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HAIL & FIRE - a resource for Reformed and Gospel Theology in the works, exhortations, prayers, and apologetics of those who have maintained the Gospel and expounded upon the Scripture as the Eternal Word of God and the sole authority in Christian doctrine.
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HOME » Words of Wisdom » Reformed and Puritan Quotes » John Newton Quotes
QUOTATIONS: WORDS OF WISDOM by John Newton
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John Newton (1725-1807)
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"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"
John Newton
(Hymn: Amazing Grace)
John Newton, (1725-1807) Church of England Pastor, Preacher and Writer. Formerly a slave trader.
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John Newton, 1725-1807, was a Church of England Pastor, Preacher, writer and author of the famous hymn, "Amazing Grace". Formerly a slave trader, he recorded his journey from ignorance to faith in the light of the Gospel and his thoughts, experiences and letters are published today in a six volume set.
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Quote on Softening and Watering Down the Gospel (Reference Scripture: Dueteronomny 4:2):
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"The Bible is the grand repository ... It is the complete system of divine truth, to which nothing can be added, and from which nothing can be taken, with impunity. Every attempt to disguise or soften any branch of this truth, in order to accommodate it to the prevailing taste around us, either to avoid the displeasure, or to court the favour, of our fellow mortals, must be an affront to the majesty of God, and an act of treachery to men." - John Newton
The Works of John Newton
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Quote on Non-Sectarianism:
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"You will likewise find advantage, by attending as much as you can on those preachers whom God has blessed with much power, life, and success in their ministry. And in this you will do well not to confine yourself to any denomination or party for the Spirit of the Lord is not confined. Different men have different gifts and talents. I would not wish you to be a slavish admirer of any man. Christ alone is our Master and Teacher. But study the excellencies of each: and if you observe a fault in any (for no human models are perfect), you will see what you are yourself to avoid." - John Newton
READ ONLINE: "To a Student in Divinity," a letter of John Newton
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Quote on Scripture (Sola Scriptura), the sole authority in Christian doctrine (Reference Scriptures: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 1 John 4:1, John 16:13, Matthew 23:8-10):
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"Many respectable writers and preachers considered [certain things] essential to true faith. But we have the Scripture in our hands, and are not bound to abide by the decisions of any man, farther than as they agree with this standard." - John Newton
"Job's Faith and Expectation," a sermon by John Newton
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"Your constitution, your situation, your temper, your distemper, all that is either comfortable or painful in your lot, is of his appointment. The hairs of your head are all numbered: the same power which produced the planet Jupiter is necessary to the production of a single hair, nor can one of them fall to the ground without his notice, any more than the stars can fall from their orbits. In providence, no less than in creation, he is Maximus in minimis. Therefore fear not; only believe. Our sea may sometimes be stormy, but we have an infallible Pilot, and shall infallibly gain our port." - John Newton
Letters to the Rev. Mr. B., Letter IX, from John Newton (The Works of John Newton)
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Quote on All things for Good:
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"Healing and wounding are equally from His hand, and equally tokens of His love and care over us." - John Newton
Letters to the Rev. Mr. B., Letter X, from John Newton (The Works of John Newton)
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Quote on Ministries Saving Some:
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"Who would envy Cassandra her gift of prophecy upon the terms she had it; that her declarations, however true, should meet with no belief or regard? It is the lot of Gospel ministers, with respect to the bulk of their hearers. But blessed be the grace which makes a few exceptions! Here and there, one will hear, believe, and be saved. Every one of these is worth a world; and our success with a few should console us for all our trials." - John Newton
Letters to the Rev. Mr. B., Letter XI, from John Newton (The Works of John Newton)
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"There are many who stumble in the noon-day, not for want of light, but for want of eyes" - John Newton
"On Blindness," a letter of John Newton
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Quote on False Conversion:
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"Many are convinced, who are not truly enlightened; are afraid of the consequences of sin, though they never saw its evil; have a seeming desire of salvation, which is not founded upon a truly spiritual discovery of their own wretchedness, and the excellency of Jesus." - John Newton
"On Blindness," a letter of John Newton
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"I think it is plain, that the supposition of a real believer's living in sin, or taking encouragement from the Gospel so to do, is destitute of the least foundation in truth, and can proceed only from an ignorance of the subject. Sin is the burden under which he groans; and he would account nothing short of a deliverance from it worthy the name of salvation. A principal part of his evidence that he is a believer, arises from that abhorrence of sin which he habitually feels. It is true, sin still dwelleth in him; but he loathes and resists it: upon this account he is in a state of continual warfare; if he was not so, he could not have the witness in himself, that he is born of God." - John Newton
"On Blindness," a letter of John Newton
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Quote on Differences Between the Spiritually Dead and the Spiritually Enlivened:
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"Too many show, in this respect, that they are dead while they live; dead to God, insensible and regardless of their many obligations to him, in whom they live, and move, and have their being. They live without prayer; they offer no praises to the God of their lives, but rise up and lie down, go out and come in, without one reflection on his power, goodness, and providence; even like the beasts that perish. But the awakened soul cannot do so. He trembles to think that he once could neglect that God whom all the hosts of heaven worship; and is convinced, that however fair his character might have been amongst men, he justly deserved to have been struck to hell" - John Newton
READ ONLINE: "No Access to God but by the Gospel of Christ," a sermon by John Newton
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Quote on the Enlivened Soul:
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"Alas! says the soul that is enlightened to see itself, I am not only mean, but vile. 'I have sinned, what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? wherewith shall such a polluted, obnoxious creature as I am, appear before a holy God? Can my services atone for my sins, or what service can I perform that is not defiled and rendered unworthy of acceptance by the evil of my heart?" - John Newton
READ ONLINE: "No Access to God but by the Gospel of Christ," a sermon by John Newton
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Quote on What God Requires:
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"What does the Lord require of you? Is it to make your own peace? He would as soon require you to make a new heaven and a new earth. Is it to keep your own soul? No more than he requires you to keep the sun in its course. His own arm has wrought salvation, and he will secure it. He requires none of your help here; nay, he disdains the thought: you might as well offer to help him to govern the world. But this he requires of you, 'to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God;' and the methods of his grace will enable you to do so." - John Newton
READ ONLINE: "No Access to God but by the Gospel of Christ," a sermon by John Newton
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Quote on Obtaining Wisdom and Gifts for Ministry:
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"The chief means for attaining wisdom, and suitable gifts for the ministry, are the Holy Scriptures, and prayer." - John Newton
READ ONLINE: "To a Student in Divinity," a letter of John Newton
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Quote on God the Provider of Every Good Thing:
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"How sin filled the world with woe! And we are sinners like others; but our sufferings are light, compared with what many endure, and still more light, if compared with our deserts. The Lord has done a great thing for us, in showing us the way of salvation. Here may our thoughts and desires chiefly fix. If sin be pardoned, if we are accepted in the Beloved, then He will guide us by the way, and heaven will be our portion at the end. And see! He is seated on a throne of grace, and ready to bestow every blessing that we need, more than our scanty minds can either ask of conceive. I am at a distance from you. But, alas, what am I? If you were here, I could afford you no comfort or help, but by his blessing. But He can do you good without me. He can sensibly refresh you, or secretly support you, and be unto you as rivers of water in a dry place." - John Newton
"Letters to a Wife," by John Newton
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Quote on the Christian Husband:
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"It was an expression of Cato, that it was more honourable to be a good husband, than a great senator." - John Newton
"Letters to a Wife," by John Newton
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Quote on Mistreating Women:
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"I think, both in justice and compassion, [all] should unite in despising the man who dares to use a deserving woman ill, because he has not a heart to value her." - John Newton
"Letters to a Wife," by John Newton
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Quote on Scripture (Sola Scriptura): (Reference Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
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"An awakened mind that thirsts after the Saviour, and seeks wisdom by reading and praying over the Scripture, has little occasion [necessity] for a library of human writings. The Bible is the fountain from whence every stream that deserves our notice is drawn ... we have personally an equal right with others to apply immediately to the fountain-head, and draw the water of life for ourselves. The purest streams are not wholly freed from the gout de terrior, - a twang of the soil through which they run; a mixture of human infirmity is inseparable from the best human composition; but in the fountain the truth is unmixed." - John Newton
"On Reading the Bible," by John Newton
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Quote on the Free Gospel Pardon:
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"If ... an act of grace was published, inviting all criminals to surrender themselves, with a promise of mercy to those who did; though no one was mentioned by name in the act, yet every one who complied with it, and pleaded it, would be entitled to the benefit. Such an act of grace is the Gospel." - John Newton
"Job's Faith and Expectation," a sermon by John Newton
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Quote on the Characteristics of a Justly Founded Hope:
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"If you know yourself to be a sinner deserving to perish, if that you see there is no help or hope for you but in Jesus, and venture yourself upon his gracious invitation, believing that he is able to save to the uttermost; and if you include holiness and a deliverance from sin, in the idea of the salvation which you long for, then he is your Redeemer." - John Newton
"Job's Faith and Expectation," a sermon by John Newton
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Quote on Salvation from the Guilt and Power of Sin:
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"Not only the guilt, but the love of sin, and its dominion, are taken away, subdued by grace, and cordially renounced by the believing pardoned sinner." - John Newton
"The Lamb of God, the great Atonement," a sermon by John Newton
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Quote on "My strength is made perfect in weakness"
(2 Corinthians 12:9):
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"The glorious Gospel of the blessed God, with respect to its dignity, depth, and importance, may seem a fitter theme for the tongue of an angel than of a man; but angels never sinned; and though they might proclaim its excellency, they could not, from experience, speak of its efficacy. In this respect sinful worms are better qualified to preach to others, concerning him by whom they have, themselves, been healed and saved. Their weakness, likewise, is better suited to show that the influence and success of the Gospel is wholly owing to the power of God. It has, therefore, pleased God to 'put this treasure into earthen vessels,' [2 Corinthians 4:7] and to commit the ministry of his word, not to angels, but to men." - John Newton
"The Angel's Message and Song," a sermon by John Newton
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Quote on Studying to be Pleasing to Christ (an evidence of those who truly love Christ):
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"If you once love Him, you will study to please Him." - John Newton
"Letter XX," to his child, from the Works of John Newton
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Quote on Praying for Others:
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"I cannot make many very particular requests for you; but when I pray that you may have wisdom and grace to seek and know the Lord, and that He will be graciously pleased to be your Saviour and Shepherd, and the Guide of your youth, I am sure I do not ask amiss." - John Newton
"Letter XX," to his child, from the Works of John Newton
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"That person, whose word may not be safely depended upon without either bond or oath, scarcely deserves the name of a Christian." - John Newton
"Thoughts on the Government of the Tongue," from the Works of John Newton
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"Our faithful and good Shepherd affords to us ... strength according to our day. He knows our frame, and will lay no more on us than he will enable us to bear; yea, I trust, no more than he will cause to work for our good ... our comforts of every kind come free and undeserved. But, when we are afflicted, it is because there is a need-be for it. He does it not willingly. Our trials are either salutary medicines, or honourable appointments, to put us in such circumstances as may best qualify us to show forth his praise." - John Newton
"Letter I," to Mr. and Miss M. B. from the Works of John Newton
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Quote on Fearing Not and Fearing Always:
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"He bids me, 'fear not;' and at the same time he says, 'Happy is the man that fears always.' How to fear and not to fear, at the same time, is, I believe, one branch of that secret of the Lord which none can understand but by the teaching of his Spirit. When I think of my heart, of the world, of the powers of darkness, what cause of continual fear: I am on an enemy's ground, and cannot move a step but some snare is spread for my feet. But, when I think of the person, grace, power, care, and faithfulness of my Savior, why may I not say, I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge? I wish to be delivered from anxious and unbelieving fear, which weakens the hands, and disquiets the heart. I wish to increase in a humble jealousy and distrust of myself, and of everything about me." - John Newton
"Letter I," to Mr. and Miss M. B. from the Works of John Newton
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