John Newton on Christian Growth Part III: The Full Corn in the Ear

This concludes John Newton’s three part series of letters on Christian growth.  I hope to return to it many times over the years.  Enjoy!

John Newton’s Letters

C; or, The full corn in the ear

“First the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear”. Mark 4:28

Dear Sir,

By way of distinction, I assigned to ‘A’ the characteristic of desire, to ‘B’ that of conflict. I can think of no single word more descriptive of the state of ‘C’ than contemplation. His eminence, in comparison of ‘A’, does not consist in the sensible warmth and fervency of his affections: in this respect many of the most exemplary believers have looked back with a kind of regret upon the time of their espousals, when, though their judgments were but imperfectly formed, and their views of Gospel truths were very indistinct, they felt a fervor of spirit, the remembrance of which is both humbling and refreshing; and yet they cannot recall the same sensations. Nor is he properly distinguished from ‘B’ by a consciousness of his acceptance in the Beloved, and an ability of calling God his Father; for this I have supposed ‘B’ has attained to.

Though, as there is a growth in every grace, ‘C’, having had his views of the Gospel, and of the Lord’s faithfulness and mercy, confirmed by a longer experience, his assurance is of course more stable and more simple, than when he first saw himself safe from all condemnation. Neither has ‘C’, properly speaking, any more strength or stock of grace inherent in himself than ‘B’, or even than ‘A’. He is in the same state of absolute dependence, as incapable of performing spiritual acts, or of resisting temptations by his own power, as he was at the first day of his setting out. Yet in a sense he is much stronger, because he has a more feeling and constant sense of his own weakness. The Lord has been long teaching him this lesson by a train of various dispensations; and through grace he can say, that he has not suffered so many things in vain.

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The Nature of Temptation: Proverbs 1:8-32

Proverbs 1:8-31:  The Nature of Temptation

Last week we began looking at proverbs, and the purpose of that book.  We concluded that wisdom is not simply street smarts, but the skill and the ability to navigate life in all its complexity.  The purpose of the book of Proverbs, as we talked about last week, is to impart this kind of wisdom.

We normally think of Proverbs as a random collection of wise sayings, last week showed that there is a reason for this gathering of texts.  As we continue through the first nine chapters of proverbs; the program of this book is laid out in more and more detail.

The author uses several devices in the first nine chapters of Proverbs.  One of the most distinctive is by writing speeches from a father to his son.  In the first of these discourses, the father begins to talk to his son about the nature of temptation.  He lays out a temptation which would have been common to the young man, and that is the temptation to join a gang.  The father puts his voice behind this gang and delivers the speech that they will give in order to entice the son.  He says, “If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit.” (Proverbs 1:11-12 ESV)  Does that sound enticing to you?  Of course it doesn’t!

The father and mother in this text know what their son will be facing in life, and they are attempting to give him a glimpse behind the scenes.  They know that temptation will never present itself honestly, so they attempt to paint a more accurate picture of what the son will be enticed to.

1:11-14 paints a picture of a gang

Comprised of young (maybe privileged) men

They waylay the innocent

They murder without cause

They entice with easy money, power, excitement, and camaraderie

When you get to the end of that account, you wonder “who would even be tempted by this.”  For some, joining a gang for organized crime is a temptation.  Probably not for us.  Either way, that’s not the point:  vs. 19 says, “Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain.  It takes away the life of its possessors.”

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John Newton on Christian Growth Part II: Grace in the Ear

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,

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What’s wrong with me?

Often when we go through spiritually dry times, we can hear others talk of their delight in Christ and wonder, “What’s wrong with me?” It is important to know that these seasons are common. More than that, these seasons are not only common, but purpsoeful. In other words, we don’t go through the dark nights of our souls because God isn’t paying attention to us, as much as it might feel like that. Rather, God is the engineer of these times, because in His sovereign wisdom, He knows we need them. I have found no better exposition of this truth than in John Newton’s hymn “I asked the Lord…” The spiritual truth in this hymn should be a comfort to all sin sick and weary souls. You can find all the music for a contemporary setting of this hymn here or find the cd here.
I Asked The Lord

1. I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith and love and every grace
Might more of His salvation know
And seek more earnestly His face

2. Twas He who taught me thus to pray
And He I trust has answered prayer
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair

3. I hoped that in some favored hour
At once He’d answer my request
And by His love’s constraining power
Subdue my sins and give me rest

4. Instead of this He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart
And let the angry powers of Hell
Assault my soul in every part

5. Yea more with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Cast out my feelings, laid me low

6. Lord why is this, I trembling cried
Wilt Thou pursue thy worm to death?
“Tis in this way” The Lord replied
“I answer prayer for grace and faith”

7. “These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set thee free
And break thy schemes of earthly joy
That thou mayest seek thy all in me,
That thou mayest seek thy all in me.”

©2004 double v music (ASCAP).
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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What is Really Important?

As I hear people debate how to move the church forward, whether in light of our current Episcopal controversies, or just simply debating how to structure our church for tomorrow, it worries me to hear what the primary concerns can be for most people.  In the opening chapters of John’s Revelation, Jesus speaks to the visible churches.  He encourages some to persever and others to repent.  It is, in fact, the last direct word from Jesus given to the Church Catholic before He returns.  He knows that for centuries His people will be being slaughtered.  He knows His church will be constantly tempted to sloth and compromise.  He knows that at times she will be overrun with corruption and other times she’ll be conquered by heresy.  He knows of every schism she’ll ever face.  More importantly, He knows exactly what His church needs.  So, what does He tell Her?  This is J.C. Ryle’s commentary on those seven letters

But I want you to observe that you will not find the Lord, in any of the epistles, dwelling upon church government or ceremonies. He says nothing about sacraments or ordinances. He makes no mention of liturgies or forms. He does not instruct John to write one word about baptism, or the Lord’s Supper, or the apostolical succession of ministers. In short, the leading principles of what may be called ‘the sacramental system’ are not brought forward in any one of the seven epistles from first to last.

Now why do I dwell on this? I do it because many professing Christians in the present day would have us believe these things are of first, of cardinal, of paramount importance.

There are not a few who seem to hold that there can be no church without a bishop, and no godliness without a liturgy. They appear to believe that to teach the value of the sacraments is the first work of a minister, and to keep to their parish church the first business of a people.

Now let no man misunderstand me when I say this. Do not run away with the notion that I see no importance in sacraments. On the contrary, I regard them as great blessings to all who receive them ‘rightly, worthily and with faith’. Do not fancy that I attach no value to episcopacy, a liturgy and the parochial system. On the contrary, I consider that a church well administered, which has these three things, and an evangelical ministry, is a far more complete and useful church than one in which they are not to be found.

But this I say, that sacraments, church government, the use of a liturgy, the observance of ceremonies and forms, are all as nothing compared to faith, repentance and holiness. And my authority for so saying is the whole tenor of our Lord’s words to the seven churches.

I never can believe, if a certain form of church government was so very important as some say, that the great Head of the church would have said nothing about it here. I should have expected to have found something said about it to Sardis and Laodicea. But I find nothing at all. And I think that silence is a great fact.

You can read the rest here

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