“My leading sentiment with respect to the divine life is, that it is founded in a new and supernatural birth. In this I doubt not we agree.
Mankind are miserably divided and subdivided by sects, parties, and opinions; but in the sight of God there are but two sorts of characters upon earth,—the children of his kingdom, and the children of the wicked one.
The criterion between them (infallibly known only to himself) is, that the former are born from above, the other not.
If a person be born again, notwithstanding any incidental mistakes or prejudices from which perhaps no human mind in this imperfect state is wholly free, he is a child of God and an heir of glory.
On the other hand, though his professed opinions be quite conformed to the Scripture; though he be joined to the purest church; though he seem to have all gifts and all knowledge, the zeal of a martyr, and the powers of an angel; yet if he be not born of God, with all the splendid apparatus, he is but a tinkling, (or, as I should rather choose to render the word,) a stunning cymbal.
From this new birth, a new life, new perceptions, and new desires, take place in the soul; sin, which was one delighted in, becomes a burden: and God, who before was little thought of, is sought after as our chief good.
The need of his mercy is felt and acknowledged, and Jesus is approved and sought as the only way and author of salvation.
These things I believe are never truly and experimentally known but by the teaching and operation of the Holy Spirit; and, as he is God and not man, unchangeable in purpose, and almighty in power, I believe, when once he begins his work, he will in his own time accomplish it.
I believe hatred of sin, thirst after God, poverty of spirit, and dependence upon Christ, are sure tokens of salvation; and whoever may have them I would esteem my brethren and my sisters, though they should be found among Arminians, Mystics, or Papists.
Yet, I believe, some thus far wrought upon, may be, and are, entangled with errors dishonourable to the grace of God, and detrimental to their own peace.
There is much remaining darkness upon the mind; many persons are greatly hindered by a reasoning spirit, and numbers are kept down by their attachment to a favourite system, sect, and author: so that perhaps they are long strangers to that steadfast hope and strong consolation which the gospel truth, when simply received, is designed to afford us, and which depends upon the sense we have that we are nothing, and that Christ is all in all, and that our best graces and services are, and always will be in this life, defective and defiled, and that the sole exclusive ground of our hope and rejoicing is Jesus Christ, as made unto us of God, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.”
–John Newton, The Works of John Newton, Vol. 6, Ed. Richard Cecil (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1988), 6: 231-233.
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