Sunday, John Newton Mentors William Wilberforce

A DIFFICULT SERMON from Bethel World Outreach in Nashville is given by Steve Murrell. Die like a man, part 1. We live in a country and culture that's obsessed with comfort. The Church is also driven towards seeking comfort. What, then, does it mean to pick up your cross and follow Christ in today's world?Steve continues the most unpopular message of the year: Die like a man, part 2.
PERSUADING WILBERFORCE TO STAY ON "the right track" and to combine the life of a Christian with the life of a politician was John Newton's finest hour as a pastor. It was not the obvious advice from a senior clergyman meeting a potential young future minister of the Church, bursting with spiritual zeal. What would have happened if Newton had recommended to Wilberforce that he should cut himself off from public life and explore what he thought was his call to a religious vocation? The loss to British politics, to parliamentary history and above all, to the cause of the abolition of slavery would have been devastating.

It is clear from Wilberforce's diaries that his meeting with Newton was a turning point in his life. During the next few months the older man's mentoring became increasingly intense and the younger man's faith became increasingly committed. Wilberforce immediately joined the congregation of St Mary Woolnoth and heard Newton preach his rector's sermons there.

Within weeks, Newton traveled back after the Sunday services with Wilberforce to his house in Wimbledon. The dined together and had long talks after dinner.

These intimate conversations between the two friends deepened the intensity of their friendship. By this time, Wilberforce had thrown caution to the winds over his association with London's leading evangelical minister.

In the early months of 1786, Newton's mentoring of Wilberforce took many forms. One was the recommendation of books. In March, Newton sent Wilberforce John Austin's Confessions and urged him to read three books by John Bunyan---The Jerusalem Sinner Saved, Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ, and Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners.

Wilberforce gave up his old habits of clubbing, gaming and high living. Under Newton's guidance, he was following an exemplary new regime of prayer, Bible reading and serious study of the moral and political issues of the day.

Over time it was easy to detect both the intimacy and dedication of Newton's commitment to Wilberforce. Helping the young Member of Parliament to find and stay in the difficult "right path" of combining religious faith with political service was Newton's goal. He achieved it. As a result, humanity will forever be in Newton's debt for mentoring Wilberforce through one of the most delicate and vulnerable phases of his life's journey.

The mentoring soon led both men forward to wholehearted involvement in the campaign to abolish the slave trade.

----Jonathan Aitken, John Newton, From Disgrace to Amazing Grace