10 Eighteenth Century Baptist Hymn Writers

1. Anne Steele
2. Benjamin Beddome
3. Benjamin Francis
4. Benjamin Wallin
5. Daniel Turner
6. John Fawcett
7. John Rippon
8. John Ryland Jr
9. Robert Robinson
10. Samuel Medley

Gordon on Newton

It was a joy to be at the first of a series of Monday Seminars at LTS with Grant Gordon from Toronto. He has a lovely conversational style and began by explaining how he came to be in Europe at present, chiefly as part of a holiday but also doing research on John Newton. He described himself as an amateur historian as his main role has been in supervising ministerial students. His interest began about 24 years ago and since then he has made some interesting discoveries, including the recently published letters between Newton and Ryland. He has also discovered a long lost and unpublished diary of Newton, which includes many sermons by Whitefield and Wesley.

He spoke of his affection for Newton as arising from the fact that he was a normal human being rather one of these holier than thou types. His letters are his great legacy. He was a Calvinist but did not make his Calvinism obvious in an unhelpful way. There was a transparency about him that is attractive.

We then had an overview of Newton's life using interesting slides.

(Born 1725, at 6 his mother died, 11-17 At sea with father then on hos own for two ears. Aged 19-28 he was involved in the slave trade [22 converted, 23-29 Four trips, 24 Marries Mary] 29 Epileptic fit, quits seafaring, 1755-1764 Tide surveyor Liverpool, 1764-1779 minister in Olney, 1779-1807 Minister in London, St Mary Woolnoth.)

He also gave a brief outline for Ryland (1753 Born son of a Baptist pastor, 1759 Father becomes pastor,1767 Converted and baptised, 1768 Meets Newton, 1781 28 co-pastor with father, 1783 Baptises Carey, 1785-1792 sole pastor of College Lane, 1792 BMS formed, 1794-1825 Pastor Broadmead and Principal Baptist Academy).

The rest of the time was taken up with extracts from Newton's letters showing Newton's pastoral wisdom.

A short time of questions followed before the second seminar.

Newton on Joy

I decided to take as my new year text today those familiar words of Habakkuk 3:17, 18. Reading the new Banner collection of Newton's letters to Ryland today (Wise Counsel) I came across a passage (from a letter published long before in the Works) that chimed in well. Newton writes

The great question is, how are we practically influenced by the word of God as the ground of our hope, and as the governing rule of our tempers and conversation? The apostle exhorts believers to rejoice in the Lord always. He well knew that they were exposed to trials and temptations, and to much trouble, from an evil heart of unbelief; and he prevents the objections we might be ready to make, by adding, "And again, I say, Rejoice!" As if he had said, I speak upon mature consideration; I call upon you to rejoice, not at some times only, but at all times; not only when upon the mount, but when in the valley; not only when you conquer, but while you are fighting; not only when the Lord shines upon you, but when he seems to hide his face.

Book Buys December

With the coming of Christmas book numbers have gone up. I bought a copy of Tony Lane's Concise history of Christian thought in the Borders sale early on. Then, for Christmas I got hold of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 and had from my wife some nice books - a Welsh phrase book and a book called Why is Q always followed by u a collection of articles on the English language by Michael Quinion
I also made a visit to my favourite Christian bookshop where I bought several books. These were
A biography of Katherine Parr by a Christian called Brandon Withrow

The new Banner collection of letters from John Newton to John Ryland "Wise Counsel"
Keller on Counterfeit gods
The festschrift for Dick Gaffin Resurrection and Eschatology
Hugh Martin's Abiding Presence
I also bought a Family Pilgrim's Progress. We have it in Welsh but not English and I want to use it for a series with the children next year.

Oh yes, I should add that one of my sons bought me the very enjoyable Judy Parkinson book Remember, Remember (The Fifth of November): The History of Britain in Bite-Sized Chunks and someone else bought me My God is True! by Paul D Wolfe a testimony to God's goodness in a time of cancer.