# “Let me invite you to look unto Jesus” by John Newton

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2026/09/26/let-me-invite-you-to-look-unto-jesus-by-john-newton/
- Published: 2026-09-26T06:00:00-05:00
- Author: tollelege

“I think your experience is generally of the fearful, doubting cast. Such souls,
however, the Lord has given particular charge to His ministers to comfort.

He knows our infirmities, and what temptations mean; and, as a good Shepherd, he
expresses a peculiar care and tenderness for the weak of the flock, (**Isa. 40:4**).

But how must I attempt your comfort? Surely not by strengthening a mistake to which
we are all too liable, by leading you to look into your own heart for (what you 
will never find there) something in yourself whereon to ground your hopes, if not
wholly, yet at least in part.

Rather let me endeavour to lead you out of yourself: _let me invite you to look 
unto Jesus_. Should we look for light in our own eyes, or in the sun? Is it indwelling
sin distresses you?

Then I can tell you (though you know it) that Jesus died for sin and sinners. I 
can tell you, that His blood and righteousness are of infinite value; that His arm
is almighty, and His compassions infinite: yea, you yourself read His promises every
day, and why should you doubt their being fulfilled?

If you say you do not question their truth, or that they are accomplished to many,
but that you can hardly believe they belong to you; I would ask, what evidence you
would require? A voice or an angel from heaven you do not expect.

Consider, if many of the promises are not expressly directed to those to whom they
belong. When you read your name on the superscription of this letter, you made no
scruple to open it.

Why then do you hesitate at embracing the promises of the Gospel; where you read
that they are addressed to those who mourn, who hunger and thirst after righteousness,
who are poor in spirit, and cannot but be sensible that a gracious God has begun
to work these dispositions in your heart.

If you say, that though you do at times mourn, hunger, you are afraid you do it 
not enough, or not aright: consider, that this sort of reasoning is very far from
the spirit and language of the Gospel.

For it is grounded on a secret supposition, that in the forgiveness of sin, God 
has a respect to something more than the atonement and mediation of Jesus; namely,
to some previous good qualifications in a sinner’s heart, which are to share with
the blood of Christ in the honour of salvation.

The enemy deceives us in this matter the more easily, because a propensity to the
covenant of works is a part of our natural depravity. Depend upon it, you will never
have a suitable and sufficient sense of the evil of sin, and of your share in it,
so long as you have any sin remaining in you.

We must see Jesus as He is, before our apprehensions of any spiritual truth will
be complete. But if we know that we must perish without Christ, and that He is able
to save to the uttermost, we know enough to warrant us to cast our souls upon Him,
and we dishonour Him by fearing that when we do so He will disappoint our hope.

But if you are still perplexed about the high points of election, I would advise
you to leave the disposal of others to the great Judge: and as to yourself, I think
I need not say much to persuade you, that if ever you are saved at all, it must 
be in a way of free and absolute grace.

Leave disputes to others; wait upon the Lord, and He will teach you all things, 
in such degree and time as He sees best. Perhaps you have suffered for taking things
too much upon trust from men. ‘Cease from man, whose breath is in his nostrils.’
One is your master, even Christ.

Study and pray over the Bible; and you may take it as a sure rule, that whatever
sentiment makes any part of the word of God unwelcome to you is justly to be suspected.

Aim at a cheerful spirit. The more you trust God, the better you will serve Him.
While you indulge unbelief and suspicion, you weaken your own hands and discourage
others.

Be thankful for what He has shewn you, and wait upon Him for more: you shall find
He has not said, ‘Seek ye My face’ in vain.

I heartily commend you to His grace and care.”

–John Newton, **[_The Works of John Newton_](https://heritagebooks.org/products/the-works-of-john-newton-4-vols.html),
[_Volume 2_](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1848715110?tag=toletaupanre-20) **(Carlisle,
PA: Banner of Truth, 1988), 2: 220-222.

[⌊The Works of John Newton⌉⌊The Works of John Newton⌉[

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