I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I want to be. I am not what I hope to be. But still, I am not what I used to be. And by the grace of God, I am what I am.
– John Newton
Grace
Faith upholds a Christian under all trials, by assuring him that every painful dispensation is under the direction of his Lord; that chastisements are a token of His love; 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
Faith | Trials | Chastisement
Trials are medicines which our gracious and wise physician prescribes because we need them; and he proportions the frequency and weight of them to what the case requires.
– John Newton
Trials
God works powerfully, but for the most part gently and gradually.
– John Newton
God
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
Trust | Assurance
If it were possible for me to alter any part of his plan, I could only spoil it.
– John Newton
God
Our righteousness is in Him, and our hope depends, not upon the exercise of grace in us, but upon the fullness of grace and love in Him, and upon His obedience unto death.
– John Newton
Grace | Righteousness
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
Fear
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
Grace
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
Jesus | Fear | Healing
The chief means for attaining wisdom, and suitable gifts for the ministry, are the Holy Scriptures, and prayer.
– John Newton
Wisdom | Gifts | Scripture
My grand point in preaching is to break the hard heart, and to heal the broken one.
– John Newton
Preaching | Brokenness | Healing
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
Love | Humility
One reason why women are forbidden to preach the gospel, is, that they would persuade without argument and reprove without giving offence.
– John Newton
Preaching | The Gospel
A soul may be in as thriving a state when thirsting, seeking and mourning after the Lord as when actually rejoicing in Him; as much in earnest when fighting in the valley as when singing upon the mount.
– John Newton
Joy
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
Holiness
They are the happiest Christians, who have the lowest thoughts of themselves, and in whose eyes Jesus is most glorious and precious.
– John Newton
Happiness
There is a signature of wisdom and power impressed on the works of God, which evidently distinguishes them from the feeble imitations of men.–Not only the splendor of the sun, but the glimmering light of the glowworm, proclaims his glory.
– John Newton
God | Power | Nature
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
Grace
It is necessary that our sharpest trials should sometimes spring from our dearest comforts; else we should be in danger of forgetting ourselves and setting up our rest here.
– John Newton
Trials | Comfort
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 Savior. He is well-taught who learns these two lessons.
– John Newton
Life | Salvation | Youth
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
Pride | Ignorance
God’s people have no assurances that the dark experiences of life will be held at bay; much less that God will provide some sort of running commentary on the meaning of each day’s allotment of confusion, boredom, pain, or achievement. It is no great matter where we are, provided we see that the Lord has placed us there, and that He is with us.
– John Newton
Surrender | Boredom
You are coming to a King, Large petitions with you bring, for his grace and power are such, none can ever ask too much.
– John Newton
Grace
The love I bear Christ is but a faint and feeble spark, but it is an emanation from himself: He kindled it and he keeps it alive; and because it is his work, I trust many waters shall not quench it.
– John Newton
Christ | Trust
I read the newspapers to see how God governs the world.
– John Newton
God | Reading
It is an invariable maxim in his kingdom, that whosoever exalts himself, shall be abased; but he that humbles himself, shall be exalted.
– John Newton
Pride | Humility
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
Perseverance
There are many who stumble in the noon-day, not for want of light, but for want of eyes.
– John Newton
Apathy | Light
In general, He guides and directs His people, affording them, in answer to prayer, the light of His Holy Spirit, which enables them to understand and to love the Scriptures.
– John Newton
The Holy Spirit | Scripture
My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things; That I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.
– John Newton
Salvation
The Christian ministry is the worst of all trades, but the best of all professions.
– John Newton
Christianity
I see in this world two heaps–one of happiness, and the other of misery. Now, if I can take but the smallest bit from the second, and add it to the first, I carry a point. I should be glad indeed to do great things; but I will not neglect such little ones as this.
– John Newton
Life
If I ever reach heaven I expect to find three wonders there first, to meet some I had not thought to see their second, to miss some I had expected to see there and third, the greatest wonder of all, to find myself there.
– John Newton
Heaven
Beyond our utmost wants, His love and power can bless; to praying souls he always grants, more than they can express.
– John Newton
Prayer
I am still in the land of the dying; I shall be in the land of the living soon. (His last words)
– John Newton
Heaven
Zeal without knowledge is like expedition to a man in the dark.
– John Newton
Ignorance | Knowledge | Zeal
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
Modesty
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
Blessings | Feelings
Prayer is the great engine to overthrow and rout my spiritual enemies, the great means to procure the graces of which I stand in hourly need.
– John Newton
Prayer | Grace | Enemies
The instinct of brutes and insects can be the effect of nothing else than the wisdom and skill of a powerful ever living agent.
– John Newton
Creation
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
Grace
A measure of trials is necessary for the exercise and manifestation of your graces; to give you a more convincing proof of the truth and sweetness of the promises made to a time of affliction; to mortify the body of sin; and to wean you more effectually from the world.
– John Newton
Trials
The religion of some people is constrained, like the cold bath when used, not for pleasure, but from necessity for health, into which one goes with reluctance, and is glad when able to get out.–But religion to the true believer is like water to a fish; it is his element; he lives in it, and could not live out of it.
– John Newton
Religion
I think both in justice and compassion should unite in despising the man who dares to use a deserving woman ill, because he has not a heart to value her.
– John Newton
Justice
The Word of God is not to be used as a lottery; nor is it designed to instruct us by shreds and scraps, which, detached from their proper places, have no determinate import; but it is to furnish us with just principles, right apprehensions to regulate our judgments and affections, and thereby to influence and direct our conduct.
– John Newton
Scripture
Religion is the best armor in the world, but the worst cloak.
– John Newton
Religion
God sometimes does His work with gentle drizzle, not storms.
– John Newton
Grace
We serve a gracious Master who knows how to overrule even our mistakes to His glory and our own advantage.
– John Newton
Service
When we look at the ungodly, we are not to hate them – but to pity them, mourn over them, and pray for them. Nor have we any right to boast over them; for, by nature, and of ourselves, we are no better than they.
– John Newton
Prayer | Boasting
None but He who made the world can make a Minister of the Gospel. If a young man has capacity, culture and application, it may make him a scholar, a philosopher, or anorator; but a true Minister must have certain principles, motives, feelings, and aims, which no industry or endeavors of men can either acquire or communicate. They must be given from above, or they cannot be received.
– John Newton
Evangelism | Feelings
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
Good and Evil
There is many a thing which the world calls disappointment, but there is no such a word in the dictionary of faith. What to others are disappointments are to believers intimations of the way of God.
– John Newton
Faith | Disappointment
The Lord afflicts us at times; but it is always a thousand times less than we deserve, and much less than many of our fellow-creatures are suffering around us. Let us therefore pray for grace to be humble, thankful, and patient.
– John Newton
Affliction
You know the common expression, “A jack of all trades.” I am sure a minister had need be such a one: a brave soldier, an alert watchman, a caring shepherd, a hardworking farmer, a skillful builder, a wise counselor, a competent physician and a loving nurse.
– John Newton
Evangelism
So dress and conduct yourself so that people who have been in your company will not recall what you had on.
– John Newton
Life
Can we wish, if it were possible, to walk in a path strewed with flowers when His was strewed with thorns?
– John Newton
The Cross
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
Gossip
Believers, who have most knowledge, are not therefore necessarily the most spiritual.
– John Newton
Knowledge
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
Faith | Intercession
It belongs to your calling of God as a minister, that you should have a taste of the various spiritual trials which are incident to the Lord’s people, that thereby you may know how to speak a word in season to them that are weary; and it is likewise needful to keep you perpetually attentive to that important admonition, “Without Me ye can do nothing.”
– John Newton
Trials
What Thou wilt, when Thou wilt, how Thou wilt.
– John Newton
Surrender
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
Humility
My principal method for defeating error and heresy is, by establishing the truth. One purposes to fill a bushel with tears; but if I can fill it first with wheat, I may defy his attempts.
– John Newton
Truth
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
Heaven
I compare the troubles which we have to undergo in the course of the year to a great bundle of fagots, 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.
– John Newton
Grace
The spirit of prayer is the fruit and token of the Spirit of adoption.
– John Newton
Prayer
If two angels were sent down from heaven,–one to conduct an empire, and the other to sweep a street,–they would feel no inclination to change employments.
– John Newton
Heaven