John Newton Quotes

       John Newton
       1725-1807
      
       John Newton was the son of a shipmaster in the Mediterranean service, with whom he sailed until 1742. In 1743 he was impressed into the English naval service, was made midshipman, deserted, was recaptured and reduced to the ranks, exchanged to a ship in the African station, became servant to a slave-trader, and was rescued in 1748, being converted on the way home in a storm at sea.
      
       He was a strong support of the Evangelicals in the Church of England, and was a friend of the dissenting clergy as well as of the ministry of his own church.
      
       He was the author of many hymns, including "Amazing Grace".

The Lord afflicts us at times; but it is always a thousand times less than we deserve, and much less than many of our fellow-creatures are suffering around us. Let us therefore pray for grace to be humble, thankful, and patient.     Topics: Affliction There are many who stumble in the noon-day, not for want of light, but for want of eyes.     Topics: Apathy, Light God often takes a course for accomplishing His purposes directly contrary to what our narrow views would prescribe. He brings a death upon our feelings, wishes, and prospects when He is about to give us the desire of our hearts.     Topics: Blessings, Feelings The love I bear Christ is but a faint and feeble spark, but it is an emanation from himself: He kindled it and he keeps it alive; and because it is his work, I trust many waters shall not quench it.     Topics: Christ, Trust The Christian ministry is the worst of all trades, but the best of all professions.     Topics: Christianity The instinct of brutes and insects can be the effect of nothing else than the wisdom and skill of a powerful ever living agent.     Topics: Creation None but He who made the world can make a Minister of the Gospel. If a young man has capacity, culture and application, it may make him a scholar, a philosopher, or anorator; but a true Minister must have certain principles, motives, feelings, and aims, which no industry or endeavors of men can either acquire or communicate. They must be given from above, or they cannot be received.     Topics: Evangelism, Feelings You know the common expression, "A jack of all trades." I am sure a minister had need be such a one: a brave soldier, an alert watchman, a caring shepherd, a hardworking farmer, a skillful builder, a wise counselor, a competent physician and a loving nurse.     Topics: Evangelism     Source: Letters This is faith: a renouncing of everything we are apt to call our own and relying wholly upon the blood, righteousness and intercession of Jesus.     Topics: Faith, Intercession There is many a thing which the world calls disappointment, but there is no such a word in the dictionary of faith. What to others are disappointments are to believers intimations of the way of God.     Topics: Faith, Disappointment Faith upholds a Christian under all trials, by assuring him that every painful dispensation is under the direction of his Lord; that chastisements are a token of His love; that the season, measure, and continuance of his sufferings, are appointed by Infinite Wisdom, and designed to work for his everlasting good; and that grace and strength shall be afforded him, according to his need.     Topics: Faith, Trials, Chastisement     Source: Letters. If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer - His grace sufficient, His promise unchangeable.     Topics: Fear