THEIR AUTHORS AND ORIGIN. 209
other as natural enemies, and they are usually jealous of any interference with each others domain. But it was otherwise with Cowper and his publisher, Joseph Johnson, of St. Paul s Church yard. Johnson, who was a man of good taste, had printed the "Olney Hymns," and on Newton s recommendation, was ap pointed to publish Cowper s poems. Through Newton, the poetic publisher suggested that if Mr. Cowper would not be offended he could point out lines that might easily be much im proved. Cowper s reply, July 7th, 1781, exhibits his character in a very pleasing light. He says : " I had rather submit to chastisement now than be obliged to undergo it hereafter. If Johnson therefore will mark with a marginal (qy), those lines that he or his object to, I will willingly retouch them, or give a reason for my refusal." Cowper afterwards acknowledged that these marked lines had been altered much to the improvement of his poems.
JAMES NEWTON, M.A. 17331790.
" Let plenteous grace descend on those." No. 839.
THIS is hymn 469 in " Rippon s Selection," 1787, where it is headed " After Baptism." It begins there with another verse :
" Proclaim, saith Christ, my wondrous grace."
James Newton was a native of Chenies, Bucks, where he was born in 1733. He was trained in piety. At seventeen years of age, he went to London, where he became a member of the church at Maze Pond, under the care of the Rev. Benjamin "Wallin,M.A. Having received some preparation for the ministry under Dr. Llewelyn, he became, about the year 1757, assistant minister to Mr. Tommas, at the Pithay Chapel, Bristol. In 1770, he became classical tutor to the Bristol Education Society, along with Dr. Caleb Evans and the Rev. Hugh Evans, M.A. That office he filled with honour till his decease, April 8th, 1790, in the
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