John Newton, Olney, to the Rev. Thomas Robinson at Leicester, 3 May 1776.

My dear Sir,

               M.r Venn says he goes by Leicester, & therefore I must send a line.  I believe I should have written sooner, but I have somehow mislaid your letter, it is not lost, but I cannot yet recover it, & therefore cannot answer particulars.  When it comes in my way I shall perhaps put you to the expence of a letter p.r post.

               I think the last news I had of you was by M.r Rennard.  We were glad to hear that you were well & M.rs Robinson better than when you wrote  The Lord is Gracious.  The afflictions which He sends to prove our Faith, bring with them new proofs of his Faithfulness.  He supports He sanctifies, He delivers.  Trials excite prayer—Prayer hastens Relief.  Relief produces Praise & encourages us to pray again Ps. 116.2.

              The Antinomians I remember your letter mentioned, are troublesome Neighbors, but the Lord will make them useful to you.  They will help you to take heed to your self, your doctrine & your flock &  will constrain you (tho I doubt it was your purpose) to try every thing by that uneven standard, that you mean to deliver from the Pulpit.  It is not pleasant but it is safe & profitable for a Minister to know that amongst his hearers, there are some serious spirits who are waiting to wrest his words.  Had we here but friends to speak to, we might become careless & superficial, & think they would accept an AUTO[?] as a sufficient reason for every thing.  But enemies make us look about us.  Trust the Lord will help you simply & patiently to declare the Truth, which I believe is a far better way of refuting Error, than by expressly engaging in Controversies against it. 

               I hope I shall think of you on Tuesday, when I understand you are to preach the Visitation Sermon   This service was certainly of the Lords appointment as it seems to cross the usual rule of confining it to Beneficed Clergy.  May He fill your heart & mouth & make it a blessed season of grace to many.

               As I said, this is only a note to tell you I do not forget you   I hope to write again, but if you should prevent me first by another letter, it wil be doing me a kindness that will not be lost upon me

               Our love to M.rs Robinson & Miss Boys if with you & I beg you to present our affectionate respects to M.r & M.rs Mills, & all our kind Leicester friends.  May Grace & peace be with you & may the Word of the Lord from your mouth, be a seed of life to many, that you may see Leicester, lately a wilderness, flourish like a Garden of the Lords planting.

                                                   I am my dear Sir

                                                                     Your affectionate friend & brother

                                                                                       John Newton

Olney y.e 3. May 76

Text:  Joseph Angus Archive, Box 2, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. Letter was received on 7 May 1776, sent “by favor of M.r Venn.”