The Works of John Newton (6 vols.)

The first volume of Newton’s Works contains Richard Cecil’s 129-page memoir of Newton. First published as a stand-alone monograph in 1809, two years after Newton’s death, Cecil’s biography of Newton was included with the publication of Newton’s Works in 1820. The biography includes factual information on Newton’s life, along with reflections on his legacy and influence—which began to emerge only a few short years after his death.

In addition to Cecil’s biography, this volume also contains more than one hundred letters and pieces of correspondence written by John Newton, including letters to students, family members, members of Newton’s church, and numerous others. This correspondence reveals personal and spiritual matters, thoughts and opinions on prayer, temptation, and other topics, as well as comments on numerous texts of Scripture. Taken together, these letters offer a rare glimpse into the mind and heart of John Newton.

Volume 2 of Newton’s Works includes dozens of discourses and sermons.

• Six Discourses (or Sermons), as Intended for the Pulpit
  • On the Deceitfulness of the Heart
  • On the Saviour and his Salvation
  • On the Christian Name
  • On All Things Being Given Us with Christ
  • On Searching the Scriptures
• Twenty Sermons Preaches in the Parish Church of Olney
  • The Small Success of the Gospel Ministry Considered
  • In What Sense the Mysteries of the Gospel Are Hid from Many
  • The Characters of Those from Whom the Gospel Doctrines Are Hid
  • The Nature of Spiritual Revelation, and Who Are Favoured with It
  • The Sovereignty of Divine Grace Asserted and Illustrated
  • Of the Person of Christ
  • Of the Authority of Christ
  • The Glory and Grace of God Revealed in Jesus Christ
  • Labouring and Heavy Laden Sinners Described
  • Of Coming to Christ
  • The Present and Future Rest of Believers in Christ
  • Of the Yoke of Christ
  • The Service of Christ Easy and Pleasant to His People
  • Believers Cautioned against Misconduct in their Profession
  • The Extent and Sanction of the Third Commandment
  • The Christian Life Compared to a Race
  • No Access to God but by the Gospel of Christ
  • Of a Living and a Dead Faith
  • Guilt Removed, and Peace Restored
  • Of the Assurance of Faith

This volume contains Newton’s work on church history. For Newton, this begins in the timeless wisdom and goodness of God, and is revealed in the person of Christ. To understand Jesus, then, is critical for understanding ecclesiastical history. In addition to his exposition of the life of Jesus, Newton also provides a history of the church from the ascension to the end of the first century, including the life of Paul, and the early identification of heresies and false teachers.

The second half of this volume includes hundreds of John Newton’s hymns from his sixteen year pastorate at Olney in Buckinghamshire.

Volume 4 includes Newton’s most popular sermons—50 in all. Originally preached for the edification of his listeners, they have been compiled and published for additional reading and study. These sermons, according to Newton, are designed to reveal to his listeners the essence of Christian belief through understanding the person and work of Jesus himself—“his person, grace, and glory; his matchless love to sinners; his humiliation, sufferings, and death; his ability and willingness to save to the uttermost; his kingdom, and the present and future happiness of his willing people.”

This volume contains three tracts, seven lengthy sermons, and the letters Newton wrote to his wife while he was at sea from 1750 to 1754, and while he traveled in England from 1755 to 1785. Topics include words of encouragement to a minister of an independent church, words of advice for academic preparation for ministry, and sermons on Ephesians, Jeremiah, 1 Thessalonians, Proverbs, and other texts.

The final volume of Newton’s Works includes 236 letters and writings from Newton to his fellow preachers, to members of his congregation and community, and to unnamed individuals dealing with personal matters and in need of spiritual counsel. This collection also contains memoirs, commentary on social topics, political reflections, and Newton’s own thoughts on the slave trade. The volume concludes with an index to the entire 6-volume set of Newton’s works.