This is, as Paul Harvey might say, the rest of the story of "Amazing Grace."
This gift of grace also occurred in Newton's life, as in his popular song, and the words of
the hymn bear out the gift of grace in his life.
Newton was born July24,1725, in London, England. At age 11, he went to sea with his
father, and made six voyages, in the Mediterranean before his father retired, as a ship captain.
In 1744, Newton was pressed into service on a man-of-war called the H.M.S. Harwich. Because
conditions on board were so miserable, Newton deserted but was later captured, publicly flogged and demoted from
the position of a midshipman to that of a common salor.
At Newton's request, he was taken into service on a slave ship where he was the servant of a slave
trader. Newton was brutally abused. Early on in 1748, Newton was rescued by a sea captain who had been a friend
to his father. John Newton then became the captain of his own slave ship which engaged in the slave trade.
Newton's biography tells us he had early religious instruction from his mother who died when he was
a child. By the time he was captain of a slave trader, Newton had given up any religious convictions. He made
his living off the suffering of others.
During a voyage, Newton was attempting to guide his ship through a violent storm that threatened
his ship and his life. During this storm, when all seemed lost, Newton prayed, "Lord, have mercy on us." In his
diary, he later recorded he had reflected on his prayer and believed God had rescued him and his ship and that grace had begun
to work for him and in his life. The storm happened on May 10, 1978. Newton marked this day as the day of his
salvation and observed this day as an anniversary for the remainder of his life. Although he continued in the slave
trade, he saw to it that those in his care where treated humanely.
Newton married Mary Catlett, the love of his life, in 1750. In 1755, after a serious illness,
he gave up his life at sea. He worked as a surveyor of tides in Liverpool, England, from 1755-1760. He meet George
Whitefield, a deacon of the Church of England, and became Whitefield's disciple. Newton met John Wesley, founder of
Methodism, and educated himself in both Greek and Hebrew.
Newton chose to become a minister, was ordained by the Bishop of Lincoln and accepted the curacy
of Olney, in Buckinghamshire. He was a successful Pastor and his church grew so much it had to be built larger.
He wrote "Amazing Grace" and other hymns.
John Newton served God the rest of his life. His life reflected the grace he had been given
by a loving God.
