The Searcher of Hearts

On a trip to the Cowper and Newton Museum in Olney, Bucks., Marylynn Rouse discovered two pocket notebooks in John Newton's handwriting, labelled Vols. 4 and 5, containing lectures 31-58 on Romans 8. 26-34. These long-lost Bible studies have now been published for the first time by Christian Focus under the title The Searcher of Hearts. We print here an extract. Marylynn also says that if anyone knows the whereabouts of other notebooks from Newton's series, she would be very glad to hear from them.

'Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.' (Romans 8.33)

Every clause, every word in this challenge of faith is full of meaning and would open a wide field to our meditations, notwithstanding we have had occasion to speak of the same subjects from the former verses.
But I shall endeavour to avoid unnecessary repetitions and consider them as they come in my way this second time in something of a different light. We may in this verse take notice of:

1. the persons: God's elect.
2. their safety or indemnity: Who shall lay. . .?
3. the reason: It is God himself that justifieth.

1. God's elect

So 1 Peter 1.2 and Titus 1.1. As the apostle before laid the ground of our hope in God's predestination, so he now gives God all the honour. The people of God are in themselves different as to their tempers and conduct from others, but the apostle does not lay the stress of his argument on this and say they are safe because better than others, but chiefly because he has chosen them. He pro-poses to us the same ground of comfort which he lived upon himself, where he is giving an account to his beloved Timothy of the views with which he looked forward to the great day. Though he had been singularly forward in his call and experience and honoured with much usefulness, he says not a word of this, but rests all upon his knowledge of the power, grace and faithfulness of Christ (2 Timothy 1.12). This is the same person who was so distressed with the views of his own heart in chapter 7. But when he ceased poring upon himself and fixed his eyes upon the purpose of God in Christ, hear how he triumphs. This may teach you:

1.1 That if you would be established in comfort and peace you must go out of yourselves for it. To compare yourselves with the Word of God is right and necessary in its proper place, but unless you view by faith what God has done for you as well to enquire what he has done in you, your comfort and assurance will be always variable and unsteady, like your changing frames. You will be still up and down.

1.2 That though the Lord acknowledges and accepts his own work in his people, yet his reserving them finally to himself is in consequence of his own purpose and for the sake of his covenant in Christ. Their graces are so mixed with defilement, they come so far short in every good thing, that if he was strict to mark what is amiss they could not stand before him. But when he beholds them as chosen and accepted in the beloved, he sees no spot or blemish in them and gives them boldness upon this ground to stand before him with confidence - both at the bar of conscience here and hereafter at the great tribunal. They may triumph in their complete security and say:

2. Who shall accuse?

As I said before, this is not a protestation of innocence. They are conscious of many things amiss and they find by experience that these are laid to their charge, but the point in question here is concerning their state and final acceptance. In this respect, all charges come short and are unable to reach them. The Lord has provided them with an answer. They are charged:

2.1 By conscience

(i) With sin past.

The sins of their times of ignorance. Though these shall not be imputed, the remembrance remains and is useful in the hand of God to promote:

(a) thankfulness (1 Timothy 1.13-15)

(b) humility (1 Corinthians 15.9; Titus 1.3)

(ii) With innumerable infirmities and defects.

These are startling to young believers, but when we are instructed in the knowledge of Christ as our righteousness, though we loathe ourselves on the ac-count of them we are not cast down.

(iii) With actual sins and backslidings.

These indeed cause a breach which only the Lord can heal.

2.2 By Satan

He observes no measures with them but as the Lord restrains him.

(i) He accuses them of all that is indeed amiss. He musters up and aggravates all their evils. When he sees that they are broke off from him, from tempter he turns accuser.

(ii) He lays to their charge things that they knew not. Calls them hypocrites, deceivers, etc.

(iii) Much in the spirit of Satan are the charges believers meet with from the world.

(a) They watch them closely, to see if they can find anything unsuitable to their profession: they expect more from them than others and if they fall, how does the world rejoice, aggravate and publish. Take care, pray to the Lord to keep you, for if you fall into the hands of men they will show you no favours.

(b) They set things in the worst light possible, where they are not evil. Any little mistake or imprudence, they charge upon them as wilful, etc.

(c) When occasion is not given them, they will not stick to invent and publish falsehood - throw all the dirt they can, in hopes that at least some will stick, or that if they cannot hurt them, they may grieve them. But such reproach is indeed an honour and ground of rejoicing.

(iv) The hardest charge to bear is when the Lord himself is the party. Job speaks of this (chapter 13.26; so Psalm 90.8). The Lord has times and ways of speaking to the hearts of his people and making them smart for their folly, but this is for their chastisement and correction, not to their condemnation. Though he cause grief he will have compassion (1 Corinthians 11.32). Notwithstanding any or all these charges, they are and shall be preserved. Every accusation will be overruled by the pleas mentioned here - Christ has died for sin and lives to make intercession for believing sinners, therefore they need not fear, for:

3. It is God who justifies

3.1 Who? God

The supreme determination is lodged with him and the matter can be carried no higher. If God speaks none can reverse it (Lamentations 3.37).

3.2 What? Justifieth

This is:

(i) A complete act - not the pardon of one sin only but of all (1 John 1.7). And not pardon only, but acceptance and honour - they are accounted righteous.

(ii) It is a solemn act. Not wholly of mercy, though the richest mercy to us, but it is an act of justice likewise (1 John 1.9). And all who are grieved at it are here challenged (if they can or dare) to say anything against it.

(iii) It is a final unalterable act. Not justified today and afterwards condemned. Whom he once receives he never puts away. When he loves he loves to the end.

(iv) It is a silencing act. When the soul views its justification by the blood of Christ, when by the Holy Spirit it is enabled to appeal and rest there, then it has an answer to every one that opposes. It acknowledges the charge of conscience but says: 'Though I am poor and needy the Lord careth for me.' It can turn upon Satan and say: 'All this and more I have done but Jesus has died.' It can be quiet under the reproach of the world and say: 'Let them curse but bless them.' Yea it can plead with the Lord himself and say: 'I have sinned and done very foolishly, but I see thy mercies are infinite, thy promise sure. Though a poor sinner, I must hope and believe thou art my God still.'
But especially at the Great Day. It will be a public act. Then every tongue that rises in judgment shall be condemned. Then Satan shall be confounded forever. The men of the world shall be astonished and cry: 'Is not this he whose life we accounted madness?' Conscience shall rejoice in the sight of Jesus eye to eye. The Judge shall ratify their justification before all the world. Complaints and fears shall cease forever and endless joy and triumph take place.

Appreciation:

1. Poor sinners - what will you do in the great day if Satan should stand forth to accuse and demand his prey and Jesus is not your friend to rebuke him?

2. Awakened souls, give all diligence to make your calling and election sure. If you read, pray and walk in obedience, your faith will surely strengthen.

3. You that hope you are already justified, stir up your hearts to feed upon your privilege. God is yours, Christ is yours, all is yours. What then will you render? Your bounden duty is your highest honour. Walk humbly with your God. Abstain from every evil. Rejoice in hope.

No charge - an extract from the book The Searcher of Hearts which consists of notes by John Newton for lectures on Romans 8.26-34