John Newton on the Trinity/Deity of Christ
But I apprehend that some good men, though not in their judgement and experience, yet in their more general manner of expression, seem to border upon another extreme, for though they profess to believe, and I doubt not, cordially do believe, the deity of the Savior, they do not seem to speak of Him with that freedom, frequency, and fervency, of which the apostle Paul has given us such a pattern in his writings. I have heard excellent sermons, evidently upon Gospel principles, and well adapted to general edification, in which I could perceive but one defect, (and I must think it a defect,) that the name of Jesus Christ the Lord has hardly been mentioned, but only the word God, which has, perhaps, been so often repeated, as to sound in my ears almost an expletive!
I grieve to think how often I have amused myself and my hearers (I fear it has been little more) with making grave remarks upon sin or holiness, which though I hope, true in themselves, and important in their proper places, have by length of my proofs, reasonings, and illustrations, tended to hide the Saviour from our view. I have since compared this mistake to that of a painter, who, in a historical piece should omit the principal figure. I have thought it like an attempt to point out the most striking parts of an extensive project at midnight. In the future, I wish, when I preach, (if I may so speak,) to keep the sun in view above the horizon. Then I may hope He will be seen by His own light, and will likewise diffuse a light upon every part of my subject.
Fastidious, superficial , and incompetent hearers will allow us to speak of God in general terms, but they will not be pleased with hearing too much of Christ. His name is of small value with the careless and those who are at ease; it is designed for the relief of the weak, the wounded, the helpless, and the miserable; and they who truly know Him, and have experienced His saving power will be ready to speak of His name.
But I apprehend that some good men, though not in their judgement and experience, yet in their more general manner of expression, seem to border upon another extreme, for though they profess to believe, and I doubt not, cordially do believe, the deity of the Savior, they do not seem to speak of Him with that freedom, frequency, and fervency, of which the apostle Paul has given us such a pattern in his writings. I have heard excellent sermons, evidently upon Gospel principles, and well adapted to general edification, in which I could perceive but one defect, (and I must think it a defect,) that the name of Jesus Christ the Lord has hardly been mentioned, but only the word God, which has, perhaps, been so often repeated, as to sound in my ears almost an expletive!
I grieve to think how often I have amused myself and my hearers (I fear it has been little more) with making grave remarks upon sin or holiness, which though I hope, true in themselves, and important in their proper places, have by length of my proofs, reasonings, and illustrations, tended to hide the Saviour from our view. I have since compared this mistake to that of a painter, who, in a historical piece should omit the principal figure. I have thought it like an attempt to point out the most striking parts of an extensive project at midnight. In the future, I wish, when I preach, (if I may so speak,) to keep the sun in view above the horizon. Then I may hope He will be seen by His own light, and will likewise diffuse a light upon every part of my subject.
Fastidious, superficial , and incompetent hearers will allow us to speak of God in general terms, but they will not be pleased with hearing too much of Christ. His name is of small value with the careless and those who are at ease; it is designed for the relief of the weak, the wounded, the helpless, and the miserable; and they who truly know Him, and have experienced His saving power will be ready to speak of His name.