John Newton’s Letter on Bearing with Bigots (July 13, 1778)

On July 13, 1778, John Newton, serving as parish minister in Olney, Buckinghamshire, wrote a pastoral sentence that has outlived its immediate context: “It is perhaps the highest triumph we can obtain over bigotry when we are able to bear with bigots themselves.” Newton’s remark was not a retreat from conviction, but a call to conquer the spirit of contempt. In an age of sharp political tensions and religious disputes, he urged believers to refuse the easy victory of winning arguments while losing charity.

Newton’s counsel carried unusual weight because it came from a man who knew both hardness and mercy. Once tangled in grievous sin before being awakened to grace, he became known for patient shepherding and for shaping the devotional life of ordinary Christians. His ministry in Olney—marked by visitation, counsel, and steady preaching—helped form the tender spiritual atmosphere that later bore fruit in the Olney Hymns, written with William Cowper. The same compassion that gave the church hymns of hope also shaped Newton’s approach to conflict: firmness without cruelty.

Olney itself, a small market town, became a quiet stage for spiritual heroism. Newton’s “triumph” was not the heroism of the battlefield, but of the heart: restraining pride, refusing retaliation, and entrusting opponents to God. He taught that harshness can be answered without becoming harsh, because the Christian’s confidence rests not in winning, but in Christ’s power to change hearts.

Scripture supports this posture. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). Likewise, “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:24–25). Newton’s point aligns with these commands: correction is real, but gentleness is required.

His July 1778 letter remains a summons to combine conviction with humility, to speak truth without savoring scorn, and to let love have the final word—even when love must bear long with those who do not yet see.