John Newton’s Letter to a Friend: His Mercy is More

We often sing as a congregation the Matt Boswell and Matt Papa hymn called “His Mercy is More.” Yet, as I came across the treasured letters of John Newton, who penned the most famous hymn, “Amazing Grace,” there is perhaps an indication that the song modern song noted above that we sing, penned in 2016, was likely inspired or even lifted from one of Newton’s letters to a friend, or in the least, reflects its content. Here is an excerpt from a letter Newton, who was a pastor, wrote in the spring of 1767:

“You have one hard lesson to learn, that is—the evil of your own heart. You know something of it—but it is needful that you should know more; for the more we know of ourselves, the more we shall prize and love Jesus and his salvation. I hope what you find in yourself by daily experience will humble you—but not discourage you. Humble you it should, and I believe it does. Are not you amazed sometimes that you should have so much as a hope, that, poor and needy as you are, the Lord thinks of you? But let not all you feel discourage you; for if our Physician is almighty, our disease cannot be desperate; and if he casts none out who come to him, why should you fear? Our sins are many—but his mercies are more. Our sins are great—but His righteousness is greater. We are weak—but he is power.”

This is a wonderfully balanced piece of counsel. Be humbled by our remaining sin, but don’t despair, since Christ’s mercy is greater than your sin. May we walk this glorious line of humility and hope as we enter into the weekend!