Anne Dutton was one of the most published female authors in England and America in the 18th Century. She wrote letters, tracts, books, poems, hymns, and more.
Her writings demonstrate a clear understanding of Scripture and the gospel and were written in a style accessible to even new believers.
Born around 1691 in Northampton, England, Anne was lively and outspoken from childhood. When she was around 13, she was convicted that her sin was an offense against God and was converted. As she grew in her faith, Anne came to understand that all her experiences and emotions told her nothing about her position before God; salvation and assurance had to be by faith in Christ alone. She also grew to understand that the ongoing struggle against sin and for obedience was the proper response to God’s grace.
Anne was married to Thomas Cattell in 1714; sadly, he died only six years later. Anne returned home and experienced a time of spiritual struggle and depression that drove her to Scripture for God’s promises and comfort. She found particular comfort in Psalm 37:5, “Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”
In her own words: “I saw that there was not only a fullness of life in [Christ], suited to quicken me at first, when I was dead in sin; but a fullness also, that was sufficient to revive me under, and recover me from all my backslidings.”
The following year, Anne was married again to Benjamin Dutton, a draper who later became a minister. He, along with other ministers, encouraged Anne in her writing and publishing against those who thought that women had no business writing about theology or being published at all. In 1734, she wrote a 1500-line poem titled “Narrations of the Wonders of Grace”, showing God’s redemptive acts in history, with many Scripture references in the margins. The following year, she wrote A Discourse Upon Walking With God, one of her most popular works and one that influenced many people, including George Whitfield, John Wesley, Selina Hastings, and Anne Steele. Another of her best-known writings was Thoughts on the Lord’s Supper, Relating to the Nature, Subjects, and Right Partaking of this Solemn Ordinance.
Sadly, in 1747, Benjamin was lost at sea and Anne was a widow once again. She then turned more fully to her writing, and by 1750 had published 35 books. She wrote clearly, with a Trinitarian understanding of the Christian life and faith, noting each Person’s role in redemption. Anne also wrote with wisdom and compassion, regardless of the topic or audience. When asked why she did not deal more harshly with a particular issue, she responded, “There needs to be a great deal of spiritual wisdom to cry aloud against sin without wounding the faith of God’s dear children.”
Anne regularly corresponded with John Wesley and George Whitfield, often correcting their theological errors both in personal correspondence and in published writings, and respectfully making a biblical case for truth. She defended Calvinism against Wesley’s Arminianism, and argued against his belief in a “second blessing” that some Christians were given that would result in earthly perfection. Anne also wrote against the antinomianism of her time.
Later in life Anne wrote her autobiography, in part as a reply to those who thought that a female should not write and publish theology. Her defense was four-fold: First, that she was writing for the glory of God and the good of souls; second, that the passages in 1 Timothy 2 and 1 Corinthians 14 that were used against her writing referred to the public authoritative teaching in church, not personal writing; third, that Romans 14:19 calls upon all believers to edify one another, and “all believers” includes women; and fourth, that her books were meant to be read privately at home, as a conversation or private instruction.
Anne Dutton died in 1765, leaving behind a wealth of writings. She dedicated her life to the building up of the church, the defense of truth, and the glory of God. The difficulties she faced in life led her straight to Scripture and gave her a depth of understanding that she was able to share with others. God used her writings to influence many key figures in the church of her day and to continue the battle for sound doctrine.
~ Dorothy W.
