“St. Paul describes his own case in few words, ‘Without were fightings, within were fears.’ (2 Corinthians 7:5) Does not this comprehend all you would say?
And how are you to know experimentally either your own weakness, or the power, wisdom, and grace of God, seasonably and sufficiently afforded, but by frequent and various trials?
How are the graces of patience, resignation, meekness, and faith, to be discovered and increased but by exercise?
The Lord has chosen, called, and armed us for the fight; and shall we wish to be excused? Shall we not rather rejoice that we have the honour to appear in such a cause, under such a Captain, such a banner, and in such company?
A complete suit of armour is provided, weapons not to be resisted, and precious balm to heal us if haply we receive a wound, and precious ointment to revive us when we are in danger of fainting.
Further, we are assured of the victory beforehand; and, O what a crown is prepared for every conqueror, which Jesus, the righteous Judge, the gracious Saviour, shall place upon every faithful head with his own hand!
Then let us not be weary and faint, for in due season we shall reap. The time is short; yet a little while, and the struggle of indwelling sin, and the contradiction of surrounding sinners, shall be known no more.
You are blessed, because you hunger and thirst after righteousness; He whose name is Amen has said you shall be filled. To claim the promise is to make it our own; yet it is becoming us to practice submission and patience, not in temporals only, but also in spirituals.
We should be ashamed and grieved at our slow progress, so far as it is properly chargeable to our remissness and miscarriage; yet we must not expect to receive everything at once, but wait for a gradual increase; nor should we forget to be thankful for what we may account a little, in comparison of the much we suppose others have received.
A little grace, a spark of true love to God, a grain of living faith, though small as mustard-seed, is worth a thousand worlds.”
–John Newton, The Works of John Newton, Volume 2 (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1820/1988), 2: 174-175.
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