Bodily Ills and Spiritual Health

[Chad]

Bodily Ills and Spiritual Health
John Newton

Aug. 19, 1779.

My dear Friend,

Among the rest of temporal mercies, I would be thankful for pen, ink, and paper, and the convenience of the post, by which means we can waft a thought to a friend when we cannot get at him. My will has been good to see you; but you must accept the will for the deed. The Lord has not permitted me.

I have been troubled of late with the rheumatism in my left arm. Mine is a sinful, vile body, and it is a mercy that any part of it is free from pain. It is virtually the seat and subject of all diseases; but the Lord holds them, like wild beasts in a .chain, under a strong restraint. Was that restraint taken off, they would rush upon their prey from every quarter, and seize upon every limb, member, joint, and nerve, at once. Yet, though I am a sinner, and though my whole texture is so frail and exposed, I have enjoyed for a number of years an almost perfect exemption both from pain and sickness. This is wonderful indeed, even in my own eyes.

But my soul is far from being in a healthy state. There I have laboured, and still labour, under a complication of diseases; and, but for the care and skill of an infallible Physician, I must have died the death long ago. At this very moment my soul is feverish, dropsical, paralytic. I feel a loss of appetite, a disinclination both to food and to medicine: so that I am alive by miracle: yet I trust I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. When I faint he revives me again. I am sure he is able, and I trust he has promised to heal me: but how inveterate must my disease be, that is not yet subdued, even under his management!

Well, my friend, there is a land where the inhabitants shall no more say, "I am sick." Then my eyes will not be dim, nor my ear heavy, nor my heart hard.

"One sight of Jesus as he is,

Will strike all sin for ever dead."

Blessed be his name for this glorious hope! May it cheer us under all our present uneasy feelings, and reconcile us to every cross. The way must be right, however rough, that leads to such a glorious end.

O for more of that gracious influence, which in a moment can make the wilderness-soul rejoice and blossom like the rose! I want something which neither critics nor commentators can help me to. The Scripture itself, whether I read it in Hebrew, Greek, French, or English, is a sealed book in all languages, unless the Spirit of the Lord is present to expound and apply. Pray for me. No prayer seems more suitable to me than that of the Psalmist: "Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name."

 

[Coconut]

That is one of the most beautiful messages I`ve ever read!

Refrain
"It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One gliimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ..."

 

[stephen]

This Sunday past, the evening gathering at my church was taken up with watching the recent film (c.d.) 'William Wilberforce' and his battle to overthrow the activity of the 'slave trade' And which was successful in the end, thank God.

At the time of this Parliamentary battle John Newton had come to faith, and had written the hymn, 'Amazing Grace'. Newton was portrayed in the film.

Within 20 miles from my home, are two magnificent stone buildings, palaces would be the better description, one named Cannon Hall, and the other Castle Howard. Both sit in impressive tree and landscapes, afforded at that time by the man Capability Brown, at the zenith of such artistry.

These great edifices erected by men were funded by the sugar trade, which was the result of the slave trade. There was a slave ship named Cannon Hall.