What do you think?
Rate this book
Cardiphonia or the Utterance of the Heart
The complete letters of John Newton are presented in Cardiphonia: together, they constitute compelling treatises of faith and spiritual wisdom.
Newton was born in the early 18th century: a time when slavery was legal and actively practiced in the West. His initial chosen career of sailing led him to enlist with the British Royal Navy, where he was put to work on vessels carrying slaves across the oceans to be sold into lifelong servitude and oppression.
At age twenty-two, John Newton experienced a near-fatal storm off the coast of Ireland: his ship barely survived, and this event proved a catalyst for spiritual conversion. In the years following, Newton departed the slave trade and undertook studies of the ancient Biblical lore: eventually, he was granted priesthood in the town of Olney, Buckinghamshire.
It was there that Newton served with distinction, taking an active role as a caring spiritual advisor for his parish. His wisdom led to some renown: as the letters in this volume evidence, Newton was regularly consulted by fellow reverends and many members of his parish. In 1788, after many years working in the church, Newton emerged as an abolitionist, lending his eloquence and reputation to the cause of outlawing slavery.
Newton was born in the early 18th century: a time when slavery was legal and actively practiced in the West. His initial chosen career of sailing led him to enlist with the British Royal Navy, where he was put to work on vessels carrying slaves across the oceans to be sold into lifelong servitude and oppression.
At age twenty-two, John Newton experienced a near-fatal storm off the coast of Ireland: his ship barely survived, and this event proved a catalyst for spiritual conversion. In the years following, Newton departed the slave trade and undertook studies of the ancient Biblical lore: eventually, he was granted priesthood in the town of Olney, Buckinghamshire.
It was there that Newton served with distinction, taking an active role as a caring spiritual advisor for his parish. His wisdom led to some renown: as the letters in this volume evidence, Newton was regularly consulted by fellow reverends and many members of his parish. In 1788, after many years working in the church, Newton emerged as an abolitionist, lending his eloquence and reputation to the cause of outlawing slavery.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1780
29 people are currently reading
289 people want to read
About the author
John Newton
128 books107 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Please see: John Newton
John Newton was born in London and at age eleven went to sea with his father, a shipmaster on the Mediterranean. Disregarding his mother's prayer that he enter the ministry, he engaged in the lucrative but brutal African slave trade for a number of years. Afterwards, he served in the Church of England as pastor of Olney parish and later of the combined church of St. Mary's in London. In addition to the words of "Amazing Grace," Newton was a prolific songwriter whose other well-known hymns include "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken" and "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds."
Please see: John Newton
John Newton was born in London and at age eleven went to sea with his father, a shipmaster on the Mediterranean. Disregarding his mother's prayer that he enter the ministry, he engaged in the lucrative but brutal African slave trade for a number of years. Afterwards, he served in the Church of England as pastor of Olney parish and later of the combined church of St. Mary's in London. In addition to the words of "Amazing Grace," Newton was a prolific songwriter whose other well-known hymns include "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken" and "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 18, 2021
I can't believe it's over.
After months of reading letters from this saint every day, I'm going to miss him and his bits of wisdom and theology.
This book was very readable and full of the beauty of our faith, of our Lord and his kindness and grace.
It's free on Google Books, and I recommend it. Sorry to say goodbye to a friend.
After months of reading letters from this saint every day, I'm going to miss him and his bits of wisdom and theology.
This book was very readable and full of the beauty of our faith, of our Lord and his kindness and grace.
It's free on Google Books, and I recommend it. Sorry to say goodbye to a friend.
November 18, 2020
The letters of John Newton, pastor and friend, are so dense and delicious that I had to read them nightly over the course of a year.
September 26, 2020
This is NOT, I repeat, NOT an easy read.
Part of that is the dated language, part of it is the edition of the book. Some strange editing here.
I am giving it four stars because there was enough of a really great, sound biblical message throughout that I know the problem was probably me and not Newton.
A few of my favorite quotes:
from pg.172:
"We often complain of losses; but this expression is rather improper. Strictly speaking, we can lose nothing, because we have no real property in anything. Our earthly comforts are lent us; and when recalled, we ought to return and resign them with thankfulness to Him who has let them remain so long in our hands."
from pg. 294:
"Your constitution, your situation, your temper, your distemper, all that is either comfortable or painful in your lot, is of His appointment. The hairs of your head are all numbered: the same power which produced the planet Jupiter is necessary to the production of a single hair, nor can one of them fall to the ground without His notice, any more than the stars can fall from their orbits. In providence, no less than in creation, He is Maximus in minimus. Therefore fear not; only believe. Our sea may sometimes be stormy; but we have an infallible Pilot, and shall infallibly gain our port."
(Bold type added by me for last sentence; as I felt it was particularly profound and a great summary of the passage.)
Recommended, but possibly look for a different edition.
Part of that is the dated language, part of it is the edition of the book. Some strange editing here.
I am giving it four stars because there was enough of a really great, sound biblical message throughout that I know the problem was probably me and not Newton.
A few of my favorite quotes:
from pg.172:
"We often complain of losses; but this expression is rather improper. Strictly speaking, we can lose nothing, because we have no real property in anything. Our earthly comforts are lent us; and when recalled, we ought to return and resign them with thankfulness to Him who has let them remain so long in our hands."
from pg. 294:
"Your constitution, your situation, your temper, your distemper, all that is either comfortable or painful in your lot, is of His appointment. The hairs of your head are all numbered: the same power which produced the planet Jupiter is necessary to the production of a single hair, nor can one of them fall to the ground without His notice, any more than the stars can fall from their orbits. In providence, no less than in creation, He is Maximus in minimus. Therefore fear not; only believe. Our sea may sometimes be stormy; but we have an infallible Pilot, and shall infallibly gain our port."
(Bold type added by me for last sentence; as I felt it was particularly profound and a great summary of the passage.)
Recommended, but possibly look for a different edition.
December 9, 2022
The best book I've read in three years.
The most wisdom I've read in one book (aside from the Bible).
The book that's brought me closest to praying without ceasing.
A book that I will want to read in the hospital and/or on my death bed.
Simply amazing.
Sad that it's over.
The most wisdom I've read in one book (aside from the Bible).
The book that's brought me closest to praying without ceasing.
A book that I will want to read in the hospital and/or on my death bed.
Simply amazing.
Sad that it's over.
November 24, 2024
unreadable
There are so many typos and errors that the text is “unreadable” in many places. Some errors appear that it was auto generated as there are words that are split and words that simply do not make any sense at all. Terrible translation of a wonderful book
There are so many typos and errors that the text is “unreadable” in many places. Some errors appear that it was auto generated as there are words that are split and words that simply do not make any sense at all. Terrible translation of a wonderful book
March 31, 2018
Have read this slowly (on and off again) for the past 4 years. Highly recommend it as a devotional for all those who believe the Gospel but need encouragement through the struggle.
November 20, 2023
Full of pastoral wisdom
Want to read
November 10, 2016Collection of letters by John Newton. A popular preacher, he is best known as the author of 'Amazing Grace'.
Available via the Internet Archive here: https://archive.org/details/cardiphon...
Available via the Internet Archive here: https://archive.org/details/cardiphon...
January 19, 2013
This collection of letters can be used as a daily devotional. They are wise, sometimes humorous and humbling.
June 23, 2015
Wonderful words of wisdom from this compilation of the many letters the author of the song, Amazing Grace, wrote to fellow preachers, parishioners, and friends.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews