Aug 21, 2026 · 7 hr 50 min · 21 segments
"Forty-One Letters on Religious Subjects" by John Newton is a profound collection of reflections that delve into various aspects of faith and spirituality. Newton, known for his deep understanding of…
My dear friend, the more I think of the point you proposed to me, the more I am confirmed to renew the advice I then gave.
There is doubtless such a thing as Christian prudence, but, my friend, beware of counterfeits.
Self-love and the evil heart of unbelief will endeavour to obtrude upon us a prudence so called, which is as opposite to the former as darkness to light.
I do not say that now you have a wife and the prospect of a family, you are strictly bound to communicate with the poor in the same proportion as formerly.
I say you are not bound, for everything of this sort should proceed from a willing mind.
But if you should tell me the Lord has given you such a zeal for his glory, such a concern for the honour of the gospel, such a love to his members, such a grateful sense of his mercies, especially by granting you in this late instance of your marriage the desire of your heart, and such an affiance in his providence and promises that you find yourself very unwilling to be one sixpence in the year less useful than you was before, I could not blame you or dissuade you from it.
But I do not absolutely advise it, because I know not the state of your mind or what measure of faith the Lord has given you.
Only this I believe, that when the Lord gives such a confidence he will not disappoint it.
When I look among the professors, yea, among the ministers of the gospel, there are few things I see a more general want of than such a trust in God as to temporals, and such a sense of the honour of being permitted to relieve the necessities of his people as might dispose them to a more liberal distribution of what they have at present in their power, and to a reliance on him for a sufficient supply in future.
Some exceptions there are.
Some persons I have the happiness to know whose chief pleasure it seems to be to devise liberal things.
For the most part we take care first to be well supplied, if possible with all necessaries, conveniences, and not a few of the elegancies of life, then to have a snug fund laid up against a rainy day, as the phrase is.
If this is in an increasing way, so much the better, that when we look at children and near relatives we may say to our hearts, now they are well provided for.
And when we have gotten all this and more we are perhaps content, for the love of Christ, to bestow a pittance of our superfluities, a tenth or twentieth part of what we spend or hoard up for ourselves, upon the poor.
But alas, what do we herein more than others? Multitude who know nothing of the love of Christ will do thus much, yea, perhaps greatly exceed us, from the mere feelings of humanity.
But it may be asked, would you show no regard to the possibility of leaving your wife or children unprovided for? Quite the reverse.
I would have you attend to it very much, and behold the scriptures show you the more excellent way.
If you have a little money to spare, would you not lend it to me if I assured you it should be repaid when wanted? I can point out to you better interest and better security than I could possibly give you.
Proverbs 19 verse 17, He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
What think you of this text? Is it the word of God or not? Is he worthy of belief or not? Is he able to make good his word or is he not? I dare stake all my interest in your friendship, which I should be very loath to forfeit, that if you act upon this maxim in a spirit of prayer and faith and with a single eye to his glory you shall not be disappointed.
Shall we confine that reasoning and those promises to the primitive times? Say not, if the Lord would make windows in heaven this thing might be.
He has more ways to bless and prosper those who trust in him than we are able to point out to him.
But I tell you my friend, he will sooner make windows in heaven, turn stones into bread, yea stop the sun in his course, than he will suffer those who conscientiously serve him and depend upon him to be destitute.
Some instances we have had of ministers who have seemed to transgress the bounds of strict prudence in their attention to the poor.
My dear friend, the more I think of the point you proposed to me, the more I am confirmed to renew the advice I then gave.
There is doubtless such a thing as Christian prudence, but, my friend, beware of counterfeits.
Self-love and the evil heart of unbelief will endeavour to obtrude upon us a prudence so called, which is as opposite to the former as darkness to light.
I do not say that now you have a wife and the prospect of a family, you are strictly bound to communicate with the poor in the same proportion as formerly.
I say you are not bound, for everything of this sort should proceed from a willing mind.
But if you should tell me the Lord has given you such a zeal for his glory, such a concern for the honour of the gospel, such a love to his members, such a grateful sense of his mercies, especially by granting you in this late instance of your marriage the desire of your heart, and such an affiance in his providence and promises that you find yourself very unwilling to be one sixpence in the year less useful than you was before, I could not blame you or dissuade you from it.
But I do not absolutely advise it, because I know not the state of your mind or what measure of faith the Lord has given you.
Only this I believe, that when the Lord gives such a confidence he will not disappoint it.
When I look among the professors, yea, among the ministers of the gospel, there are few things I see a more general want of than such a trust in God as to temporals, and such a sense of the honour of being permitted to relieve the necessities of his people as might dispose them to a more liberal distribution of what they have at present in their power, and to a reliance on him for a sufficient supply in future.
Some exceptions there are.
Some persons I have the happiness to know whose chief pleasure it seems to be to devise liberal things.
For the most part we take care first to be well supplied, if possible with all necessaries, conveniences, and not a few of the elegancies of life, then to have a snug fund laid up against a rainy day, as the phrase is.
If this is in an increasing way, so much the better, that when we look at children and near relatives we may say to our hearts, now they are well provided for.
And when we have gotten all this and more we are perhaps content, for the love of Christ, to bestow a pittance of our superfluities, a tenth or twentieth part of what we spend or hoard up for ourselves, upon the poor.
But alas, what do we herein more than others? Multitude who know nothing of the love of Christ will do thus much, yea, perhaps greatly exceed us, from the mere feelings of humanity.
But it may be asked, would you show no regard to the possibility of leaving your wife or children unprovided for? Quite the reverse.
I would have you attend to it very much, and behold the scriptures show you the more excellent way.
If you have a little money to spare, would you not lend it to me if I assured you it should be repaid when wanted? I can point out to you better interest and better security than I could possibly give you.
Proverbs 19 verse 17, He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
What think you of this text? Is it the word of God or not? Is he worthy of belief or not? Is he able to make good his word or is he not? I dare stake all my interest in your friendship, which I should be very loath to forfeit, that if you act upon this maxim in a spirit of prayer and faith and with a single eye to his glory you shall not be disappointed.
Shall we confine that reasoning and those promises to the primitive times? Say not, if the Lord would make windows in heaven this thing might be.
He has more ways to bless and prosper those who trust in him than we are able to point out to him.
But I tell you my friend, he will sooner make windows in heaven, turn stones into bread, yea stop the sun in his course, than he will suffer those who conscientiously serve him and depend upon him to be destitute.
Some instances we have had of ministers who have seemed to transgress the bounds of strict prudence in their attention to the poor.
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