Inspiring Christian Lives

John Newton, 1725-1807

"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound..." So begins one of the most famous hymns of all times. The author of the words was John Newton, the 'wretch' who 'once was lost but then was found', saved by amazing grace. Born in London in 1725, John Newton lived a wild and brutal life at sea until he ultimately became captain of his own slave trading ship. He profited out of the slave trade.

Although he had had some early religious teaching from his mother he had long since given up his faith. However, on a homeward voyage, while he was attempting to steer the ship through a violent storm, he experienced what he was to refer to later as his "great deliverance". He recorded in his journal that when all seemed lost and the ship would surely sink, he exclaimed, "Lord, have mercy upon us". Later in his cabin he reflected on what he had said and began to believe that God had used the storm to speak to him and that grace had begun to work in him.

For the rest of his life he observed the anniversary of May 10, 1748 as the day of his conversion. "Thro' many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; 'tis grace has bro't me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home". He continued in the slave trade for a time after his conversion; however, he saw to it that the slaves under his care were treated as humanely as possible - the abolition of the trade itself was still some time away and would have to overcome seemingly insuperable obstacles of deep rooted attitudes. Soon, Newton had no taste for the slaving industry, and gave it all up to become a church minister, where he penned hymns that are still sung in the church today.