John Newton was born of a godly mother and a sea captain father. His mother wanted him to become a preacher, so she taught him the Scriptures and some Isaac Watt's songs for children. But she died when Newton was seven.
At age 11 Newton followed his father and became a sailor, but he rejected the discipline of the Royal Navy and was eventually discharged. He then embarked on a life of sin. He was harsh, rough, immoral and profane; many called him "The Great Blasphemer."
For two years Newton worked for a slave trader in West Africa. The slave trader and his wife mistreated and humiliated Newton, and he was often hungry and in need. Finally, in 1747 he escaped.
The next year he boarded the ship The Greyhound for England, but a violent north Atlantic storm nearly sunk it. As the storm raged, Newton remembered what his mother had taught him and recalled Proverbs 1:24-31. That day -- March 21, 1748 -- he placed his faith in Jesus Christ.
Newton continued as a sailor and slave trader for nearly six more years. But his life began to change. He read the Bible, prayed and studied other Christian books. He even tried to witness to other sailors. He gradually came to hate slavery, so in 1754 he ceased the slave trade and accepted the royal position as Surveyor of Tides at Liverpool, which he kept from 1755 to 1760.
But Newton was convinced God was calling him into the ministry. He therefore began a study of Greek, Hebrew and Syriac. God answered his mother's prayers when, in 1764, the Anglican Church ordained him. He began to preach the Gospel in the town of Olney. People often referred to him as the "old converted sea captain."
Though as a young child he lacked discipline, Newton spent his mornings in study. In the afternoons he visited members of his church.
One of his practices was to compose a hymn for the Sunday evening services. In 1779, 280 of these, along with 68 by William Cowper, were collected and published as the Olney Hymns, the most famous of which is "Amazing Grace."
The hymn is based on David's declaration in I Chronicles 17:16-17. But the words recount Newton's life. As a wretched sinner and seller of other human beings, he deserved judgment. Instead, he received God's grace and salvation. Indeed, near the end of his life he still declared: "I can remember what a great sinner I was, and I can remember what a great Savior Christ Jesus is!"
Other famous hymns of Newton from the Olney collections include "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken," "Safely Through Another Week" and "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds."
Newton took a pastorate at St. Mary Woolnoth in London in 1779. He continued to minister there until he died in 1807 at the age of 82, ending 43 years of pastoring. His life stands as a magnificent trophy to God's amazing grace.
