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which, from day to day, he had over immense masses of people. His letters also place his domestic character in a light the most amiable and attractive. Many persons who have been accustomed to regard him only as the eloquent orator, the popular preacher, and the unwearied advocate of missions to the heathen, will here see him. as the kind husband, and the tenderly-affectionate father, whose yearnings for the conversion and salvation of his children were deep and incessant.

To the Wesleyan ministers, and various other friends of Dr. Newton, who have kindly allowed me the use of documents in their possession, or have forwarded to me facts illustrative of his character and history, my very cordial thanks are due, and are respectfully tendered. Their names are, for the most part, introduced into the narrative. But for these valuable communications, the Life of this very eminent man would have been far less perfect than it now appears.

I cannot forbear to express the satisfaction I feel in placing before the Christian Church, and especially the Wesleyan section of it, this record of the life and labors of Dr. Robert Newton; a man who was adorned with every virtue, and whose eminent abilities, through a long life, were directed to the one object of promoting the spiritual good of mankind, and that to the widest possible extent. His fidelity as a Methodist preacher was perhaps never surpassed. Mr. Wesley declared it to be his belief, that God's design in raising up the Methodists as a distinct community, was not to secure any party interests, but to rouse a slumbering nation, and call its attention to Christian godliness in its vitality and power; and at the close of his life he made certain important

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arrangements, the object of which was, as he expresses it, to fix them upon such a foundation as is likely to stand as long as the sun and moon endure;" "provided they continue to walk by faith, and show forth their faith by their works."

None of Mr. Wesley's sons in the gospel ever entered more fully into these views than Dr. Newton. He had in him nothing of a sectarian spirit, and much less had he any of its bitterness; but his attachment to his own people, and to their ecclesiastical order, was conscientious and unwavering. All his energies were devoted to the advancement of spiritual religion,— the life of God in the soul of man," the kingdom" which "is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." The various arrangements and institutions of Wesleyan Methodism he knew from experience and extensive observation to be well adapted to foster and advance this great purpose; and hence, when, a few years ago, the tide of innovation set in against the Wesleyan economy, he acted as its meek but faithful guardian; anxious that it should retain its spiritual character, and be transmitted to posterity in unimpaired efficiency; so that, according to the design of its venerable founder, generations yet unborn might share in its benefits. In spirit he was gentle as a child, but in the cause of righteousness and truth he was a pattern of manliness and decision. In this and in other respects he has bequeathed to his brethren and succesors in the Wesleyan ministry an example which is scarcely less valuable than the services of his long and active life. T. J.

RICHMOND, MARCH 16, 1855.

THE LIFE

OF THE

REV. ROBERT NEWTON, D. D.

CHAPTER I.

In the last century, and the beginning of the present, there lived a couple, upon whom it pleased God, in the dispensations of His providence and grace, to bestow many rich and substantial blessings, such as are not vouchsafed to the generality of mankind. They bore the names of Francis and Anne Newton. He was born in the year 1732, Old Style, and she about eleven years later. Her maiden name was Booth. They were both of yeoman descent, and were an honor to the class of people to which they belonged. They were tall, comely, and well-favored in their personal appearance: each of them possessed a sound and vigorous understanding: and in respect of intelligence they surpassed the greater part of their contemporaries of the same rank in life. They occupied a farm at Roxby, a hamlet on the sea-coast, between Whitby and Guisborough, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, where they spent their time in honest industry, remote from the gay fashionable world, from the anxieties of commerce, and from the smoke and din of mining and manufacturing operations;

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the soil which they cultivated, and the flocks which they reared and tended, supplying them with the necessaries and conveniences of life. He loved the sports of the field, was of a social spirit, possessed some knowledge of music, relished what was called "a good song," and was therefore a frequent guest at convivial parties in his own neighborhood; but she was rather sedate in her temper and habits. Yet they were not happy; for they knew nothing of godliness but its form. They said their prayers, they attended the public worship of God in the parish church, and occasionally received the supper of the Lord; but they knew not God as the God of pardoning mercy they did not "worship Him in spirit and in truth;" nor were they delivered from the power of their evil nature by the grace of the Holy Spirit. These were subjects of which they had no just conception, any more than their neighbors.

The religious history of Mr. and Mrs. Newton suggests an impressive view of the aggressive and missionary character of Wesleyan Methodism. It was the persuasion of the Founder of the system, that he and his fellow-laborers were raised up neither to overthrow the Established Church, nor to root out Dissent, but to spread scriptural holiness through the land. In this sentiment they were all agreed; and therefore waited not till ignorant multitudes should apply to them for instruction, and profligate transgressors should inquire of them the way of life and salvation. They rather forced an entrance into neighborhoods where wickedness abounded, warning the people of their danger, calling them to repentance, and pointing them to "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

Some of these faithful and self-denying men found their way to Roxby, where their services were greatly needed. Among the foremost of them was the Rev. James Rogers, who

was a personal friend of the venerable Wesley, and the husband of Hester And Rogers, whose biography and devotional writings have long been deservedly popular, and extensively useful. Public rumor laid many and grievous complaints to the charge of these enterprising strangers; yet Mr. Newton, urged mainly by curiosity, ventured to hear them. Mr. Rogers requested permission to preach in the house of Mr. Newton. This was denied, but he was allowed to pray with the family; and it was not long before still greater favor was shown to the unpopular cause of Methodism. The Rev. John King came to Roxby, expecting to preach in a barn, which appears to have been promised; but when the time came, the promise was revoked, and Mr. Newton, seeing the preacher and the congregation disappointed, offered them the use of his house; for he and Mrs. Newton both began to feel the force of Divine truth, and to perceive that they needed something to which they were strangers, in order to their safety and happiness. At this time some friend placed in their hands the incomparable "Journal of John Nelson;" by the reading of which, in connection with the faithful ministry of God's word, they were deeply convinced of their guilty, miserable, perilous, and helpless condition, as sinners in the sight of God. Their consciences were alarmed, and their hearts became contrite: they "found trouble and sorrow;" for they could neither divest themselves of their guilty fear, nor overcome the evils of their fallen nature. They had formerly thought favorably of themselves; but they now painfully felt that they fell immensely short of the truly Christian character. In this state they betook themselves to prayer, especially secret prayer, im. ploring the mercy of God through the sacrifice of Christ. They wept and made supplication, trusting alone in the atonement and intercession of their compassionate Saviour; and in this manner they received the salvation of God, consisting in

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