Amazing Grace-John Newton

John Newton was born on July 24, 1725 in London England. He lost his mother when he six-years-old from tuberculosis, and it really impacted him because he had always been close to his mother. She devoted herself to helping John memorize scriptures and hymns, and he would recite poetry to her to try and make her feel better. His father was a ship captain and was often away, so he was largely left to his chores, studies, and trying to cheer his mother up. On Sundays, John enjoyed listening to the new hymns by Isaac Watts, and his favorite was “When I survey the Wondrous Cross.”

When his mother died while she was away in Chatham, Kent, he couldn’t believe it. Before he knew it, he was waiting for his seafaring father to come and get him. He had never been close to his hard father, and what made it even worse was his father’s decision to get married again not weeks later, to a woman named Thomasina, whom paid him no attention, gave many orders, and cared little about God. They moved John to the countryside until he was eight, when he was then shipped off to boarding school before becoming a cabin boy at sea on his tenth birthday.

He did well for himself on the ship and was often called a ‘natural sailor’ and learned much. It was hard for him to stand up for his faith on an ungodly ship though, even when he would recite the hymns his mother had taught him. When he returned home, John was shocked to find that he had a new baby brother William. But it hurt when his father clearly loved William more.

John felt a need to prove himself, not only to his father, but to his friends as well. He spent much of his life on the seas striving for a good life but often fighting near death experiences and the sin that surrounded him. He was being devoured by it all. Left to fen for himself, he found himself captured by the Royal Navy Press-Gang. On March 1, 1744, John was walking on the waterfront when two men linked their arms with his. He was going to be forced to fight in a war, if there was one, between Britain and France. John tried to escape the Navy but was soon caught again and flogged.

Through many hardships, sicknesses, and turmoils, John pressed on. He had forgotten his mother’s teachings and fell victim to the storms of life. He pushed it away trying to forget and ignore the tug on his heart. Even after reading The Imitation of Christ by Thams a Kempis, John fell deeper into the sins that swirled around him.

March 9, 1748, the tide of John’s heart began to turn. That night, he was awakened to shouts that they were sinking. John rushed to help, but things just kept getting worse. There was too much water seeping in. They worked the pump, but it still wasn’t enough. Finally, the wind abated, and they tried to patch up the boat. It was John’s turn to take the helm, and when he did, he said, “If this won’t do… then the Lord have mercy on us.” He was shocked when he heard those words. Did he actually believe in God? Things kept going wrong, but John felt strangely calm. Finding himself on the northern coast of Ireland, as the ship was repaired, he felt the urge to go to church and read the Bible. He did both and prayed for hours.

At that point, John tried to learn more about his bible and his faith. He was determined to be a good example to his crew, and on Sundays they prayed together and at night had scripture lessons. Many of the crew hadn’t ever heard preaching. John was determined to fix this so sent a letter to his old paster, asking him to send some prayers and Bible lessons, promising to buy them. And so began his journey to becoming a powerful evangelist.

Life didn’t get easier because he was beginning to live his faith out. But now he was confident he had the ultimate Master of Heaven through it all on his side. He struggled through working on slave ships, his crew planning mutiny against him, his wife falling ill, his father passing before he could have the relationship with him that he so longed for. The worst was when he got so sick that he could never sail again. However, he had come to realize he now had the ultimate father in God.

John grew more and more passionate about sharing the gospel, even though his wife warned him to be careful not to anger people. So, he wrote a pamphlet and paid to have it printed. Everyone knew that he was a Christian and many people visited him and his wife on Sunday evenings to pray and sing together. The more he evangelized and knew the Bible, the more convicted he would become over the sins of his past. It wasn’t until he was asked to tell his story of God’s faithfulness at sea that John was able to get his mistakes off his chest and declare God’s grace and mercy in his life.

As John thought of his life and how much he wanted to show his friends God’s grace, he began to write down words for a hymn. 

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now am found 

Was blind but now I see

John kept writing hymns trying to comfort others during the hard times. In early 1779, John decided to get his hymns published so others could use them. He knew that his voice on slavery was unique, and he wanted to use it to help abolish the slave trade, so he also wrote a booklet called Thoughts Upon the African Slave Trade. It was published January 1788. He didn’t want to insult the people, but he wanted to bring the issue to their attention to the horrors of slavery. Even in his old age, he preached until he could hardly hear and barely see. Finally, he realized that he couldn’t go for much longer and retired to his home. 

On February 25, 1807, William Wilberforce, a young man John had helped become a champion to abolish the slave-trade, came to John with the great news telling him that the bill to abolish slave-trade had been passed and no British citizen could legally be a part of the slave trade. John had lived long enough to see the horrors he had been a part of abolished. On Monday, December 21, 1807, John Newton died at eighty-two. His final resting place is in the churchyard of Saint Peter and Saint Paul’s Church in Olney. In the church window is inscribed the words: “Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound.” 

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)

That sav’d a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see. 

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, 

And grace my fears reliev’d;

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believ’d!

Thro’ many dangers, toils, and snares

I have already come;

‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, 

And grace will lead me home.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years

Bright shining as the sun

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise,

Than when we first begun.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,

The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who called me here below,

Shall be forever mine.

Ephesians 1:7

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

This information has been largely taken from the Christian Heroes: Then and Now book John Newton by Janet and Geoff Benge.

Thank you for reading! If you like what we are doing at Brave the Battle, please consider signing up for our email list. To see the weekly challenge, click the button below!

Weekly Challenge!