On The Varying Frames of a Believer

Every Friday we will interact with one of Newton’s Letters.  Because I have already done this a few times in the past I will direct your attention to a previous article on Borrowed Light: The Varying Frames of a Believer

The Danger of Following Men Instead of Christ

Every Friday we will interact with one of Newton’s Letters.  Because I have already done this a few times in the past I will direct your attention to a previous article on Borrowed Light: The Danger of Following Men Instead of Christ

On Preaching Consistently

Every Friday we will interact with one of Newton’s Letters.  Because I have already done this a few times in the past I will direct your attention to a previous article on Borrowed Light: On Preaching Consistently

The Throne of Grace: Our Only Refuge

When Hannah pressed with grief,

Poured forth her soul in prayer;

She quickly found relief,

And left her burden there:

Like her, in every trying case,

Let us approach the throne of grace.

 

When she began to pray,

Her heart was pained and sad;

But ere she went away,

Was comforted and glad:

In trouble, what a resting place,

Have they who know the throne of grace!

 

Though men and devils rage,

And threaten to devour;

The saints, from age to age,

Are safe from all their pow’r:

Fresh strength they gain to run their race,

By waiting at the throne of grace.

 

Eli her case mistook,

How was her spirit moved

By his unkind rebuke?

But GOD her cause approved.

We need not fear a creature’s face,

While welcome at a throne of grace.

 

She was not filled with wine,

As Eli rashly thought;

But with a faith divine,

And found the help file sought:

Though men despise and call us base,

Still let us ply the throne of grace.

 

Men have not pow’r or skill,

With troubled souls to bear;

Though they express good–will,

Poor comforters they are:

But swelling sorrows sink apace,

When we approach the throne of grace.

 

Numbers before have tried,

And found the promise true;

Nor one been yet denied,

Then why should I or you?

Let us by faith their footsteps trace,

And hasten to the throne of grace.

 

As fogs obscure the light,

And taint the morning air;

But soon are put to flight,

If the bright sun appear;

Thus Jesus will our troubles chase,

By shining from the throne of grace.

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Oh, how sweet indeed is the throne of grace.  There is much in this hymn to cause us to meditate upon and appreciate the truth that we are “welcome at the throne of grace”. 

But I actually want to look briefly at Newton’s 6th stanza.  I am left to wonder if he ever felt this with William Cowper.  I imagine that he did.  And I would say that he through his own experience had plenty of “poor comforters” visit him.  And I would say that Newton himself at times was guilty of being a “poor comforter”.  He knew that the best thing you can do for a grieving sinner/saint is to take them to the throne of grace. 

Let us go there, through the blood of Jesus, ourselves.  It is only hear that we can find healing! 

A Strange Place for Honey

The lion that on Sampson roared,

And thirsted for his blood;

With honey afterwards was stored,

And furnished him with food.

 

Believers, as they pace along,

With many lions meet;

But gather sweetness from the strong,

And from the eater, meat.

 

The lions rage and roar in vain,

For Jesus is their shield;

Their losses prove a certain gain,

Their troubles comfort yield.

 

The world and Satan join their strength,

To fill their souls with fears;

But crops of joy they reap at length,

From what they sow in tears.

 

Afflictions make them love the word,

Stir up their hearts to prayer;

And many precious proofs afford,

Of their Redeemer’s care.

 

The lions roar but cannot kill,

Then fear them not, my friends,

They bring us, though against their will,

The honey JESUS sends.

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This is one of my favorite hymns that Newton has written.  Through a lifetime of hardships and disappointments Newton understood this hymn by experience.  Certainly he was living in a time of “honey” when he wrote this.  But he knew full well the experience of lions roaring and “Satan and the world” attempting to fill his soul with fear. 

It is not only experience that caused Newton to write this.  It is also the fact that the truth in this hymn is the testimony of Scripture and countless saints through the ages.  The enemies of God bring to us “though against their will, the honey Jesus sends”. 

How remarkable is the grace and sovereignty of God that He can, and does, use even enemies of the gospel and even Satan himself to richly bless us with the sweetness of Christ.  So, no matter your situation today know that the Lord can gather “from the eater, meat”. 

Seeing Yourself in the Worst of Characters

When Israel heard the fiery law,

From Sinai’s top proclaimed;

Their hearts seemed full of holy awe,

Their stubborn spirits tamed.

 

Yet, as forgetting all they knew,

Ere forty days were past;

With blazing Sinai still in view,

A molten calf they cast.

 

Yea, Aaron, God’s anointed priest,

Who on the mount had been

He durst prepare the idol–beast,

And lead them on to sin.

 

LORD, what is man! and what are we,

To recompense thee thus!

In their offence our own we see,

Their story points at us.

 

From Sinai we have heard thee speak,

And from mount Calv’ry too;

And yet to idols oft we seek,

While thou art in our view.

 

Some golden calf, or golden dream,

Some fancied creature–good,

Presumes to share the heart with him,

Who bought the whole with blood.

 

LORD, save us from our golden calves,

Our sin with grief we own;

We would no more be thine by halves,

But live to thee alone.

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One of the keys to understanding Newton is to understand the way that he interpreted Scripture.  If we are not cautious it is easy to read stories of bad characters of the Bible, turn our nose to them, attempt to not be like them, and never look at our own hearts. 

Newton was careful to see himself in the worst of characters.  Notice in the fourth stanza how Newton says, “in their offence our own we see, their story points at us”.  This is typical Newton.  And this is what caused him to remain humble and to drink deeply of grace. 

So, keep this in mind as your read through Scripture.  When you read of David’s sin against Bathsheba know that it is only grace and/or opportunity that separates you from his fall.  The only thing that will hold a David, and the only thing that will hold you, is the Christ-given Spirit of God. 

Truth Afresh

The manna favored Israel’s meat,
Was gathered day by day;
When all the host was served, the heat
Melted the rest away.
 
In vain to hoard it up they tried,
Against tomorrow came;
It then bred worms and putrefied,
And proved their sin and shame.
 
’Twas daily bread and would not keep,
But must be still renewed;
Faith should not want a hoard or heap,
But trust the LORD for food.
 
The truths by which the soul is fed,
Must thus be had afresh;
For notions resting in the head,
Will only feed the flesh.
 
However true, they have no life,
Or unction to impart;
They breed the worms of pride and strife,
But cannot cheer the heart.
 
Nor can the best experience past,
The life of faith maintain;
The brightest hope will faint at last,
Unless supplied again.
 
Dear Lord, while we in prayer are found,
Do thou the Manna give;
O! let it fall on all around,
That we may eat and live.
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I am still chewing on this one.  The fourth, fifth, and sixth stanza are intriguing to me.  I understand what Newton is saying here, but I am not certain that I fully grasp it. 

What he is saying is that we cannot simply get by with past knowledge, past experience, or a past work of grace.  Our faith and experience must be vibrant and alive.  Just like the Israelites needed new manna everyday so we need a new experience of grace each day.  He is saying something similar to Jerry Bridges that we need to preach the gospel to ourselves every day. 

Where I am stumbling is in understanding the connection between rotting manna and pride.  How is it that “notions resting in the head will only feed the flesh”?  What do you think?  How does a truth embraced coldly breed pride and strife?

I think it may have something to do with this: The Necessity of Personal Wrestling.

The Explosion of Pride and Popularity

Every Friday we will interact with one of Newton’s Letters.  Because I have already done this a few times in the past I will direct your attention to a previous article on Borrowed Light:  The Explosion of Pride and Popularity

Guilt and the Gospel

When Joseph his brethren beheld,

Afflicted and trembling with fear;

His heart with compassion was filled,

From weeping he could not forbear.

Awhile his behavior was rough,

To bring their past sin to their mind;

But when they were humbled enough,

He hasted to show himself kind.

 

How little they thought it was he,

Whom they had ill treated and sold!

How great their confusion must be,

As soon as his name he had told!

“I am Joseph, your brother, he said,

And still to my heart you are dear,

You sold me, and thought I was dead,

But God, for your sakes, sent me here.”

 

Though greatly distressed before,

When charged with purloining the cup;

They now were confounded much more,

Not one of them durst to look up.

“Can Joseph, whom we would have slain.

Forgive us the evil we did?

And will he our households maintain?

O this is a brother indeed!”

 

Thus dragged by my conscience, I came,

And laden with guilt, to the Lord;

Surrounded with terror and shame,

Unable to utter a word.

At first he looked stern and revere,

What anguish then pierced my heart!

Expecting each moment to hear

The sentence, “Thou cursed, depart!”

 

But O! what surprise when he spoke,

While tenderness beamed in his face;

My heart then to pieces was broke,

O’erwhelmed and confounded by grace:

“Poor sinner, I know thee full well,

By thee I was sold and was slain;

But I died to redeem thee from hell,

And raise thee in glory to reign.

 

I am JESUS, whom thou hast blasphemed,

And crucified often afresh;

But let me henceforth be esteemed,

Thy brother, thy bone, and thy flesh:

My pardon I freely bestow,

Thy wants I will fully supply;

I’ll guide thee and guard thee below,

And soon will remove thee on high.

 

Go, publish to sinners around,

That they may be willing to come,

The mercy which now you have found,

And tell them that yet there is room.”

O, sinners, the message obey!

No more vain excuses pretend;

But come, without farther delay,

To Jesus our brother and friend.

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Newton is clearly in line with the Puritans in his method of gospel preaching.  The Puritans were keen on “pricking the heart” and then applying the “balm of gospel truth”.  Newton, here in Genesis 41, sees Joseph’s method of humbling his brothers as a picture of the Spirit humbling the sinner. 

Just as Joseph, “when they were humbled enough” had “hastened to show himself kind” so also Christ when “anguish pierces the heart” meets us with grace.  Newton saw that in order to experience grace the hardened sinner must be humbled.  And once humbled then grace overflows. 

Keep this in mind when proclaiming the gospel.  If you are ministering to someone hardened that sees no need of the gospel—they need to be crushed by the Law.  But if you are ministering to someone that is already broken by the weight of the Law they do not need more “law” they need grace. 

But keep in mind it is the work of the Spirit to crush.  It is the Spirit alone that can prick the conscience.  And it is the Spirit alone that can apply the gospel and provide substantial healing. 

One last point.  Notice in the sixth stanza how Newton has Jesus saying, “But let me henceforth be esteem’d, thy brother, thy bone, and thy flesh.”  Newton is saying here that Christ would much rather be known as our brother than the one that we killed.  Mercy heals and motivates—not the guilt of having killed Jesus. 

We Will Never Lack Until He Is Poor

My soul once had its plenteous years,

And throve, with peace and comfort filled,

Like the fat kine and ripened ears,

Which Pharaoh in his dream beheld.

 

With pleasing frames and grace received,

With means and ordinances fed;

How happy for a while I lived,

And little feared the want of bread.

 

But famine came and left no sign,

Of all the plenty I had seen;

Like the dry ears and half–starved kine,

I then looked withered, faint and lean.

 

To Joseph the Egyptians went,

To Jesus I made known my case;

He, when my little stock was spent,

Opened his magazine of grace.

 

For he the time of dearth foresaw,

And made provision long before;

That famished souls, like me, might draw

Supplies from his unbounded store.

 

Now on his bounty I depend,

And live from fear of dearth secure,

Maintained by such a mighty friend,

I cannot want till he is poor.

 

O sinners hear his gracious call!

His mercy’s door stands open wide,

He has enough to feed you all,

And none who come shall be denied.

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I wonder when Newton’s “plenteous years” were.  I doubt this is pre-conversion.  More than likely these “plenteous years” are when he was first saved, but over time his affections start to wane and it becomes more difficult to trust in Christ. 

Once again Newton’s identity is found in Jesus.  Notice the wonderful statement in stanza 6, “I cannot want till he is poor”.  Obviously, Jesus is never poor so Newton will always have an “unbounded store” from which to draw refreshment for his “famished soul”. 

We also see here a glimpse of Newton’s trust in the sovereignty of God.  For Newton the omniscience of God is a wonderful thing.  To know that Christ knew our hour of need and provided grace before the foundation of the world is both humbling and exhilarating. 

Because of the richness of his provision and the graciousness of his call Newton extends the door of mercy to all that they may come and feast on the fullness of Christ.  May we remember today that nothing but Jesus satisfies, and Christ in turn, fully satisfies. 

The Secret to Newton’s Boldness in Prayer

Nay, I cannot let Thee go,
Till a blessing thou bestow;
Do not turn away thy face,
Mine’s an urgent pressing case.
 
Dost thou ask me, who I am?
Ah, my LORD, thou know’st my name!
Yet the question gives a plea,
To support my suit with thee.
 
Thou didst once a wretch behold,
In rebellion blindly bold;
Scorn thy grace, thy pow’r defy,
That poor rebel, Lord, was I.
 
Once a sinner near despair,
Sought thy mercy–seat by prayer;
Mercy heard and set him free,
Lord, that mercy came to me,
 
Many years have passed since then,
Many changes I have seen;
Yet have been upheld till now,
Who could hold me up but thou?
 
Thou hast helped in every need,
This emboldens me to plead;
After so much mercy past,
Canst thou let me sink at last?
 
No—I must maintain my hold,
’Tis thy goodness makes me bold;
I can no denial take,
When I plead for Jesu’s sake.
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Two days ago we looked at the difference between Cowper and Newton.  This hymn is a clue to understanding Newton’s boldness in prayer. 

How is it that Newton is so bold in prayer? 

First, he realizes that God knows His name (stanza 2).  Rather than this awakening dread, this is a great comfort to him.  To be known by God means that you have an ear with God in prayer. 

Secondly, Newton has experienced mercy and healing (3-4).  In a very real sense Newton was set free.  His experience of present mercy causes him to be bold. 

Thirdly, his history with the Lord has encouraged him to continue pleading with God in prayer (5-6).  God has never let him sink, why should he now?  So, Newton, though in great need still clings to the Lord for blessing. 

Lastly, Newton understands that when he pleads “for Jesus’ sake” (7), he cannot be refused.  It is the goodness of God, through the Lord Jesus, that creates in Newton such boldness.  This is why he could say in hymn 4, “Great as he is, I dare be free”. 

If you are in Christ, this same boldness in prayer is afforded to us.  All of these things that are true of Newton are true of every believer.  May we make these truths experientially evident today.

The Lord Will Provide

Though troubles assail
And dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail
And foes all unite;
Yet one thing secures us,
Whatever betide,
The scripture assures us,
The Lord will provide.
 
The birds without barn
Or storehouse are fed,
From them let us learn
To trust for our bread:
His saints, what is fitting,
Shall ne’er he denied,
So long as ’tis written,
The Lord will provide.
 
We may, like the ships,
By tempest be tossed
On perilous deeps,
But cannot be lost.
Though Satan enrages
The wind and the tide,
The promise engages,
The Lord will provide.
 
His call we obey
Like Abram of old,
Not knowing our way,
But faith makes us bold;
For though we are strangers
We have a good Guide,
And trust in all dangers,
The Lord will provide.
 
When Satan appears
To stop up our path,
And fill us with fears,
We triumph by faith;
He cannot take from us,
Though oft he has tried,
This heart–cheering promise,
The Lord will provide.
 
He tells us we’re weak,
Our hope is in vain,
The good that we seek
We ne’er shall obtain,
But when such suggestions
Our spirits have plied,
This answers all questions,
The Lord will provide.
 
No strength of our own,
Or goodness we claim,
Yet since we have known
The Savior’s great name;
In this our strong tower
For safety we hide,
The Lord is our power,
The Lord will provide.
 
When life sinks apace
And death is in view,
This word of his grace
Shall comfort us through:
No fearing or doubting
With Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting,
The Lord will provide.

Take from Olney Hymns, Book 1 Hymn 7

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Not much comment on this, only to say that Matthew Smith has set this hymn to music.  You are encouraged to check that out here: The Lord Will Provide

Cowper and Newton: A Different Walk

Cowper	Newton
O! for a closer walk with God, A calm and heav’nly frame; A light to shine upon the road That leads me to the Lamb!	By faith in CHRIST I walk with God, With heav’n, my journeys’–end, in view; Supported by his staff and rod, My road is safe and pleasant too,
Where is the blessedness I knew When first I saw the LORD? Where is the soul–refreshing view Of JESUS, and his word?	I travel through a desert wide Where many round me blindly stray; But He vouchsafes to be my guide, And will not let me miss my way.
What peaceful hours I once enjoyed! How sweet their memory still! But they have left an aching void, The world can never fill.	Though snares and dangers throng my path, And earth and hell my course withstand; I triumph over all by faith, Guarded by his Almighty hand.
Return, O holy Dove, return, Sweet messenger of rest; I hate the sins that made thee mourn, And drove thee from my breast.	The wilderness affords no food, But God for my support prepares; Provides me every needful good, And frees my soul from wants and cares.
The dearest idol I have known, Whate’er that idol be; Help me to tear it from thy throne, And worship only thee.	With him sweet converse I maintain, Great as he is I dare be free; I tell him all my grief and pain, And he reveals his love to me.
So shall my walk be close with God, Calm and serene my frame; So purer light shall mark the road That leads me to the Lamb.	Some cordial from his word he brings, Whene’er my feeble spirit faints; At once my soul revives and sings, And yields no more to sad complaints.
	I pity all that worldlings talk Of pleasures that will quickly end; Be this my choice, O Lord, to walk With thee, my Guide, my Guard, my Friend.

Cowper’s is Hymn #3 while Newton’s is Hymn #4 in the Olney Hymns.

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It is interesting to see how Newton commented on Genesis 5:24 and how Cowper did.  When reflecting upon Enoch’s walk with God all that Cowper can see at this moment is how woefully he falls short.  Newton sees the grace and pleasure of being held by the Lord’s hand. 

Both Cowper and Newton experience the brokenness of the world.  But they experience it differently.  Newton’s hymn here almost sounds like the Footprints poem.  Newton experiences the Lord always walking him through these trials.  Somewhere along the way the gospel really clicked in Newton’s heart and mind, and though he felt his sin deeply he felt the grace of God more deeply. 

Cowper on the other hand, felt grace deeply but he felt the depth of his sin more deeply.  Cowper’s frame was one that could never be satisfied.  (Perhaps some of this came from his always displeased father, though Newton had that too). 

When Cowper felt the weight of his sin he labored to “get rid of this idol” so that he could again have a close walk with the Lord.  When Newton experiences “sad complaints” or his feeble heart is weak he goes to the Lord and has a much different experience.  Cowper feels condemned.  Cowper sees God as being greatly displeased.  So he flees (yet continues to pray and depend on the Lord) to wrestle this wretched idol from his life.  Newton comes weakly to the throne of grace.  He lays everything bear before the Lord.  He is met with grace. 

Newton rested in the gospel.  It seems that Cowper seldom could. 

The difference in these men is probably less doctrinal than we would like to think.  It’s a much more complicated tale than that.  So, let us today pray for the Cowper’s of the world (in which I often am) that they might rest in the gospel. 

Grace Empowers Repentance

On man, in his own image made,
How much did GOD bestow?
The whole creation homage paid,
And owned him LORD, below!
 
He dwelt in Eden’s garden, stored
With sweets for every sense;
And there with his descending LORD
He walked in confidence.
 
But O! by sin how quickly changed!
His honor forfeited,
His heart, from God and truth, estranged,
His conscience filled with dread!
 
Now from his Maker’s voice he flees,
Which was before his joy:
And thinks to hide, amidst the trees,
From an All–seeing eye.
 
Compelled to answer to his name,
With stubbornness and pride
He cast, on God himself, the blame,
Nor once for mercy cried.
 
But grace, unasked, his heart subdued
And all his guilt forgave;
By faith, the promised seed he viewed,
And felt his pow’r to save.
 
Thus we ourselves would justify,
Though we the Law transgress;
Like him, unable to deny,
Unwilling to confess.
 
But when by faith the sinner sees
A pardon bought with blood;
Then he forsakes his foolish pleas,
And gladly turns to God.

Olney Hymns, Hymn 1, From Genesis 3

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The sixth stanza may be a tad fanciful.  We are not certain that “all his guilt” did God forgive.  But Newton is probably considering God making garments for Adam and Eve and clothing their shame.  We also are not sure how much of “the promised Seed he view’d”.  But we do know that God did proclaim to them that a Seed would come to rescue.

In the seventh stanza Newton reminds us that we are still like Adam.  Though we are obviously guilty we still try to come up with foolish pleas.  We are even bold enough to blame God for our insolence.  How often have I done this in my own life?  I know in my heart that I am guilty.  My conscience will not let me hide, and I go around contriving all sorts of stories and excuses to plead my innocence, all the while knowing that I cannot deny my guilt. 

Newton believes that when we see the remedy for our guilt we forsake our foolishness and turn to God.  The key to this statement is “by faith”.  It is with the eyes of faith that the sinner sees the provision of Christ.  Otherwise we will never gladly turn to God.  Faith, the kind that leads to sight, will enable and strengthen repentance.

The gospel strengthens repentance.  When I know that I am forgiven in Christ suddenly I have no need to hide behind my foolish pleas.  I see that God forgives so I can be honest about may failure.  My acceptance is already purchased. 

Remember this today, and don’t bother with these foolish pleas.  Fly to Jesus.