John Newton• blasphemous sailor

• slave-trader• Christian convert• pastor and preacher• man of compassion

• man of peace and unity• hymn-writer and letter writer

• abolitionist• humble servant and godly character

John Newton Convert to ChristI commit my soul to my gracious God and Saviour,who mercifully spared and preserved me,when I was an apostle, a blasphemer and an infidel,and delivered me from the state of miseryon the coast of Africainto which my obstinate wickedness had plunged me;and who has been pleased to admit me (though most unworthy)to preach his glorious gospel.

from his last Will and Testament

John Newton PastorIn my imagination, I sometimes fancyI could [create] a perfect minister.I take the eloquence of _______,the knowledge of_____, the zeal of______, and the pastoral meekness, tenderness and piety of _____.Then, putting them all together into one man,I say to myself,This would be a perfect minister.Now there is One, who, if he chose, could actually do this;But he never did it. He has seen fit to do otherwise, and to divide these gifts to every man severally as he will.

John Newton Hymn WriterOlney Hymns• compiled with Cowper• slave-trader• themes of Newton’s Hymns - faith in God for salvation - the sheer grace of God - love for Jesus - joyfulness in salvation

John Newton Hymn WriterAmazing Grace• testimonial style• not immediately a hit!• became iconic

An unashamedly middlebrow lyricist writing

for a lowbrow congregation. Jonathan Aiken

The moon in silver glory shone,And not a cloud in sight;When suddenly a shade begunTo intercept her light.

How fast across her orb it spread,How fast her light withdrew!A circle, ting'd with languid red,Was all appear'd in view.

While many with unmeaning eyeGaze on thy works in vain;Assist me, LORD, that I may tryInstruction to obtain.

Fain would my thankful heart and lipsUnite in praise to thee;And meditate on thy eclipse,In sad Gethsemane

John Newton Hymn Writer

John Newton Hymn Writer

Thy people's guilt, a heavy load!(When standing in their room)Depriv'd thee of the light of GOD,And fill'd thy soul with gloom.

How punctually eclipses move,Obedient to thy will!Thus shall thy faithfulness and love,Thy promises fulfill.

Dark, like the moon without the sun,I mourn thine absence, LORD!For light or comfort have I none,But what thy beams afford.

But lo! the hour draws near apace,When changes shall be o'er;Then shall I see thee face to face,And be eclips'd no more.

Comments on an Accident by John NewtonSeptember 4, 1777My Dear Sir,---Poor little boy! it is mercy indeed that he recovered from such a formidable hurt. The Lord wounded, and the Lord healed. I ascribe, with you, what the world calls accident, to Him, and believe, that without His permission, for wise and good ends, a child can no more pull a bowl of boiling water on itself, than it could pull the moon out of its orbit. And why does He permit such things?1. to remind us of the uncertainty of life and all creature-comforts; 2. to lead us to a more entire dependence upon Himself........

Thankfulness by John NewtonOctober 10, 1777I am just come from seeing A―N―. The people told me she is much better than she was, but she is far from being well. She was brought to me into a parlour, which saved me the painful task of going to inquire and seek for her among the patients. My spirits always sink when I am within these mournful walls, and I think no money could prevail on me to spend an hour there every day. Yet surely no sight upon earth is more suited to teach one thankfulness and resignation. Surely I have reason, in my worst times, to be thankful that I am out of hell, out of Bedlam, out of Newgate

Thankfulness by John NewtonOctober 10, 1777If my eyes were as bad as yours, and my back worse, still I hope I should set a great value upon this mercy, that my senses are preserved. I hope you will think so too. The Lord afflicts us at times; but it is always a thousand times less than we deserve, and much less than many of our fellow-creatures are suffering around us. Let us therefore pray for grace to be humble, thankful, and patient.

John Newton• John Newton, Clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a

servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long laboured to destroy.