Letters that Continue to Speak VIII: Fighting Without; Fears Within

Last week, we introduced “Mrs.—.” She is a lady whose name is lost to history, but John Newton’s “shepherding through the post,” as Dr. John Snyder phrased it in the first episode of this series, is timeless to her. Newton wrote a series of eight letters to Mrs.— and this week is the second letter. In it, John Newton helps her see the battle of the Christian life. New believers may be surprised that conviction doesn’t end after conversion, but can often feel even worse. As we draw nearer to God, two things are brought more into focus: his holiness and our sinfulness. So how do we continue drawing near to him while it feels so uncomfortable? As Newton said, “It becometh the Lord's people to be thankful; and to acknowledge His goodness in what we have received, is the surest as well as the pleasantest method of obtaining more. Nor should the grief arising from what we know and feel of our own hearts, rob us of the honor, comfort, and joy, which the word of God designs us, in what is there recorded of the person, offices, and grace of Jesus, and the relations He is pleased to stand in to His people.”

We pray this letter is as much of a blessing to you as it has been to us. You can find all the letters to Mrs.— in the links below.

Read this week’s letter here: Second Letter to Mrs. —

You can read next week’s letter here: Third Letter to Mrs. —

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