No, the title of this letter does not mean that grace comes through the ear. Since the English in the 18th Century didn’t speak American, we sometimes have these little misunderstandings. This refers to grace, in the believer, in the bud. That is, the stage in spiritual growth when we have not yet attained maturity. This is a sort of spiritual adolescents. According to Newton, it is a common experience for a believer to go through a season of dryness, anguish, and guilt after their conversion. The young Christian is zealous and flighty. The maturing Christian is beginning to see just how deep his own sin runs. Contrary to what one might think, as the Christian grows he does not simply grow in more and more peace and joy. Rather, the maturing Christian deepens in his sense of dependence on God. It is very telling that in this letter, more than the letter on the new Christian and the letter on the mature Christian, John Newton uses the first person. Most of us exist in the place of weakness and dependence. This letter is a great encouragement to the struggling believer. Make sure you read it all the way through!
B; or, Grace in the Ear
“First the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” Mark 4:28
Dear Sir,
The manner of the Lord’s work in the hearts of his people is not easily traced; though the fact is certain, and the evidence demonstrable from Scripture. In attempting to explain it, we can only speak in general, and are at a loss to form such a description as shall take in the immense variety of cases which occur in the experience of believers. I have already attempted such a general delineation of a young convert, under the character of ‘A’, and am now to speak of him by the name of ‘B’.
This state I suppose to commence, when the soul, after an interchange of hopes and fears, according to the different frames it passes through, is brought to rest in Jesus, by a spiritual apprehension of his complete suitableness and sufficiency, as the wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption of all who trust in him, and is enabled by an appropriating faith to say, “He is mine, and I am is.” There are various degrees of this persuasion; it is of a growing nature, and is capable of increase so long as we remain in this world. I call it [i]assurance[/i], when it arises from a simple view of the grace and glory of the Savior, independent of our sensible frames and feelings, so as to enable us to answer all objections, from unbelief and Satan, with the Apostle’s words, “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died; yes rather, who is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” Rom. 8:34. This, in my judgment, does not belong to the essence of faith, so that ‘B’ should be deemed more truly a believer than ‘A’, but to the establishment of faith. And now that faith is stronger, it has more to grapple with.
I think the characteristic of the state of ‘A’ is desire, and of ‘B’ is conflict. Not that B’s desires have subsided, or that ‘A’ was a stranger to conflict; but as there was a sensible eagerness and keenness in A’s desires, which, perhaps, is seldom known to be equally strong afterwards, (more…)
Renewed Minds 