John Newton Quotes & Sayings

If we seem to get no good by attempting to draw near to Him, we may be sure we will get none by keeping away from Him. — John Newton

God works powerfully, but for the most part gently and gradually. — John Newton

By affliction prayer is quickened, for our prayers are very apt to grow languid and formal in a time of ease. — John Newton

What will it profit a man if he gains his cause and silences his adversary if at the same time he loses that humble, tender frame of spirit in which the Lord delights, and to which the promise of his presence is made? — John Newton

I once was lost, but now am found, — John Newton

Our work is great; our time is short; the consequences of our labors are infinite. — John Newton

I compare the troubles which we have to undergo in the course of the year to a great bundle of sticks, far too large for us to lift. But God does not require us to carry the whole at once. He mercifully unties the bundle, and gives us first one stick, which we are to carry today, and then another, which we are to carry tomorrow, and so on. This we might easily manage, if we would only take the burden appointed for us each day; but we choose to increase our troubles by carrying yesterday's stick over again today, and adding tomorrow's burden to our load, before we are required to bear it. — John Newton

Assurance grows by repeated conflict, by our repeated experimental proof of the Lord's power and goodness to save; when we have been brought very low and helped, sorely wounded and healed, cast down and raised again, have given up all hope, and been suddenly snatched from danger, and placed in safety; and when these things have been repeated to us and in us a thousand times over, we begin to learn to trust simply to the word and power of God, beyond and against appearances: and this trust, when habitual and strong, bears the name of assurance; for even assurance has degrees. — John Newton

There is many a thing which the world calls disappointment; but there is no such thing in the dictionary of faith. What to others are disappointments are to believers intimations of the will of God. — John Newton

We are engaged in a good cause, fight under a good Captain, the victory is sure beforehand, and the prize is a crown - a crown of eternal life. — John Newton

Christ has taken our nature into Heaven to represent us; and has left us on earth, with His nature, to represent Him. — John Newton

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

Many have puzzled themselves about the origin of evil. I am content to observe that there is evil, and that there is a way to escape from it, and with this I begin and end. — John Newton

I am a great Sinner and God is a great Savior — John Newton

Let me endeavor to lead you out of yourself: let me invite you to look unto Jesus. — John Newton

A real friendship should not fade as time passes, and should not weaken because of space separation. — John Newton

Whoever is truly humbled - will not be easily angry, nor harsh or critical of others. He will be compassionate and tender to the infirmities of his fellow-sinners, knowing that if there is a difference - it is grace alone which has made it! He knows that he has the seeds of every evil in his own heart. And under all trials and afflictions - he will look to the hand of the Lord, and lay his mouth in the dust, acknowledging that he suffers much less than his iniquities have deserved. — John Newton

I endeavored to renounce society, that I might avoid temptation. But it was a poor religion; so far as it prevailed, only tended to make me gloomy, stupid, unsociable, and useless. — John Newton

The best advice I can give you: Look unto Jesus, beholding his beauty in the written word. — John Newton

So long as men are compassionate to such a degree that they cannot hear a fly struggling in a spider's web without emotion it can never be reasonably maintained that it is their natural impulse to wound and kill the dumb animals, or to butcher one another in what is called the field of honour. — John Newton

If it were possible for me to alter any part of his plan, I could only spoil it. — John Newton

When I would do good, evil is present with me. But, blessed be God, though we must feel hourly cause for shame and humiliation for what we are in ourselves, we have cause to rejoice continually in Christ Jesus, who, as He is revealed unto us under the various names, characters, relations, and offices, which He bears in the Scripture, holds out to our faith a balm for every wound, a cordial for every discouragement, and a sufficient answer to every objection which sin or Satan can suggest against our peace. — John Newton

When people are right with God, they are apt to be hard on themselves and easy on other people. But when they are not right with God, they are easy on themselves and hard on others. — John Newton

the chief and grand means of edification, without which all other helps will disappoint us, and prove like clouds without water - are the Bible and prayer - the Word of grace and the Throne of grace. — John Newton

By one hour's intimate access to the throne of grace, where the Lord causes His glory to pass before the soul that seeks Him you may acquire more true spiritual knowledge and comfort than a day's or a week's converse with the best of men, or the most. — John Newton

We have no clear ideas of the agency of [demonic] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but tells us plainly that he is always watching us, and desiring to sift us as wheat. I believe we give him no more than his due, when we charge him with having a hand in all our sins. I believe he cuts us all out abundance of work. — John Newton

Though the island of Great Britain exhibits but a small spot upon the map of the globe, it makes a splendid appearance in the history of mankind, and for a long space has been signally under the protection of God and a seat of peace, liberty and truth. — John Newton

Indeed, every sin, in its own nature, has a tendency towards a final apostacy; but there is a provision in the covenant of grace, and the Lord, in His own time, returns to convince, humble, pardon, comfort, and renew the soul. He touches the rock, and the waters flow. By repeated experiments and exercises of this sort (for this wisdom is seldom acquired by one or a few lessons), we begin at length to learn that we are nothing, have nothing, can do nothing, but sin. And thus we are gradually prepared to live more out of ourselves, and to derive all our sufficiency of every kind from Jesus, the fountain of grace. — John Newton

Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior. — John Newton

You have liberty to cast all your cares upon him who cares for you. By one hour's intimate access to the throne of grace, where the Lord causes his glory to pass before the soul that seeks him - you may acquire more true spiritual knowledge and comfort, than by a day or a week's converse with the best of men, or the most studious perusal of many folios. — John Newton

Safely through another week, GOD has brought us on our way, Let us now a blessing seek On th' approaching sabbath-day: — John Newton

It is indeed natural to us to wish and to plan, and it is merciful in the Lord to disappoint our plans, and to cross our wishes. For we cannot be safe, much less happy, but in proportion as we are weaned from our own wills, and made simply desirous of being directed by his guidance. — John Newton

O my Savior, Shield, and Sun, Shepherd, Brother, Husband, Friend, Every precious name in one; I will love thee without end. — John Newton

Thou art coming to a King, large petitions with thee bring, for His grace and power are such none can ever ask too much. — John Newton

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

How unspeakably wonderful to know that all our concerns are held in hands that bled for us. — John Newton

Faith upholds a Christian under all trials, by assuring him that every painful dispensation is under the direction of his Lord. — John Newton

"What Thou wilt, when Thou wilt, how Thou wilt." I had rather speak these three sentences from my heart in my mother tongue than be master of all the languages in Europe. — John Newton

Zeal without knowledge is like expedition to a man in the dark. — John Newton

A minister full of comforts & free from failings as an angel, though he would be happy, wouldn't be a good or useful preacher — John Newton

The Christian must know 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. — John Newton

The midsummer sun shines but dim, The fields strive in vain to look gay; But when I am happy in Him December's as pleasant as May. — John Newton

I look upon prayer-meetings as the most profitable exercises (excepting the public preaching) in which Christians can engage. They have a direct tendency to kill a worldly, trifling spirit, and to draw down a Divine blessing upon all our concerns, compose differences, and enkindle (at least maintain) the flames of Divine love amongst brethren. — John Newton

My grand point in preaching is to break the hard heart, and to heal the broken one. — John Newton

Poison is seldom taken in the gross; but, if mingled with food, the mischief is not suspected until it is discovered by the effect. — John Newton

From the time we know the Lord, and are bound to him by the cords of love and gratitude - the two chief points we should have in our view, I apprehend, are, to maintain communion with him in our own souls, and to glorify him in the sight of men. — John Newton

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. — John Newton

If you once love Him, you will study to please Him. — John Newton

The art of spreading rumors may be compared to the art of pin-making. There is usually some truth, which I call the wire; as this passes from hand to hand, one gives it a polish, another a point, others make and put on the head, and at last the pin is completed. — John Newton

I make it a rule of Christian duty never to go to a place where there is not room for my Master as well as myself. — John Newton

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. — John Newton

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

May the cheering contemplation of the glorious hope set before us - support and animate us to improve our short interval on earth, and fill us with a holy ambition of shining as lights in this evil world, to the praise and glory of His grace - who has called us out of darkness, into His glorious light! — John Newton

Thus those who are employed in poisoning souls, generally make use of some important and beneficial truth, as a vehicle by which they convey their malignant drug into the minds of the unwary! — John Newton

Of all people who engage in controversy, we, who are called Calvinists, are most expressly bound by our own principles to the exercise of gentleness and moderation. — John Newton

I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am — John Newton

If two angels were to receive at the same moment a commission from God, one to go down and rule earth's grandest empire, the other to go and sweep the streets of its meanest village, it would be a matter of entire indifference to each which service fell to his lot, the post of ruler or the post of scavenger; for the joy of the angels lies only in obedience to God's will, and with equal joy they would lift a Lazarus in his rags to Abraham's bosom, or be a chariot of fire to carry an Elijah home. — John Newton

Thus the Lord, by pain, sickness, and disappointments, by breaking our cisterns and withering our gourds - weakens our attachment to this world, and makes the thought of leaving it, more easy and more desirable. — John Newton

A soul disengaged from the world is a heavenly one; and then are we ready for heaven when our heart is there before us. — John Newton

When I was young, I was sure of many things; now there are only two things of which I am sure: one is, that I am a miserable sinner; and the other, that Christ is an all-sufficient Saviour. He is well-taught who learns these two lessons. — John Newton

So dress and conduct yourself so that people who have been in your company will not recall what you had on. — John Newton

[ ... ]when we have been brought very low and helped, sorely wounded and healed, cast down and raised again, have given up all hope
and been suddenly snatched from danger, and placed in safety; and when these things have been repeated to us and in us a thousand times over, we begin to learn to trust simply to the word and power of God, beyond and against appearances[ ... ] — John Newton

If our zeal is embittered by expressions of anger, invective, or scorn - we may think we are doing service of the cause of truth, when in reality we shall only bring it into discredit! — John Newton

Afflictions quicken us to prayer. It is a pity it should be so; but experience testifies, that a long course of ease and prosperity, without painful changes - has an unhappy tendency to make us cold and formal in our secret worship. But troubles rouse our spirits, and constrain us to call upon the Lord in good earnest - when we feel a need of that help which we only can have from his almighty arm. Afflictions are useful, and in a degree necessary, to keep alive in us - a conviction of the vanity and unsatisfying nature of the present world, and all its enjoyments; to remind us that this world is not our rest, and to call our thoughts upwards, where our true treasure is, and where our heart ought to be. When things go on much to our wish, our hearts are too prone to say, It is good to be here! — John Newton

I began to understand the security of the covenant of grace, and to expect to be preserved, not by my own power and holiness, but by the mighty power and promise of God, through faith in an unchangeable Savior. — John Newton

There are many who stumble in the noon-day, not for want of light, but for want of eyes. — John Newton

To embrace what are called the Calvinistic doctrines was an infallible token of a humble mind. — John Newton

Whether men are pleased or not, we will, we must, worship the Lamb that was slain. — John Newton

The Law was given by Moses; the moral law, to discover the extent and abounding sin; the ceremonial law, to point out, by typical sacrifices and ablutions, the way in which forgiveness was to be sought and obtained. But grace, to relieve us from the condemnation of the one, and truth answerable to the types and shadows of the other, came by Jesus Christ. — John Newton

I know not a better rule of reading the Scripture, than to read it through from beginning to end and when we have finished it once, to begin it again. We shall meet with many passages which we can make little improvement of, but not so many in the second reading as in the first, and fewer in the third than in the second: provided we pray to him who has the keys to open our understandings, and to anoint our eyes with His spiritual ointment. — John Newton

We serve a gracious Master who knows how to overrule even our mistakes to his glory and our own advantage. — John Newton

A secret dependence upon our prayers, tears, resolutions, repentance and endeavors, prevents us from looking solely and simply to the Savior, so as to ground our whole hope for acceptance upon his obedience unto death, and his whole mediation. — John Newton

We can easily manage if we will only take, each day, the burden appointed to it. But the load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterday's burden over again today, and then add the burden of the morrow before we are required to bear it. — John Newton

If we venture beyond the pale of Scripture, we are ... exposed to all the illusions of imagination and enthusiasm. — John Newton

Though troubles assail And dangers affright, Though friends should all fail And foes all unite; Yet one thing secures us, Whatever betide, The scripture assures us, The Lord will provide. — John Newton

All shall work together for good; everything is needful that He sends; nothing can be needful that He withholds. — John Newton

Zeal is that pure and heavenly flame,The fire of love supplies ;While that which often bears the name,Is self in a disguise.True zeal is merciful and mild,Can pity and forbear ;The false is headstrong, fierce and wild,And breathes revenge and war. — John Newton

The unchangeableness of the Lord's love, and the riches of his mercy, are likewise more illustrated by the multiplied pardons He bestows upon his people - than if they needed no forgiveness at all. — John Newton

The weapons of our warfare, and which alone are powerful to break down the strongholds of error, are not carnal, but spiritual. They are arguments fairly drawn from Scripture and experience, and enforced by such a mild address, as may persuade our readers, that, whether we can convince them or not - we wish well to their souls, and contend only for the truth's sake. If we can satisfy them that we act upon these motives, our point is half gained; they will be more disposed to consider calmly what we offer; and if they should still dissent from our opinions, they will be constrained to approve our intentions. — John Newton

We learn to tread more warily, to trust less to our own strength, to have lower thoughts of ourselves, and higher thoughts of Him; in which two last particulars I apprehend what the Scripture means by a growth of grace does properly consist. Both are increasing in the lively Christian: - -every day shows him more of his own heart, and more of the power, sufficiency, compassion, and grace of his adorable Redeemer; but neither will be complete till we get to Heaven. I — John Newton

How Sweet the name of Jesus ... the rock on which I build, my shield and hiding place, my never failing treasury, filled with boundless stores of grace. — John Newton

As to myself, if I were not a Calvinist, I think I should have no more hope of success in preaching to men, than to horses or cows. — John Newton

We judge things by their present appearances, but the Lord sees them in their consequences. — John Newton

God sometimes does His work with gentle drizzle, not storms. — John Newton

I am still in the land of the dying; I shall be in the land of the living soon. (his last words) — John Newton

Self-righteousness can feed upon doctrines - as well as upon works! — John Newton

Experience is the Lord's school, and they who are taught by Him usually learn by the mistakes they make that in themselves they have no wisdom; and by their slips and falls, that they have no strength. — John Newton

A bowler can make or break a chap. — John Newton

The wisdom that is from above, is not only pure, but also peaceable and gentle; and the lack of these qualifications, like the dead fly in the jar of ointment, will spoil the fragrance and efficacy of our labors. If we act in a wrong spirit - we shall bring little glory to God; do little good to our fellow creatures; and procure neither honor nor comfort to ourselves! If you can be content with showing your wit, and gaining the laugh on your side - you have an easy task! — John Newton

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

I am persuaded that love and humility are the highest attainments in the school of Christ and the brightest evidences that He is indeed our Master. — John Newton

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. — John Newton

May we sit at the foot of the cross; and there learn what sin has done, what justice has done, what love has done. — John Newton

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds In a believer's ear! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, And drives away his fear. — John Newton

But by the grace of God I am what I am — John Newton

I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see. — John Newton

Savior, 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. — John Newton

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

Time, by moments, steals away, First the hour, and then the day; Small the daily loss appears, Yet it soon amounts to years — John Newton

How many times has He delivered me! Yet, alas! How distrustful and ungrateful is my heart even until the present! — John Newton