Newton labels the three stages of Christian growth as A, B, and C, the last being an experienced, mature believer, and the subject of this letter. The abridged paraphrase below has paragraphs corresponding to the original letter, and numbered identically.
“A Christian’s Experience: Stage Three of Three”
The characteristic I assigned to A is desire, to B, conflict, and now, to C, contemplation. C does not necessarily have more fervency than A. Assurance of salvation belongs to both B and C. All three have no inherent grace, but depend on God alone for it. Still, C is much stronger, because he knows best his own weakness. He has learned better than A and B that he is not strong in himself but only in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. It is his first and habitual resort.
C excels B in clearer views of divine love, Christ’s glory, and Scripture’s certainty. What C lacks in feeling he makes up for in godly discernment along with the most consistent meditation upon divine things. This powerfully transforms him toward a more harmonious Christlikeness. These particulars of it are outstanding:
I. Humility. God gives all real Christians some humility, but it grows with spiritual knowledge and experience. C recalls countless instances of divine help and forbearance, inducing a deeper humility. He knows the most of his own sinfulness and weakness, and the most of the Lord’s majesty and love. This leads to the greatest submission of all three to God’s will, and the greatest tenderness of spirit toward fellow Christians. While Scripture remains the standard, he is more understanding and patient with brethren in their mistakes and falls, having suffered the most.
II. Spirituality. It is fitting for every Christian to realize that knowing God and Christ makes everything seem empty in comparison. This counteracts our tendency to be worldly and petty. The Lord appoints trials largely to wean us from treasuring temporal things too much and undervaluing Him. Even C must grow in this direction, but he is closer to the ideal than A and B. He still feels shackled but he has the greatest desire to be free. He is the most serious about communing with God and advancing in holiness. He is spiritually stable even in tumultuous circumstances. He is content whatever the Lord sends, as long as He remains near. This attitude promotes a peaceful heart in C. Acutely aware of his mortality, he lives upon foretastes of glory. This fleeting life is less important to him than finishing his course well with a clear conscience and the joy of the Lord.
III. A union of heart to the glory and will of God. The closer we get to God, the more we embrace His priorities. His glory is supreme, and C appreciates that more than ever. New converts are first concerned for themselves, and understandably so. “What shall I do to be saved?” He wants forgiveness and to know for sure that he is forgiven. He is impatient of suffering and just wants it to end. But C is satisfied as long as Jesus’ power is on display and God is glorified. The most mature Christian can say that he takes pleasure in his weaknesses as long as they promote God’s praise. In this way, C closely resembles the angels in heaven (Matt 6.10).
Advanced believers differ from each other in many ways. They may be rich or poor, well-educated or illiterate, perky or placid. Their circumstances may be easy or difficult. They could just as easily be pastors or pew-sitters. Diagnosing the stage of a Christian is very difficult because natural differences can either mimic or mask grace. We really cannot make a definitive assessment, especially about other people. Each complex case is quite beyond us. Christ, our great and merciful High Priest, however, knows everything about us. His realistic appraisal takes everything into account and makes all kinds of gracious allowances to His beloved children. There is nothing in this world so excellent as C, often unnoticed or despised by the world. He is the delight and dwelling of divine love, the charge of angels, and nearly ready for everlasting glory. Happy C! His brief miseries are nearly over, and his holiest desires are almost granted. Christ is about to receive him with open arms, gladly welcoming him with, “Well done, good and faithful servant! Let us rejoice together!”
If my explanation of the three stages of Christian experience is basically sound, it is a pitiful mistake for anyone to profess Christ without a serious concern for holiness of heart, and therefore, to make excuses for a worldly attitude and lifestyle, or a fierce party spirit. My prayer is that you and I will have that heavenly wisdom which is “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (Jas 3.17). Signed, JN.
—————-
“Happy C” indeed! Let us all aspire to such heavenly-mindedness and maturity, and bless the God of all grace if we know anything of it already. Ω