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24 Introduction in more sermons than he does any other figure in church history except C. S. Lewis, Jonathan Edwards, and Martin Luther. 10 In 2013, Keller credited Newton’s letters for this influence on his own ministry and explained why. John Newton was not known for his stirring preaching. His sermons are actually fairly stodgy and pedestrian. However, his letters, in which he dealt with a wide variety of pastoral issues, are pure gold. Newton was able to take the great theological doctrines of the faith and apply them to the needs of friends, parishioners, even strangers who wrote for advice. In his letters he is often blunt, yet always tender. He is remarkably humble and open about his own flaws, but never in a cloying or self-absorbed manner. He is therefore able to point others to the grace of Christ on which he himself clearly depends. Reading one of Newton’s letters is like taking a hike along some path between high walls of rock or foliage that suddenly affords breathtaking views. In the midst of addressing some commonplace condition, usually with realistic detail, Newton will suddenly, almost as an aside, toss in several lines that blaze with glory. Newton’s letters have influenced both my pastoral work and my preaching. Newton did not simply call people to holy living, but he also did close analysis of their motives and showed them the specific rea- sons they were failing to obey God. Decades of constantly reading and re-reading the letters have taught me how to do better analysis of under- lying motives, so that when the high doctrines of grace are preached and applied, they do not merely press on the will but change the heart. 11 10
in Manhattan (1989–present), Keller has frequently cited Newton by name in sermons (the most sig- nificant references will be noted in the footnotes of this book). In the years 1989–2004, Keller preached 985 sermons at Redeemer Presbyterian Church (Manhattan). He mentioned Newton in 75 different ser- mons (7.6 percent). In the first five years alone he mentioned Newton in 30 sermons (8.3 percent). Here’s where Newton fits among other top names mentioned by Keller (by number of sermons): C. S. Lewis (277), Jonathan Edwards (129), Martin Luther (105), John Newton (75), Martyn Lloyd-Jones (59), Augustine (59), Charles Spurgeon (52), J. R. R. Tolkien (41), John Stott (26), and J. I. Packer (20). These numbers are impres- sive for their sheer quantity, and even more impressive for the specific examples where Keller translates Newton’s humble counsel for Christians living in a sophisticated city like Manhattan. For this reason, Keller makes occasional cameo appearances in this book to serve as a prime example of a Christian com- municator making use of Newton’s pastoral wisdom today. All Keller sermon quotes taken from Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013). Keller’s wife, Kathy, has likewise been influenced by Newton. In June 2013 she was asked what books have most profoundly shaped her ministry. She offered one title: “The letters of John Newton, mostly the collection published under the name Utterance of the Heart (Cardiphonia). Nothing is more insightful about dealing with people and pastoral issues. Tim and I take people through them whenever we’re able. In fact, we’re both doing so now, with different groups” (accessed June 11, 2013, http:// thegospelcoalition .org /blogs /tgc /2013 /06 /11 /on -my -shelf -life -and -books -with -kathy -keller /). 11 Timothy Keller, e-mail message to the author, December 18, 2013. Richard Cecil (1748–1810), a note- worthy preacher and friend to Newton, wrote of Newton’s preaching ministry: “He appeared, perhaps, to least advantage in the pulpit; as he did not generally aim at accuracy in the composition of his sermons, nor at any address in the delivery of them. His utterance was far from clear, and his attitudes ungrace-
Introduction 25 Keller is not alone in his praise of Newton the letter writer. J. I. Packer has written, “Ex-slave-trader John Newton was the friendliest, wisest, hum- blest and least pushy of all the eighteenth-century evangelical leaders, and was perhaps the greatest pastoral letter-writer of all time.” 12
Newton’s superb letter-writing skills, marked with spiritual clarity, self-deprecating wit, vivid metaphor, motive-piercing acuity, and insights of blazing glory, all help to explain why Newton’s pastoral influence spread far beyond the village of Olney, beyond the city of London, beyond the eigh- teenth century, and now guides modern-day pastors in culturally sophisti- cated places like Manhattan. If Keller and Packer are right, Newton should be named among the most skilled pastors in church history. Newton the Theologian? But was John Newton a theologian? He displayed an incredible memory, was an avid reader, was rigorously self-educated, was a clear thinker, and tried his hand at technical writing, but he was far more comfortable as a biblicist than as a defender of any theological tradition. 13 As he grew older, Newton grew less patient with the complex metaphysical theology of Edwards in favor of the simpler theology of Scottish Presbyterian Robert Riccaltoun (1691–1769), 14
British Baptist Andrew Fuller (1754–1815), 15
and Scottish Episcopalian Robert Leighton (1611–1684). 16 ful. He possessed, however, so much affection for his people, and so much zeal for their best interests, that the defect of his manner was of little consideration with his constant hearers; at the same time, his capacity and habit of entering into their trials and experience gave the highest interest to his ministry among them. Besides which, he frequently interspersed the most brilliant allusions; and brought forward such happy illustrations of his subject, and those with so much unction on his own heart, as melted and enlarged theirs. The parent-like tenderness and affection which accompanied his instruction made them prefer him to preachers who, on other accounts, were much more generally popular” (W, 1:92–93; see also Aitken, 185–91). 12 Quoted from Packer’s endorsement of J. Todd Murray, Beyond Amazing Grace: Timeless Pastoral Wisdom from the Letters, Sermons and Hymns of John Newton (n.p.: EP, 2007). 13 W, 5:85–86. 14 Despite his limited time for reading, Newton claims to have read Robert Riccaltoun’s three-volume Works of the Late Reverend Mr. Robert Riccaltoun (1771) three times through. When the volumes became scarce, Newton advocated for them to be reprinted. Writes Newton, “I admire him as the most original thinker I have met with. He has confirmed and enlarged my views of gospel truth” (Letters [Bull 1869], 329), and “I seldom meet with a human writer, to whose judgment I can implicitly subscribe in all points” (Letters [Campbell], 32). In another place he writes that Riccaltoun was “a man of a strong comprehensive mind, and if not an elegant he was a masterly writer. His metaphysics, I think, are a good besom [broom] to swap away the fine-spun cobweb, skeptical metaphysics, which at present are too much in fashion” (Letters [Campbell], 68). 15 Of Andrew Fuller’s work The Calvinistic and Socinian Systems Examined and Compared as to Their Moral Tendency (1794), Newton writes, “It is at once a beautiful summary of Christian doctrine, and the best conducted book of controversy that I ever met with” (Letters [Coffin], 84). 16 Newton appreciated all of Leighton’s writings, but was especially fond of his theological lectures, Praelectiones Theologiae. “I believe this book is scarce: I set the highest value upon it. He has wonderfully united the simplicity of the Gospel with all the captivating beauties of style and language” (W, 2:102). Yüklə 2,91 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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