The Letters of John Newton - Mrs Hannah More 1787

07/18/21 • 9 min

"I aim to speak plain truths to a plain people! May it please the God of all grace, to accompany my feeble endeavors to promote the knowledge of His truth! If my letters are owned to comfort the afflicted, to quicken the careless, to confirm the wavering — I will rejoice." - John Newton
John Newton, well known as the author of the song, Amazing Grace, was radically changed by the Lord Jesus Christ and became an outstanding witness to that grace that never ceased to amaze him. From his letters we come to know a man of great humility and wisdom, and though written some 250 years ago, they continue to comfort and encourage those who take the time to read them.
Of Mrs More, the editor of the Letter, Josiah Bull, writes:
THERE are few, if any, of our readers who are ignorant of the history of this distinguished and most useful woman; who have not become acquainted with the remarkable story of the talents and accomplishments which at an early period of life introduced Miss More into the highest circles of the literary and fashionable world, of her religious enlightenment, and of her energetic and devoted labours, in connexion with her sisters, in the establishment of schools in the darkest neighbourhoods around her and over a wide extent of country, and of the great success, notwithstanding bitter opposition, which followed these efforts, and finally of her tracts and other writings which achieved so extraordinary a popularity: truly a wonderful instance of the blessed fruits of talents sanctified and consecrated to the service of God.

Mr. Newton's acquaintance with Mrs. More commenced in 1787. She had read Cardiphonia. Struck with its truths, and the manner in which they were presented, she sought to know its author, and an interesting correspondence was the result.
[Newton, John. Letters by the Rev. John Newton: Edited by Josiah Bull, Kindle Edition ]

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The Letters of John Newton - Miss Flower 1778 October

"I aim to speak plain truths to a plain people! May it please the God of all grace, to accompany my feeble endeavors to promote the knowledge of His truth! If my letters are owned to comfort the afflicted, to quicken the careless, to confirm the wavering — I will rejoice." - John Newton
John Newton, well known as the author of the song, Amazing Grace, was radically changed by the Lord Jesus Christ and became an outstanding witness to that grace that never ceased to amaze him. From his letters we come to know a man of great humility and wisdom, and though written some 250 years ago, they continue to comfort and encourage those who take the time to read them.
These readings are from the edition of letters edited by Josiah Bull and first published in 1869.
Concerning Miss Flower, the editor writes:
Miss Flower (later Mrs Dawson) was educated at Northampton by Mrs. Trinder, whose school had at that time attained a deserved eminence. Many ladies afterwards known in the religious world, received their first serious impressions under Mrs. Trinder's judicious training.
Mr. Newton was a frequent visitor at the house, and his addresses to the young people were greatly appreciated by them. It was probably here that he first became acquainted with Miss Flower.
In 1782, Miss Flower was united in marriage to John Dawson, Esq. of Aldcliffe Hall, Lancaster—a union which was somewhat suddenly terminated in May 1804, Mrs. Dawson surviving till December 1826.
We are informed that the subject of our notice was possessed of great intelligence and conversational powers, was remarkable for amiability and the cultivation of every Christian grace, and was honoured and beloved by a large circle of friends like-minded with herself.
(Newton, John. Letters by the Rev. John Newton: Edited by Josiah Bull. Kindle Edition.)

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Elizabeth Elliot - a brief biography by Michelle Buckman

Elisabeth Elliot (1926 – 2015) was married to Jim Elliot, who was killed in 1956 while attempting to make missionary contact with the Huaorani people in eastern Ecuador. Together with her young daughter, Valerie, she later spent two years as a missionary to the tribe members who killed her husband.
Returning to the United States after many years in South America, she became widely known as the author of twenty five books (including Through Gates of Splendor, Let Me Be a Woman and Suffering is Never for Nothing) and as a Christian speaker.

Auburn Friends - The Letters of John Newton - Mrs Hannah More 1787

Transcript

To Mrs. Hannah More.

1787

My Dear Madam,

It is high time to thank you for your favour of the first of November. Indeed, I have been thinking so for two or three weeks past; and perhaps it is well for you that my engagements will not permit me to write when I please.

Your hermitage! My imagination went to work at that, and presently built one, I will not say positively as pretty as yours, but very pretty. It stood (indeed without a foundation) upon a southern declivit