Mr. Newton's sentiments, as to doctrine, were avowedly Calvinistic; but he did not make the particular points generally distinguished by that term the prominent subjects of his preaching, though they were always implied in his discourses. He used, in familiar conversation, to say, that he wished his Calvinism to be found in his sermons as sugar in a cup of tea; which sweetens it all, but is nowhere to be found in a lump!" About two years before Mr. Newton's decease, his strength began sensibly, but gradually, to decline. He became very feeble, and scarcely able to ascend the pulpit. A man servant used to stand behind him while he preached. His recollection was observed to fail; and it was with difficulty he continued those public services, which love to his Master and his people made him unwil ling to relinquish. At length it was painfully evident to his friends that he could no longer appear as a public instructor. His ministerial work was finished; and he appeared no more in the pulpit after October, 1806, a little more than a year before his death. His last public sermon was preached for the benefit of the sufferers from the battle of Trafalgar, when his faculties were so far gone, that he was obliged to be reminded of the object of his dis course. When he could no longer preach, he usually sat in the pulpit to hear his curate, as deafness accompanied the other infirmities of age. The last time he attempted to speak in his church, was in the reading desk, just before the death of his curate the rev. Mr. Gunn; which happened December 5, 1806. He continued for about eleven months confined to his room, calmly looking for his expected dismission, of which he would sometimes speak with his usual plea. santry. "I am," said he, " like a person going a journey in a stage coach, who expects its arrival every hour, and is frequently looking out at the window for it;" and, at another time, to the enquiry how he was, he replied I am packed and sealed, and waiting for the post. His mind was generally tranquil; though, at times, during his illness, his spirits were low, and his religious comforts suffered some degree of interruption; but "he knew in whom he had believed;" and when speaking to a friend, on the subject of believers' doubts and fears, he observed, that he could not give place to fear, and believed he never should, should, while those words were in the Bible: "Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out." "Mr. Newton," says Mr. Cecil, in his funeral sermon for him, "gradually sunk as the setting sun, shedding to the last those declining rays which gilded and gladdened the dark valley. In the latter conversations I had with him, he expressed an unshaken faith in eternal realities; and, when he could scarcely utter words, he remained a firm witness to the truths he had preached." In the circumstances of extreme debility and occasional suffering which attended Mr. Newton for many months, his dearest friends could not wish for the longer protraction of his life. His dismission from a body, now become so unfit a tabernacle for his active spirit, was rather to be desired; and this was graciously afforded on the evening of Monday, December 21, 1807, in his eighty-third year. On Thursday, December 31, his remains were conveyed to the repository of the dead, in the vault beneath the church in which he had, for about twenty-eight years, proclaimed the word of life. His strong aversion to a pompous funeral induced him to leave a written direction, that only one mourning coach should accompany his hearse. This injunction was complied with; but many gentlemen provided their own or other coaches, and fell in with the procession in its way from Coleman Street* to the church. The rev. Mr. Foster read the funeral service; at which about thirty ministers were present. On the following Sabbath January 3, the rev. Mr. Cecil preached the funeral discourse at St. Mary's, from Luke xii. 42, 43, "And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward whom his Lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his Lord,, when he cometh," &c. Many other ministers, among the Dis senters, as well as of the Established Church, testified their respect for Mr. Newton, by funeral discourses at their several places of worship. Although a variety of excellencies have been noticed in the preceding account, it may be desirable to examine little more minutely the admirable character which he sustained. If his inental talents were not of the first or Mr. Newton resided for some years after his coming to London, in Charles's Square, Hoxton; and afterwards in Coleman Street Buildings. der, : der, for strength and splendour, yet he possessed a soundness of understanding, which was not merely the result of observation, but evidenced powers superior to the ordinary level. So much was his judgement respected, that many sought his advice on affairs of a secular nature, as well as those immediately connected with his functions as a minister of the Gospel. If his genius was not brilliant, it was far from dull and that he had a happy talent at invention, appears in his works, and particularly in his "Epistolary Correspondence:" a branch of writing in which he peculiarly excelled. The firmness of his mind appeared in the steadiness of his character. It was not that phlegmatic perseverance of stupidity, which some weak and lukewarm persons discover, who, like a mill horse, continue in their undeviating round of duty, but it was the effect of a mind, at once able to perceive the eternal differences between right and wrong, and fortified with those principles which an experimental knowledge of divine truth alone can furnish. As a companion, Mr. Newton was remarkable for his cheerfulness and pleasantry. The former habits of his life enabled him to enrich his parlour discourse with that variety of detail which always gives a zest to conversation; and being of a facetious temper, he enlivened his friends by point and sprightliness of remark, which produce a lawful mirth that" doeth good like a medicine:" yet nothing was more abhorrent to the purity of his mind than a levity sporting with sacred things, or exciting a laugh at the vices and infirmities of mankind. The liberality of Mr. Newton to the poor, was also a conspicuous trait in his character. Though he never was rich, yet he spared, out of a moderate competency, more than many would deem consistent with the rules of prudence. His hospitality to his numerous visitors is well known; but the streams of his beneficence flowed rather in a subterraneous channel than in a noisy current on the surface of society; and the many acts of kindness which gladened the hearts of the indigent and afflicted, will remain unknown until He, who is "not unrighteous to forget the work of faith and labour of love," shall say to his people, "Inasmuch as he did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Whatever social and moral virtues decorated Mr. New ton's ton's character, it would be a serious omission not to observe, that his unfeigned and fervent piety gave a polish to every other excellence. Deep was the veneration which he felt for the word of God; and sedulously did he cultivate an experimental acquaintance with its hallowed con- ! tents. He was serious without dulness, devout without enthusiasm, zealous without bigotry, and, in a word, "holy in all manner of conversation and godliness." The praise of our venerable friend, as an author is in all the churches. Most of his works, which have been already noticed, will long continue to " edify the body of Christ." The ease and simplicity of his style, and the warmth of affectation which breathes in his published letters to his correspondents, can never fail to afford a rich repast to all who can relish the familiar pleasures, and prize the delicate fidelity of Christian friendship.: In the pulpit, his whole soul appeared to flow out in ardent concern for the spiritual welfare of his hearers; so that all might perceive his principal design was to "win souls to Jesus Christ." Nor was his labour in vain. There are many living witnesses to the success of his ministrations, in persons who" were once darkness, but are become light in the Lord ;" and, it cannot be doubted, but he has lately joined a numerous band of disembodied and perfected spirits within the veil, whom he was instrumental in raising to an inheritance among the sanctified. The seed which he cast on the waters will be seen after many days; The following character of Mr. Newton's writings, from the incomparable pen of Cowper, will weigh with the public far more than any thing we can offer: Speaking of his Ecclesiastical History, Mr. Cowper says, "The facts [are] incontestible, the grand observations upon them all irrefragable, and the style, in my judgement, incomparably better than that of Robertson or Gibbon. I would give you my reasons for thinking so, if I had not a very urgent one for declining it.' Hayley's Cowper, vol. ii. p. 91. In another Letter, however, he thus explains himself "That you may not suspect me of having saiki inore than my real opinion will warrant, I will tell you why. In your style, I see no affectation: in every line of theirs, nothing else. They disgust me always: Robertson with his pomp and strut, and Gibbon with his finical and French manmers. You are as correct as they. You express yourself with as much precision. Your words are arranged with as much propriety; but you do not set your periods to tune. They discover a perpetual desire to exhibit themselves to advantage; whereas your subject ingrosses you: they sing, and you say; which, as history is a thing to be said, and not sung, is, in my judgement, very much to your advantage." 3 N VOL. II.-No. 70. 1 and and to him the church will long feel herself greatly indebted, for the stores which he gathered into her sacred garner. He was, indeed, esteemed and beloved in life, honoured and deplored in death; and now he rests from his labours, with the goodly fellowship of the prophets and of the apostles!" NOSWORTHY, JOHN, was born at Manton, Nov. 15, 1612, of religious parents, who put him to the grammar school, where he did not make the progress that was expected; upon which they were for bringing him up to a trade. To this however he was greatly averse; and from this time he applied himself to learning with such diligence, that Mr. William Nosworthy, master of the high school at Exeter, hearing of his capacity and industry, took him under his care till he was fit for the university, and sent him to Oxford, where he continued nice or ten years, and took the degree of M. A. He married the daughter of Mr. Irish, of Dartmouth, by whom he had sixteen children. He at first preached in Northamptonshire. When the civil war broke out, notwithstanding his learning and piety, he was exposed to no small share of suffering. He was driven from his home, and with above forty others was imprisoned at Winchester, where he met with very cruel usage. Being removed from prison, the rest went, two by two, chained together; and Mr. Nosworthy marched single before them, with his hands so fast bound with a cord, that the blood burst out at the ends of his fingers. When his wife came to visit him, she found him and his brethren comfortable and chearful in the prison, and in a short time he was discharged. He was several times reduced to great straits; but he encour aged himself in the Lord his God, and exhorted his wife to do the same. Nor did they do it in vain. Once, when he and his family had breakfasted, and had nothing left for another meal, his wife lamented her condition, and said, "What shall I do with my poor children?" He persuaded her to walk abroad with him; and seeing a lit tle bird, he said to her, "Take notice how that bird site and chirps though we can't tell whether it has been at breakfast; and if it has, it knows not whither to go for a dinner. Therefore be of good cheer, and do not distrust the providence of God: for are we not better than many sparrows? |
