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
