THE strong desire which Mr. Newton entertained, after his conversion, to preach the gospel, never forsook him. It was not one of those transient fits of zeal which are common to young converts, and which frequently decline of themselves, or are lost in consequence of worldly pursuits or connexions. His desire to bring sinners to God, appears to have been constant and invin. cible, notwithstanding the diffi culties which occurred. He was far, however, from acting precipitately in this important affair: he seems to have weighed it in his mind for several years, before he was determined on entering fully into the ministry, and relinquishing his situation at Liverpool.

His first public attempts to preach the word were made at Warwick. After the removal of the late Mr. Ryland from a dissenting church in that town, a separation took place; and several pious persons, who were Pædobaptists, assembled together for worship in a dwellinghouse, previously to the erection of that chapel in which Mr. Rowley preached for some time,

VOL. I. New Series.

after him Mr. Moody, for about twenty years. Mr. Vennor, a

• A circumstance relating to the family of this gentlemen is worth recording;-At a time when the Nonwick, the grandfather of Mr. Vennor conformists were persecuted in Warhappened to be one of the constables of that town; and was obliged, by his office, with other constables, to break up a conventicle, and take the attendants into custody. This was

upon a Sunday. They attended with their prisoners at the court-house, waiting for the magistrates' return from church; but, from what cause is uncertain, they did not come; and prisoner with him to his house each constable agreed to take a pris. to dinner. Through the blessing of God on the conversation of that

day, Mr. Vennor was brought to the knowledge of the truth, and be came a dissenter himself, preferring the cause of the prosecuted to that of the persecutors ;-and his grandson was the father of a new interest in the town, which became, (especially under the ministry of the late Mr. Moody) of very important service to the souls of men. Thus the only wise God, our Saviour, causes the wrath of man to praise him? Mr. Vennor not only built the meeting-house, but left a minister's house, and four hundred and sixty pounds to the place, so long as the gospel shall be preached therein, according to the doctrine held forth in the As

sembly's Shorter Catechism.

N

leading person among those who formed this new interest, having received a very strong recommendation of Mr. Newton from Mr. Brewer, of Stepney, invited him to preach to them for six weeks on probation. He accordingly came (we believe, in the year 1759) with Mrs. Newton. During his stay here, he used to retire on Saturdays, and sometimes on other days, to the grove, in Lord Dormar's park, about two miles from Warwick, and to other sequestered spots, where he composed his sermons. Though he did not fix among this people, yet he always retained a peculiar affection for them; and he has been heard to say, long after he settled at Olney, that the very name of Warwick, would at any time make his heart leap for joy. It was not the smallness of the congregation at that time, nor the narrow salary

Many years after his visit to Warwick, he thus expresses his affection: In returning from Shropshire, we spent two nights at Warwick: the first time I have been there since my proposed settlement was over-ruled. There, likewise, we joyed and sorrowed: the people amongst whom my mouth was first opened, and where I met some sweet encouragement on my entrance into the ministry, will always be dear to me they are at present but few,but those few are lively and steady. Letters to C. Clunie, p. 164. Writing to Mr. Vennor, July 19, 1782, he says. "How many mercies has the Lord bestowed upon me since my first visit to Warwick, which is now more than 22 years! I often think of that time with pleasure. There the Lord opened my mouth. Many retired places in your neighbourhood were endeared to me, by seasons which I can still remember, when I was en

abled to seek the Lord, and to pour out before him prayers, which he has since abundantly answered."

proposed to be raised, that prevented his settlement at Warwick; but he was undecided in his mind, whether to go into the established church, or to join the dissenters. Among the latter were his first religious connex. ions, which gave his mind a bias towards them; but he apprehended that disputes in dissenting congregations were common; and an occasional sermon by Mr. Beddome, which he heard at the Baptist meeting at Warwick, had a considerable effect on his mind to increase his disinclination to become a dissenting minister. Indeed, at that period, his min. isterial talents were not very popular; and it does not seem that he was much pressed to settle with any dissenting church.

It was about this time that, being at Leeds, he was desired by the late Rev. Mr. Edwards to preach for him at Whitechapel. He met a party of religious friends at Mr. Edwards' house, which adjoined the chapel; and took his tea (of which he was remarkably fond) with them. When the hour of preaching approached, Mr. E. intimated to him, that if he was disposed to retire from the service (as was then customary with most serious ministers) a room was at his service; but Mr. Newton declined this, saying, he was so well pleas ed with his company, that he was unwilling to leave it; and added, "I am prepared." At the appointed time the service com-. menced; and after prayer, Mr. Newton read his text, which was, "I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." Mr. Newton began fluently; but in a few minutes he

lost all recollection of his plan; was confused, stopped, and desired Mr. Edwards to come up and finish the service. Mr. E. urged him to proceed; but Mr. N. left the pulpit; which Mr. E. ascended, and concluded with an address to the audience, on the importance of the Spirit's agency to help out infirmities. Such was the confusion occasioned by this failure of the young preacher, that when walking in the streets after it, he fancied, if he saw two or three people talking together, that it was the sub. ject of their discourse. Mortifying, however, as this circum. stance was, he learnt by it, no doubt, to put his trust, not in his preparation, nor in his memory, but in the Lord alone.*

After this, Mr. Newton continued to reside at Liverpool; and retained his office of tidesurveyor. He could not, however, be silent. He used to preach in his own house on Lord's Day, evenings. The room was small; yet those who could obtain admission were well pleased and greatly refreshed: some of them are still alive, and mention these seasons with gratitude and joy; for he helped them much who had believed through grace." Mr. Zachary Barnes, an old disciple, many years a deacon of the late Mr. Medley's church, is one of this number; and relates the following anecdote:-On a Lord's Day morning, walking with him to Crosby, a village about six miles from Liverpool, to hear a gospel minister, Mr. Newton took with him a volume of Sau

See some admirable thoughts 'On the Snares and Difficulties attending the Ministry of the Gospel.' -Omicron's Letters, V.

rin's Sermons, in French; which he translated and repeated to his friend in English, as they went together to the house of God; and which Mr. Barnes found exceedingly profitable to him. Indeed he seldom walked in the fields about Liverpool without a book; whereby he acquired much useful knowledge, and by which his conversation was rendered remarkably edifying.

It was not till the 29th of April, 1764, that Mr. Newton obtained episcopal ordination. † For a considerable time he halted between two opinions; but

at last determined on the side of the Establishment. It may be best to state this affair in his own words :-" My first overtures were to the dissenters; and had not the providence of God remarkably interposed to prevent it, I should probably have been a brother with you (a dissenting minister, to whom his Four Letters, entitled "Apologia," are addressed) in every sense: but my designs were over-ruled. A variety of doors by which I sought entrance (for I did not give up upon the first disappointment) were successively shut against me. These repeated de

† After repeated conversations with the Bishop of Lincoln, in which Mr. Newton avowed his sentiments, his lordship declared himself satisfied; and promised to ordain him. The service was performed at Buckden. This was six years after his application to the Archbishop of York, which

did not succeed. Letters to Mrs. N. p. 91. He received deacon's orders April 29; and priest's orders the 15th or 16th of June following.

This book gave considerable of. fence to some of his dissenting brethren; and was answered by Dr. Mayo in a volume entitled, "An Apology and a Shield,"

lays afforded me more time to think and judge for myself; and the more I considered the point, the more my scruples against conformity gave way. Reasons increased upon me, which not only satisfied me that I might conform without sin, but that the preference (as to my own concern) was plainly on that side. Accordingly, in the Lord's due time, after several years waiting to know his will, I sought and obtained episcopal ordination."--"Far from having regretted this interesting part of my conduct for a single hour, I have been more satisfied with it from year to year.

In a letter to Mrs. Newton, dated Liverpool, June 14, 1762, two years before his ordination, he thus expresses his desire to enlarge his attempts in the way of preaching, or expounding, in that town. 66 The wish of many here, the advice of many absent, and my own judgment (I had almost said my conscience) are united on one side; which I think would preponderate against Mr. B's single sentiment, if your fears did not add weight to his scale." He adds, "The death of the late Mr. Jones, of St. Saviour's, has pressed this concern more closely upon my mind. I fear it must be wrong, after having so solemnly devoted myself to the Lord's service, to wear away my time, and bury my talents in silence (because I have been refused orders in the church) after all the great things he has done for me." He then mentions and answers the objections which occurred to him against his plan; and begs Mrs.

* Apologia, p. 49, 50:

Newton to think over what he had urged, and pray for direc tion: and concludes by saying, "Perhaps, before long, it may seem to deserve your approba tion. To hear you say so, would make me quite another person; for while I remain in this suspense, I feel, at times, a burden which I can hardly bear, and cannot possibly shake off." +

By this passage, it appears that Mr. Newton had nearly made up his mind to preach as a dissenter; but Mrs. Newton viewed the matter in a different light; and her interposition at this crisis, had a powerful influence on his determination. This is avow. ed by Mr. Newton, in a note at the bottom of the page just referred to:-"The influence of my judicious and affectionate counsellor, moderated the zeal which dictated the preceding letter, and kept me quiet till the Lord's time came, when I should have the desire of my heart!""I believe no arguments, but hers, could have restrained me for almost two years, from taking a rash step; of which I should perhaps have soon repented, and which would have led me far wide of the honor and comfort I have since been favored with."

It was by the procurement of the late Lord Dartmouth that は Mr. Newton settled at Olney, in Buckinghamshire. The Rev. Moses Brown (author of Sunday Thoughts) had long been vicar of that place; and, on his removal to Morden College, Black

Letters to a Wife, vol. ii. p. 82. Several admirable letters from Mr. Newton to this pious nobleman, appear in the beginning of the first volume of his Cardiphonia.