"and a Saviour, to give repentance and pardon, life "and immortality:"* and remember you have his faithful promise, "Him that cometh unto me, I will "in no wise cast out."t

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I can truly say, my dear friends, that " my heart's "desire, and prayer to God for you, is, that you may be saved." As some, I fear, have hitherto heard in vain, and some will not hear me at all, I have chosen this method to address you all: I hope none will be offended, for I would not willingly offend a child. I hope I can appeal to yourselves, that God has given me a desire to live peaceably with all men, and to the utmost of my power, to promote your welfare. "I seek not your's, but you." In a little time "we must all appear before "the judgment-seat of Christ."|| There I must give an account of my ministry, and you must account for the privileges with which you have been favoured. When I think of the solemnities of that day, and the worth of your immortal souls, I am at a loss for words suitable to my desires on your behalf. "I beseech you by the tender mercies of "our God," I warn you by his approaching terrors,** that you receive not this grace of God in a preached gospel in vain.†† And, though I cannot expect to prevail on you all, yet I write in hope, that a blessing from the Lord will make the reading of this paper useful to some. And, if it be so, even one to person, I ought to esteem it an over-payment for the labour of my whole life.

And now I commend you to God, to the word

*Acts, v. 31. +John, vi. 37. + Romans, x. 1. §2 Corinthians, xii. 14. ||2 Corinthians, iii. 10. ¶ Romans, xii. 1. ** 2 Corinthians, v. 11. tt 2 Corinthians, vi. 1.

of his grace, and to the teaching of his Spirit.* I make it my earnest request to the favoured few who know the Lord, and have received the spirit of prayer, that in your supplications at the throne of grace, you will frequently bear in remembrance, Your affectionate Friend and Servant

in the gospel of Christ, JOHN NEWTON.

* Acts, xx, 32.

Α ΤΟΚΕΝ

OF

AFFECTION AND RESPECT,

TO THE PARISHIONERS OF

ST. MARY WOOLNOTH AND ST. MARY WOOLCHURCH, LONDON.

FROM THEIR MINISTER.

ACTS, XXVI. 3.

I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

I BESEECH THEE TO HEAR ME PATIENTLY.

My respected Friends;

Ir being impracticable to write separately and distinctly to every person in the parishes with which I am connected as a minister; I cannot offer you this testimony of my sincere regard for your welfare, without availing myself of the conveniency of the press. And I wish, while I express myself with freedom, to observe the same respect and tenderness, as if I had an opportunity of conversing personally and severally with each of you.

My income from the parish is legally settled, and regularly and readily paid. I am well satisfied with it; and have only to wish on this head, that the people of my charge may be benefited by the ministry which they jointly contribute to support. I acknowledge likewise, with thankfulness to God and to you, that in the occasional intercourse I have had among you, I have never received the least

A passage is omitted here, expressive of the author's determination to confine this address to his parishioners; but, as his executors consider this as applicable only to the period of its publication, they have not scrupled to insert the address among his posthumous writings.