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John Newton (1725-1807), sailor, preacher and hymnwriter, was one of the most colourful figures in the great Evangelical Revival of the 18th Century. ‘Once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa,’ he wrote for his own epitaph, ‘by the rich mercy of Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long laboured to destroy’.
It was through his correspondence that Newton fulfilled his distinctive work as ‘the letter writer par excellence of the Evangelical Revival’. His grasp of Scripture and deep personal experience, his many friends (among them, George Whitefield, William Cowper and William Wilberforce), his manifold trials, his country pastorate, his strong, clear, idiomatic style — all these factors combined to prepare the author of ‘How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds’, for the exercise of his special gift.
These practical letters cover a wide variety of subjects and aim ‘to conform the believer to Christ’.
It was through his correspondence that Newton fulfilled his distinctive work as ‘the letter writer par excellence of the Evangelical Revival’. His grasp of Scripture and deep personal experience, his many friends (among them, George Whitefield, William Cowper and William Wilberforce), his manifold trials, his country pastorate, his strong, clear, idiomatic style — all these factors combined to prepare the author of ‘How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds’, for the exercise of his special gift.
These practical letters cover a wide variety of subjects and aim ‘to conform the believer to Christ’.
226 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
24 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
John Newton
126 books102 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Please see: John Newton
John Newton was born in London and at age eleven went to sea with his father, a shipmaster on the Mediterranean. Disregarding his mother's prayer that he enter the ministry, he engaged in the lucrative but brutal African slave trade for a number of years. Afterwards, he served in the Church of England as pastor of Olney parish and later of the combined church of St. Mary's in London. In addition to the words of "Amazing Grace," Newton was a prolific songwriter whose other well-known hymns include "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken" and "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds."
Please see: John Newton
John Newton was born in London and at age eleven went to sea with his father, a shipmaster on the Mediterranean. Disregarding his mother's prayer that he enter the ministry, he engaged in the lucrative but brutal African slave trade for a number of years. Afterwards, he served in the Church of England as pastor of Olney parish and later of the combined church of St. Mary's in London. In addition to the words of "Amazing Grace," Newton was a prolific songwriter whose other well-known hymns include "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken" and "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds."
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 31, 2022
I have read books of letters before and I always approach them with some trepidation. It feels too intrusive—like, what business do I have reading someone else's personal letters? But Newton has this remarkable gift: every single letter feels as if it's written to you. And they are really something. Newton is unflinching in asserting God's complete and sovereign Providence. His writing is a deep well of encouragement and advice that I will return to often.
December 18, 2024
I can’t wait to start rereading this book… it truly is worth reading over and over again.
“Let us then, dear madam, be thankful and cheerful, and while we take shame to ourselves, let us glorify God by giving Jesus the honour due to his name. Though we are poor, he is rich; though we are weak, he is strong; though we have nothing, he possesses all things. He suffered for us; he calls us to be conformed to him in sufferings…. It is good to have one eye fixed on ourselves, but the other should ever be fixed on him who stands in the relation of our Saviour, Husband, Head, and Shepherd. In him we have righteousness, peace, and power. He can control all that we fear; so that if our path should be through fire or through water, neither the flood should drown us, nor the flame kindle upon us, and ere long he will cut short our conflicts, and say, Come up hither. ‘Then shall our grateful songs abound, and every tear be wiped away.’ Having such promises and assurances let us lift up our banner in his name, and press on through every discouragement.”
A long quote to put on Goodreads… but wow is it good!
“Let us then, dear madam, be thankful and cheerful, and while we take shame to ourselves, let us glorify God by giving Jesus the honour due to his name. Though we are poor, he is rich; though we are weak, he is strong; though we have nothing, he possesses all things. He suffered for us; he calls us to be conformed to him in sufferings…. It is good to have one eye fixed on ourselves, but the other should ever be fixed on him who stands in the relation of our Saviour, Husband, Head, and Shepherd. In him we have righteousness, peace, and power. He can control all that we fear; so that if our path should be through fire or through water, neither the flood should drown us, nor the flame kindle upon us, and ere long he will cut short our conflicts, and say, Come up hither. ‘Then shall our grateful songs abound, and every tear be wiped away.’ Having such promises and assurances let us lift up our banner in his name, and press on through every discouragement.”
A long quote to put on Goodreads… but wow is it good!
October 12, 2015
This is by far one of the best devotionals I have ever read. I will be returning to it frequently. It is honest, humble, gospel centered, practical, and helpful. I recommend it highly!
Update: Second read through is just as good as the first! This is a book that will strike you at different places the next time you read it depending on where you are at that time. I imagine this will stay in my devotional rotation for years to come.
Update: Second read through is just as good as the first! This is a book that will strike you at different places the next time you read it depending on where you are at that time. I imagine this will stay in my devotional rotation for years to come.
July 23, 2022
Wonderful. Pastoral and filled with wise counsel.
March 13, 2021
I feel like I’m always going to love anything I read by John Newton, be it a letter, a sermon, or a hymn.
I’m also slowly working through his letters to John Ryland, Jr., which will get 5 stars (more if there were more stars offered).
This collection was great but I like the context and continuity and context of the Ryland letters a bit more.
I’m also slowly working through his letters to John Ryland, Jr., which will get 5 stars (more if there were more stars offered).
This collection was great but I like the context and continuity and context of the Ryland letters a bit more.
January 16, 2022
Newton is wise, incisive and warm. A joy to read.
January 22, 2013
The art of the pastoral letter is gone. This isn't really that sad because it has largely been replaced by blogs which is a good thing. But these letters of John Newton are drenched with truth and glorious weighty doctrine and written with such a tender pastoral voice. When you're explaining something you are passionate about to someone you love, really cool things happen.
January 1, 2019
Have you ever heard a song that spoke to you in a profound way, only to listen to an interview with the songwriter and find him lacking all the warmth, perception and wisdom that the song had suggested?
If your favorite hymn is "Amazing Grace," I'm happy to report that your experience will be the exact opposite. John Newton's letters, to different correspondents, on divers topics, will impress you with their wisdom, their perception and their warm pastoral care. You will like John Newton, you'll learn from him; you'll receive a great measure of the careful instruction and encouragement he intended for his correspondents over 200 years ago.
If your favorite hymn is "Amazing Grace," I'm happy to report that your experience will be the exact opposite. John Newton's letters, to different correspondents, on divers topics, will impress you with their wisdom, their perception and their warm pastoral care. You will like John Newton, you'll learn from him; you'll receive a great measure of the careful instruction and encouragement he intended for his correspondents over 200 years ago.
August 2, 2020
John Newton writes of the systematic out flowing of Scripture into the daily practical lives of ordinary Christians. This is a thoroughly Christ exalting work. The work is absolutely timeless and points us towards a life of dependence upon Christ and Christ alone in this world. Nothing is new under the sun. All our perceived “modern” crises have been faced before and all submit to the Sovereignty of God. What an encouraging read!
March 28, 2023
I read this for the 2023 Lit Life reading Challenge "Book of Letters"
Sinclair Ferguson mentioned it on his week-daily podcast, Things Unseen, earlier this year (excellent podcast, BTW) and decided to read it for the challenge.
While all of the letters were fine, some of them were superlative. In particular, Letter 17 "Controversy" is well worth reading for the modern climate of discussion.
Sinclair Ferguson mentioned it on his week-daily podcast, Things Unseen, earlier this year (excellent podcast, BTW) and decided to read it for the challenge.
While all of the letters were fine, some of them were superlative. In particular, Letter 17 "Controversy" is well worth reading for the modern climate of discussion.
June 26, 2017
John Newton was an incredible pastor.
His love for people is clear in his letters, accompanying thoughtful, gracious, biblical wisdom.
These letters are well worth your time if you're a Christian. If you aspire to full time ministry, I think at least some Newton is mandatory. He models living patience in remarkable ways.
His love for people is clear in his letters, accompanying thoughtful, gracious, biblical wisdom.
These letters are well worth your time if you're a Christian. If you aspire to full time ministry, I think at least some Newton is mandatory. He models living patience in remarkable ways.
August 13, 2024
This is evangelical spirituality (and pastoral theology) at its best. This volume, and his letters more generally, deserve to be ranked among the spiritual classics. And their length make them perfect for daily devotional reading.
July 3, 2023
My favorite.
March 16, 2024
There are so many helpful and timeless trinkets in this book!
January 27, 2025
I will definitely go back to some of these letters! John Newton has a wealth of wisdom in Christ!
June 10, 2020
I might be rereading this collection of letters for the rest of my life. John Newton is that wise and shares his grace-infused wisdom that beautifully.
May 10, 2019
John Newton's wisdom and graciousness make it no surprise that so many people wrote to him seeking advice. His responses are Biblical and practical, which is why they remain relevant today, over two hundred years after his death.
June 25, 2014
I've heard it said by others that apart from the Scriptures themselves, no single work sets the mind aright and steadies the soul as does Newton's letters. I wholeheartedly agree. Not only do I recommend John Newton's pastoral letters (any compilation) as a worthy read, I recommend them as a worthy *annual* read.
I can't recall a single letter that hasn't prompted my gratitude for and dependency upon our Savior's glorious person and saving work in one way or another. That said, those letters that have fed my soul in a particular way during this season of time include:
- Controversy
- What the Believer Can Attain to In This Life
- How to Meet the Assaults of Satan
- How to Keep Close to the Lord
- Submission to the Will of the Lord
I can't recall a single letter that hasn't prompted my gratitude for and dependency upon our Savior's glorious person and saving work in one way or another. That said, those letters that have fed my soul in a particular way during this season of time include:
- Controversy
- What the Believer Can Attain to In This Life
- How to Meet the Assaults of Satan
- How to Keep Close to the Lord
- Submission to the Will of the Lord
September 2, 2015
Excellent!
November 20, 2021
Read pages 139-147, rock solid gold; they are double rock-solid gold.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews