John Newton of Olney and St. Mary Woolnoth. an Autobiography And
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This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. https://books.google.com ‘ q 3 O 0‘. i ’- u1-s¢a~¢ . fivf' 0 1. VI . ¢ Q .9.\_ ‘ .{¢t4 “J W'Ju‘ a; L. v" 71"" -" :vn‘vw it ~ 1’91.“ #0 v u . ..-.__. s ',‘\i:‘\ -" ’-o. ‘1 fiXTISQ 1' 0;; 68 /,, JOHN NEWTON /( OF OLNEY AND ST. MARY WOOLNOTH. 3n gntuhiug'mplgg ant! fiarratihe, COMPILED CHIEFLY FROM ms DIARY AND OTHER UNPUBLISHED DOCUMENTS. - BY THE REV. JOSIAH BULL, M.A.,‘ AUTHOR 0F “ HEMORIAIS OF THE KEY. “'ILLIAM BULL.n LONDON: THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY, 56, PATERNOSTER Row; 65, 51'. PAUL'S cuuacnvum; AND 164, PICCADILLY. LONDON! PRUTEDVBY WILLIAM CIOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET AND CHABING CROSS. '-. PREFACE. rs- sun memoirs of John Newton have already appeared. Why, it may be asked, publish another? It may he replied that,_without disparaging unduly former biographies, the ire ot';__Newton has yet to be written; for this reason, 5L;th others, that the materials for an adequate memoir have only recently been accessible. They include a diary kr__wn to previous biographers, covering a period of fifty seven ydars, and a very large correspondence, together with oth' , documents of great value and interest, the greater part if ‘Jch have never yet been published. These, together ivitl. the inheritance of traditions handed down from the . friends and contemporaries of Newton himself, have come into 0111* possession, and throw light upon many periods in the "1. of Newton which were previously obscure, and correct false statements and prejudices which have hitherto been current in many quarters. Hence this attempt to give a more complete history of a life so well worthy a careful record. It may be added that Mr. Newton is here made to speak as much as possible in his own' person, so that the memoir is in great part an Autobiography. The presentation of such a life as Newton’s is not inoppor tune at the present time. He is a very striking example of iv Pre face. one who thoroughly understood and uniformly illustrated in his life, ministry, and writings, the great doctrines of the gospel—who had a wise discernment of the relative value of the mere forms of religion and its fundamental truths,—-and who possessed that spirit of true charity, which, unmindful of the lesser distinctions of party, recognises all the true disciples of Christ as such, and seeks fellowship with them. There is considerable diversity of opinion as to the propriety of making public the contents of a diary and of private corre spondence. It is thought by some to be an entrance into those secret chambers of the soul which ought to be sacred from all intrusion. It is alleged by others that diaries do not really give the true exposition of a man’s inner life. Without dis cussing these points, it may suffice to say that we have the virtual authority of Mr. Newton himself for quoting from his diary. He evidently thought it might be read by other eyes than his own at seme future time. It has many blanks, initials, and shorthand characters, indicating such a possibility. But chiefly we refer to expressions to be found in the body of this work, in which he utters the prayer that his expe rience, as thus recorded, may be blessed to the use of any who in God’s providence shall be led to peruse his history. Considerable difiiculty has been found in dealing judi ciously with this important document. In drawing the line between that which_ is trivial and unimportant and those details which give reality and impressiveness to the story—in presenting some statements which illustrate. character, and excluding others which ought never to meet the public eye —in avoiding those repetitions of thought and language Preface. V which necessarily occur‘in a mental transcript of so many years—there can scarcely fail to be some imperfections and faults. One other remark may be added as to the use made of matters already in print. Published works have been quoted from only so far as they contain necessary informa tion, or furnish statements illustrating the various opinions of Mr. Newton. Thus there are some repetitions from the Memorials of the Rev. W. Ball. Had the design of this Memoir been entertained when that volume was compiled, these materials might have been kept in reserve. The Narrative has been abbreviated as much as a distinct record of its interesting facts would allow. The work we have attempted will be, we trust, in some sort a worthy monument to the memory of John Newton, a volume of interest to all lovers of evangelical truth, and a means of healthful stimulus to those who desire to conse ci'ate themselves to the Master’s service as he did. All that remains for us to do is to commit this effort to the Divine blessing, and to express our obligations to all who have kindly aided us in our undertaking. Our best thanks are especially due to Mrs. Jansen for the use of the missing volume of the diary; to A. C. Hobart Seymour, Esq., for several valuable illustrative documents; to Dr. A. Maeaulay; to the Rev. C. Bingham; to Mr. T. W. Coffin, and other friends. NEWPORT PAGNEL : 1868. CONTENTS. PART I. EARLY LIFE, AND RESIDENCE AT LIVERPOOL. CHAPTER I. ml?" FROM THE BIRTH 01“ MB. NEWTON 'ro HIS MARRIAGE .. .. 11 [1725—1750.] Birth—Parentage—His Mother's teaching~Hcr Death—Goes to Sea, and falls into Bad Habits—Reformation—Meets with Shaftesbury’s Characteristics—Miss Oatlett—Voyage to Venice—Remarkable Dream—Pressed on board the Harwz'ch—Evil Associations there— Deserts, is Arrested and Degraded—Exchanged into a Guinea Vessel—Miseries on the Coast of Africa—His Rescue—Peril at Sea—His ‘ Great Deliverance ’——In England—Sails again to the Coast of Africa—Wonderful Escape—Return Home. CHAPTER II. FROM HIS MARRIAGE TO THE TIME HE QUITTED THE SEA .. 33 [1750—1754.] Observations on his Marriage-Sails to the Coast of Africa—Events there—Position as Captain—Returns to England, Nov. 1751 Diary and Quotations—Second Voyage to Africa, July, 1752— Manner of Spending Time at Sea—Views on the subject of Fast ing - His Sabbaths — Letter - Covenant — Mutiny — Personal Experience—A Singular Letter—An Infamous Charge—St. Kitts —Letter—Reaches England, October, 1753—Third Voyage— Quotations from Diary—Meets Capt. Clunie at St. Kitts—Returns to Liverpool, August, 1754--Sudden Attack of Illness, and Abrupt Termination of his Connection with the Sea. viii Contents. CHAPTER III. Page FROM HIS QUITTING THE SEA 'ro THE TIME or HIS FIRST THOUGHTS OF THE MINISTRY .. .. .. .. .. .. 64 [1755-1757.] Chatham and London—Religious Intercourse—Acquaintance with Whitefield—Sacrament at the Tabernacle—Reflections on White field’s Character and Preaching—Appointment as Tide Surveyor at Liverpool—Singular Circumstances in connection with his Appointment—Attends Mr. Johnson’s Ministry—Mr. Whitefield at Liverpool—Mr. Oulton—Mrs. Newton joins him—Letter to a Relative—Reflections on the New Year—Religious State of Liver pool —- J edediah Buxton —— Commences Housekeeping — Prints Thoughts on Religious Associations—Lottery Ticket—Baptism— His Candour—Studies and Religious Exercises—Diary Thoughts— Letters to an Old Correspondent—Mr. Wesley—Diary—Befusal to take Fees. CHAPTER IV. FROM HIS FIRST 'ruouou'rs OF THE MINISTRY TO HIS SETTLEMENT AT OLNEY .. .. .. .. .. _. .. .. 94 [1757—1764.] First Thoughts of the Ministry—Dr. Taylor of Norwich—Journey to Yorkshire—Special Season of Prayer and Meditation in reference to the Ministry—Preaches at Leeds—Seeks Ordination in the Church of England, and refused—Mr. Okeley—Pnblic Events— Publishes Sermons—Supplies the Independent Church at Warwick —Speaks in the House of Mr. Grimshaw at Haworth—Letters— Observations on the Reformers—Begins to Expound the Scrip tures in his Family—Visits Yorkshire—Death of the Rev. Mr. Jones of St. Saviour’s, London—Views of the Ministry—Preaches at Bolton—Letter to the Rev. J. Warhurst—First Sketch of his Narrative—Mr. Haweis—Proposal to take Orders in the Church— In Yorkshire—Providential Escape—Ecclesiastical History— Accepts the Curacy of Oluey—Receives Deacon‘s Orders—Preaches at Liverpool—Ordained Priest—Olney—Mr. Whitefield‘s Letter. Contents. ix PART II. CURATE OF OLNEY. CHAPTER V. Page OLNEY. [1764—1766] .. .. .. .. .. .. 129 First Impressions of Olney—His Ministerial Work—Hampshan— Quotations from Diary —His Housekeeper -— Narrative Printed —Loss of his Property—Mr. Thornton—Death of Mr. John Cutlett — Great House —— Children’s Meetings — Mr. Ryland— Delicacy. of Feeling—New Gallery—Mr. Bowman -—-Visitors— Reflections—Lord Dartmouth’s Proposal declined— Dunton— Messrs. Brewer and Cluuie—Mr. Thornton's liberality—Prayer Meetings—Personal Experience—Illness of Mrs. Newton—Corres pondence with Wesley —- Samson Occum—Mr. Bull—Pastoral Work — Mr. Maddock — Mr. West — Letters — Proposal from Mr. Venn. CHAPTER VI. Crissy—continued. [1767—1769] .. .. .. .. 154 ‘ The Cottenhum Afl'air’—Publishes Sermons—Journey into York shire—Visitors—Journey to Huntingdon—Letter to Mr. Cowper —Mrs. Unwin and Mr. Cowper at Oluey—New Vicarage— Reflections—Catholic Spirit—Correspondence of Capt. Scott and Mr. Newton—Mr. Newton in Norfolk—Letters—Dr. Dixon— State of things at Olney— Letters—Great Room in the Great House -— Capt. Scott —- Cards -—- Collingtree -— Oxford—Illness— Death of Capt. Clunie—Publishes his Review of Ecclesiastical History—Remarks thereon. CHAPTER VII. OLNEY—co'ntinued. [1770—1773] .. .. .. .. 171 Death of the Rev. John Cowper, and of the Rev. George Whitefield— Letters to Mr. Cowper and Mr. Brewer—From Messrs. Venn and Edwards—Miss Manesty—State of things at Oluey--Lettcr to Mrs.