EVIDENCES OF GRACE

Written to Joshua Symonds (1739-1788) by John Newton. Mr Symonds was pastor of the Bunyan Meeting in Bedford.

My dear friend, I might defer answering you last till I see you; yet because I love you I will write. I apprehend your mind is darkened with temptation; for your views of the gospel, when you preach, are certainly clearer than your letter expresses. You may think you distinguish between evidences and conditions, but the heart is deceitful, and often beguiles our judgment when we are judging concerning ourselves.
You say, "I hope it is my desire to cast myself upon the free promise in Jesus Christ; but this alone does not give assurance of my personal interest in His blood." I ask, Why not? Because you lean to conditions and do not think yourself good enough. It appears to me that if I cast myself upon His promise, and if His promise is true, I must undoubtedly be interested in His full redemption, for He has said, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out. If you can find a case or circumstance which the words in no wise will not include, then you may despond.
It is certainly a delusion to imagine oneself of the number of elect without scriptural evidence. But have you not that evidence? I think, as the saying is, you cannot see the wood for trees. You tell me what evidences you want, namely, spiritual experiences, inward holiness, earnest endeavours. All this I may allow in a right sense; but in judging on these grounds, it is common and easy in a dark hour to turn the gospel into a covenant of works. But take it your own way. If a fear of being deceived, a mourning under a sense of vileness, a hungering and thirsting after righteousness, a sense of the evil and danger of sin, a persuasion of the preciousness and suitableness of Christ in His offices, etc; if these are not spiritual experiences, I know not what are. And will you dare deny that God has given you these?
As to inward holiness, when we meet, you shall define, if you please, what you mean by it. 'The holiness of a sinner seems principally to consist in self-abasement, and to admiring views of Jesus as a complete Saviour. These are the main principles whence any gracious fruit is derived. In proportion as we have these, we shall be humble, meek, patient, wearied from the world and devoted to God. But if you will look for a holiness that shall leave no room for the workings of
corruption and temptation, you look for what God has nowhere promised, and for what is utterly inconsistent with our present state. If you say you must doubtless expect to feel evil in your heart, but that you are discouraged by feeling so much, I ask further, if you can find from the Word of God how much a holy person may feel. For my own part, I believe the most holy people feel the most evil. Indeed, when faith is strong and in exercise, sin will not much break out to the observation of others, but it cuts them out work enough within.
Indeed, my friend, you will not be steadily comfortable till you learn to derive your comfort from a simple apprehension of the Person, work and offices of Christ. He is made unto us of God, not only righteousness, but sanctification also. One direct, appropriating act of faith in Him will strengthen you more than all the earnest endeavours you speak of. Evidences, as you call them, are of use in their place; but the best evidence of faith is the shutting our eyes equally upon our defects and our graces, and looking directly to Jesus as clothed with authority and power to save to the very uttermost.
So you preach to others; so you deal with exercised consciences; why not preach so to yourself? Will you point out a ground for their hopes upon which you are afraid to venture your own? Has He not kept you sound in the faith in wavering times? Does He not preserve you unspotted from the world? Does He not enable and own you in your ministry? Has He not often refreshed you with His consolations? Do you not tell others that the blood of Jesus cleanseth from all sin? Why then do you give way to doubts and fears? I would have you humbled before the Lord for you own unworthiness. In this I wish I was more like you; but rejoice in Christ Jesus, and resist every temptation to doubt your in His love, as you would resist a temptation to adultery or murder. Plead the apostles argument (Rom. 8, 31-39) before the Lord and against Satan, and do not dishonour Christ so as to imagine He will disappoint the desire which no power but His could implant in your heart.

Yours, in the best bonds, etc.

John Newton