John Newton was a disgusting, immoral, filthy rascal that was hated by all. He had a Christian mother who prayed her boy would become a preacher,1 but she died when he was seven years old. He was sent for formal education, but John left the school to begin life as a seaman.2
John was born on July 24, 1725 in Wapping, London. His father was a shipmaster in the Mediterranean Sea.
When 11 years old he went out to sea and apprenticed on his father’s ship. His teen years were spent in learning to be the most profane, indulgent and unchristian person in the world. He raped the female slaves they transported. Even seasoned sailors were alarmed at his corruption.3
His life angered his father and he was finally put into service for the British Navy. He deserted, was then arrested, stripped and flogged.4 He was soon discharged.
He wanted to live where he could do as he pleased and ended up on the western coast of Africa in 1747. There he worked for a slave trader who mistreated him and he worked on a lemon tree plantation. It was not long before his clothes became rags. He had no shelter, and would beg for roots to eat to stay alive. He did escape the island after a year.5
He worked with several captains, and soon had his own ship to join the slave trade. He would hunt down people to capture in Africa and haul them away to be sold as slaves in the West Indies and America.6
On one particularly dangerous trip to England, he began reading a book that has remained popular even to this day. It was written by Thomas a Kempis and entitled The Imitation of Christ. This book was first written in Latin in 1440. There have been 2000 editions of it. John Wesley had translated the copy Newton read into English.7
He read the book and began to wonder about his spiritual state on March 9, 1749. That night, he was jarred awake. The ship was taking on water in the midst of a tempestuous storm. His cabin was flooded. The pumps could not keep up with the constant waves of water that passed over the ship. It seemed with each wave that the ship would not recover. He realized his future state was far worse than the storm. He was terrified of death. He begged for God’s salvation.8
He survived the storm and the next day began Bible study in earnest. God had not only rescued his body from the sea, but his soul was snatched from hell’s fires.
He continued in the slave trade business for six more years, but sought to improve conditions. He also conducted church services on board his ship. He finally realized he would do more good by quitting the business and campaigned against it.
He was married on Feb. 1, 1750, to Mary Catlett, and began studying for the ministry. George Whitfield and the Wesley’s greatly influenced him, but at 39 he opted to join the Anglican Church instead of the “Dissenters.” He became an Anglican pastor, and lived till he was 82 years old. He was known as the “old sea captain” and huge crowds would come hear him preach.
His wife, Mary, died on Dec. 15, 1790.
He died on December 21, 1807.
Sources
1Christian History: The Golden Age of Hymns, Carol Stream IL: Christianity Today, 1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996.
2Osbeck, K. W. 101 Hymn Stories. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1982. Pages 28-29
3Morgan, R. J. On This Day. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, c1997 (electronic ed.) March 10
4Morgan
5Christian History
6Osbeck, Page 29.
7Schaff, P., & Schaff, D. S. History of the Christian Church. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997
8Morgan
Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society (Irving, TX: The Grace Evangelical Society, 1989), Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 102-103.
