A Guide To Godly Disputation

I thought this was pretty good.


A GUIDE TO GODLY DISPUTATION
JOHN NEWTON (1725-1807)
A minister, about to write an article criticizing a fellow minister for his lack of
orthodoxy, wrote to John Newton of his intention. Newton replied as follows.
"Dear Sir,
As you are likely to be engaged in controversy, and your love of truth is
joined with natural warmth of temper, my friendship makes me solicitous on your
behalf. You are of the strongest side; for truth is great, and must prevail; so that a
person of abilities inferior to yours might take the field with a confidence of
victory. I am not therefore anxious for the event of the battle; but I would have
you more than a conqueror, and to triumph, not only over your adversary, but
also over yourself. If you cannot be vanquished, you may be wounded. To
preserve you from such wounds as might give you cause of weeping over your
conquests, I would present you with some considerations, which, if duly attended
to, will do you the service of a great coat of mail; such armor, that you need not
complain, as David did of Saul’s, that it will be more cumbersome than useful; for
you will easily perceive it is taken from that great magazine provided for the
Christian soldier, the word of God. I take it for granted that you will not expect
any apology for my freedom, and therefore I shall not offer one. For methods
sake, I may reduce my advice to three heads: respecting your opponent, the public, and yourself.
As to your opponent, I wish that before you set pen to paper against him,
and during the whole time you are preparing your answer, you may commend
him by earnest prayer to the Lord’s teaching and blessing"
http://www.thirdmill.org/files/engl...02_9-33-28_AM~PT.Newton.godly.disputation.pdf