but something from within or without has still hindered.  Lord accept me, and prevent my resting upon any forms, or finding any satisfaction in them, farther than as they lead to thee.  Amen.
1755 Jan 20 As merchants
As merchants begin their books with an inventory of stock, so would I in a brief manner set down my present state for my future government. [1] I trust that the Lord has caused more of his goodness to pass before me this year than I ever before experienced. I hope particularly he has taken me more off my own bottom, and given me to see more of the necessity and the sufficiency of the Lord Jesus Christ in his office of Saviour of his people – and has made me more willing to depend upon his righteousness only.  I trust he has enabled me, to see more clearly the truth and comfort of those peculiar doctrines of the glorious Gospel, which in these days are by many either denied, or explained away.  I have been led too of late into better opportunities than I formerly had, particularly in my acquaintance, which I have contracted with several experienced Christians, [2] whose belief and hopes are a confirmation of my own, convincing me that though there is a diversity of operations, it is the same Spirit that worketh in all. 
1755 Jan 20 same Spirit
On the other side I labour under weakness, I am wearied with a body of sin and death, often when I would do good evil is present with me; my affections are cold and wavering, my faith weak and interrupted.  Thus I find my life to be a continual warfare. [3]  But blessed be God for the hopes of final victory over sin and corruption, through Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom I hope I can in a low degree say, the world is crucified to me, and I unto the world. [4]
 
In temporals I have to praise God for health, sufficiency, peace, content; from his goodness all I have proceeds, and his grace has taught me to say: It is enough – I mean for the present, and I desire to trust him for the future, for he has said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. [5]
1755 Jan 20 never leave
 
more of John  Newton's 1755 diary here: Index and here: January 1755


Previous homepage info:

Easter Day, 11 April 1773

   
1773 April 11 Easter
John Newton's Diary
John Newton's sermon notes Easter sermon
Who by [Christ] do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory;
that your faith and hope might be in God.
 
1 Peter 1:21  
Newton's Easter sermon on 1 Peter 1:21
 
The apostles when speaking of Christ take it for granted that his name, his love, his work, were familiar to believers.
 
How should our hearts burn at verse 18.
1 Peter 1 21 hearts burn
Redeemed intimates at once former misery, present happiness and security, and the amazing love manifest in our redemption.  Then he leads us far back – this love to sinners is no new thing, but was planned before time and though after the entrance of sin many ages passed, yet in the appointed hour was revealed – and what crowns the mercy – to you.
1 Peter 1 21 to you

garden tomb
garden tomb, Jerusalem
1 Peter 1 21 justification

He was raised for our justification

read the full sermon here    
 
Messiah

Hallelujah; for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth!

Revelation 19:6
"If all the people who successively hear the Messiah Oratorio, who are struck and astonished, for the moment,
by this chorus in particular,
were to bring away with them an abiding sense of the importance of the sentiment it contains,
the nation would soon wear a new face."
John Newton, Sermon No. 26, Messiah, 1786 [link to printed sermons]
 
Handel's Messiah was first performed in Dublin
at the Music Hall in Fishamble Street in 1742
Messiah by Mr Handel & Mr Newton was first performed
at Gloucester Cathedral in 2010
see Messiah on the Street for this year's free performance see JNP Messiah resources for DIY similar
 
with thanks to the London Symphony Orchestra
 

Messiah

 

unedited manuscript

sermon notes

& more


     

some thoughts my thoughts
previously un-named and undated
 

Some Thoughts on the Advantages and Expediency

of Religious Associations,

Humbly offered To all Practical Christians

John Newton, Liverpool 1756

Links to Introduction and the Pamphlet

[added 14 November 2015]
 

John Newton's Eclectic Society notes for 1789 - 1795

previously unpublished!
1791 Rules

1789 Jul 6
Links to Introduction to Rules and to Eclectic Society notes for 1789-1795 [added 14 November 2015]
 

earliest known tunes for Amazing Grace...

michaelbaughen
Michael Baughen comments...

T14 700 156 a

T14 700 156 b

T14 700 156 c T14 700 156 d
T14a listen T14b listen T14c listen T14d listen
  

New Hymn News!   

Newton's hymns with diary extracts for the same week side-by-side

   
TDS

"The glory of 'amazing grace' shines the brighter..."

"This painstaking compilation allows us to see some of the Olney Hymns set alongside Newton’s private journal, sometimes for the very day he wrote them.

It offers us new insights into the inspiration of his hymn writing. Topical references – personal or national – are transmitted into timeless prayer and biblical principles. The glory of ‘amazing grace’ shines the brighter for this juxtaposition of journal and hymns."

Timothy Dudley Smith
 
Previous items:

New letters online from John Newton to Thomas Robinson:

"Mary Woolnoth sendeth to Mary Leicester greeting..."

Thomas Robinson
Thos Robinson sign

NB All 28 letters are now online !

1775 Mar 18 Mr Robinson
1775 Mar 18 whom
1775 Mar 18 apparently
1775 Mar 18 prospect

Mr Robinson

the Minister, whom the Lord has placed at Leicester,
apparently with great advantages,
and a prospect of much success
 
 
Let me dwell on Golgotha
lamb Golgotha v1 To view the whole hymn
in Newton's hand
click here
     
Let me dwell on Golgotha,
Weep and love my life away!
While I see him on the tree
Weep and bleed, and die for me!
 
That dear blood, for sinners spilt,
Shows my sin in all its guilt:
Ah, my soul, he bore thy load,
Thou hast slain the Lamb of GOD.

Hark! his dying words; "Forgive,
Father, let the sinner live;
Sinner, wipe thy tears away,
I thy ransom freely pay."


Olney Hymns, Book 2, Hymn 56

Let me dwell on Golgotha
from The John Newton Project on Vimeo

While I hear this grace revealed,
And obtain a pardon sealed;
All my soft affections move,
Wakened by the force of love.

Farewell world, thy gold is dross,
Now I see the bleeding cross;
JESUS died to set me free
From the law, and sin, and thee!

He has dearly bought my soul
LORD, accept, and claim the whole!
To thy will I all resign,
Now, no more my own, but thine. 

JN signature
 
 
Misc Th

Miscellaneous Thoughts

& enquiries on an important subject

MOMM1 292 x 408
Ministry on my mind
Alec Motyer "These thoughts should be required reading for all Christians in the light of our common calling to holy living and holy testimony, but specially for those who are given the unspeakable privilege of 'full-time service’, whether they are in their early days, or, like me, wishing I had read these miscellaneous thoughts sixty years ago."

Alec Motyer, formerly Principal Trinity Theological College, Bristol
Jim Packer"It is hard to believe that any Christians, wondering if God was calling them to ordained service, ever meditated on relevant Scriptures so perceptively, and recorded their discernments so luminously, as did John Newton. His journaling of his journey towards vocational certainty is a very precious part of the legacy of this great man of God."
James I Packer, Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology, Regent College, Vancouver
 

former JNP Chairman,

John Langlois OBE,

interviews trustee

Tony Baker

about

Ministry on my mind

Jonathan Aitken

speaking on

Ministry on my mind

 

eclipsetonight 600 x 61jpg

Tonight I attended an Eclipse of the Moon


eclipsethought 600 x 100jpg

I thought my Lord of thine Eclipse - the horrible darkness which overwhelmed thy mind,
when Thou saidst - Why hast Thou forsaken me?

nasalunareclipse

On the eclipse of the moon
July 30 1776
251 v1
see the full hymn in Newton's handwriting
 
John Newton to John Thornton, a Governor of the Bank of England

I observed the Eclipse of the Moon on Tuesday night, till it was wholly covered by the shade, and endeavoured to draw some meditations from it, which gave rise to a hymn that was the subject of my discourse last night at the Great House - our Saviour’s passion, the motions of the heavenly bodies being a pledge of His faithfulness to His promises (Jeremiah 33:20,21,25) and the dark seasons to which believers in the present life are liable, were the principal points. I take the liberty to send you a copy of the hymn on the other side, for no other reasons than that the subject is not common, and that you have been pleased often favourably to accept what I have sent of this sort.
4 August 1776
 
The moon in silver glory shone,
And not a cloud in sight;
When suddenly a shade begun
To intercept her light.

How fast across her orb it spread,
How fast her light withdrew!
A circle, ting'd with languid red,
Was all appear'd in view.

While many with unmeaning eye
Gaze on thy works in vain;
Assist me, LORD, that I may try
Instruction to obtain.

Fain would my thankful heart and lips
Unite in praise to thee;
And meditate on thy eclipse,
In sad Gethsemane.
Thy people's guilt, a heavy load!
(When standing in their room)
Depriv'd thee of the light of GOD,
And fill'd thy soul with gloom.

How punctually eclipses move,
Obedient to thy will!
Thus shall thy faithfulness and love,
Thy promises fulfill.

Dark, like the moon without the sun,
I mourn thine absence, LORD!
For light or comfort have I none,
But what thy beams afford.

But lo! the hour draws near apace,
When changes shall be o'er;
Then shall I see thee face to face,
And be eclips'd no more.
"Yes there is a better world, where our sun shall no more go down, neither the moon withdraw its shining – or rather, both moon and sun shall be needless, for the Lord Himself shall be the Everlasting Unclouded Light of His people. Oh how different is the land we are going to, from this wilderness through which we are now passing."

I remain
Dearest Sir
Your most obedt and obliged
Servant

JN signature
  Olney Hymns, Book 2, Hymn 85  
Jeremiah 33:20,21,25:
Thus saith the Lord: If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers. Thus saith the Lord; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth…
 
 
21 March 1776 1776 Mar 21 brink001

The anniversary of my great deliverance in 1748 calls for my grateful acknowledgement.

In the midst of the necessary calls of this day, I would keep thy mercy in mind. I remember when I stood trembling to appearance upon the brink of eternity, and thought it impossible I could live a quarter of an hour. Since that memorable day thou hast added twenty-eight years to my life – and I am still living, and feel little abatement of health and strength. How wonderful has been thy goodness to me in this long space. And alas how amazing has been the contrast on my side – unfaithful, ungrateful, vile creature that I am. But still I am thine. Thou bearest with me, and multipliest forgiveness and mercies to me. O Lord warm, animate and purify my heart. Draw nigh to my soul. Unite my divided heart. So far as a poor creature can (who without thy secret influence can do nothing). I open to thee, and invite thee to take a full possession. Abase the power of self, and reign alone in my soul. My time is shortening apace. O that the remainder may be spent for thee. Be my Shepherd, my Saviour, my All – and may all that I have and am be devoted to thee, and employed for thee.
my Shepherd my Saviour my All
 

Blog

 
30 July 1776
Tonight I attended an eclipse of the moon.  How great are thy works; with what punctuality do the heavenly bodies fulfil their courses, and observe their seasons to a moment. All things obey thee, but fallen angels, and fallen man. My thoughts would have taken a serious turn, but I was not alone. I thought, my Lord, of Thine eclipse – the horrible darkness which overwhelmed Thy mind when Thou saidst, Why hast Thou forsaken Me?  Ah sin was the cause – my sins. Yet I do not hate sin, nor loathe myself as I ought. The Great House rather thin tonight. I spoke farther on the case of Ignorance. Mr Samples with us after his great illness. Peggy is still ill.
 
 
 

Friday 1 January 1773

New Year's Day

 
vicarge1b
The vicarage in Olney
where John Newton wrote Amazing Grace in his attic study,
for his sermon on 1 Chronicles 17:16,17
for New Year's Day, Friday 1 January 1773

Amazing Grace 240th anniversary (2013) from
The John Newton Project on Vimeo.

 
 

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.          

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed!             

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

 
   
John Newton, Olney Hymns, 1779, Book 1, Hymn 41
 
 

"As the workings of the heart of man, and of the Spirit of GOD, are in general the same, in all who are the subjects of grace, I hope most of these hymns, being the fruit and expression of my own experience, will coincide with the views of real Christians of all denominations."
 
"The views I have received of the doctrines of grace are essential to my peace, I could not live comfortably a day or an hour without them."
 

The words for John Newton's hymn Amazing Grace
come from 1 Chronicles 17:16,17

1 Chron 17 web
I preached this forenoon from 1 Chronicles 17:16,17.
Hope I was enabled to speak with some liberty,
but found my own heart sadly unaffected.
[more]

some of Newton's matching Scripture and hymn verses:
v7 ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep...' Amazing grace…
that saved a wretch like me.
v8 'and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you' Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come
v9 'And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more...' Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
v10 'And I will subdue all your enemies.' He will my shield and portion be
v16 'Who am I, O Lord God...?' That saved a wretch like me!
v16 '...that you have brought me thus far?' 'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far
v17 'You have also spoken ... for a great while to come' As long as life endures
v23 And now, O Lord, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant ... be established forever, and do as you have spoken His word my hope secures
v26 ...you have promised this good thing to your servant The Lord has promised good to me
v12
v14
v22
v23
v24
v27
 (the word occurs eight times!)
 

"... for ever"

Will be forever mine.

In his New Year’s Day sermon, Newton commends David’s desire “to express his gratitude” to the Lord for His “many blessings”.
But Newton notes of the Lord’s people, that “unless he likewise gives them a thankful heart, they lose much of the comfort they might have in them”.
David’s responses are helpful to us “as a proper subject for our meditations on the entrance of a new year”, for they "lead us to a consideration of past mercies and future hopes and intimate the frame of mind which becomes us when we contemplate what the Lord has done for us”.
consideration500          contemplate500
 
Acknowledgments:
Harvard University Library; The Pratt Green Trust; Princeton University Library; Lambeth Palace Library; NASA; The Evangelical Library; Gloucester Likal films; Church Mission Society; Cowper & Newton Museum; St Andrew by the Wardrobe
Some Thoughts on Religious Associations': Copyright of the University of Manchester, used under Creative Commons License
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK
 

Marylynn Rouse, 27/08/2016