Amazing Grace: The Story of John Newton

"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound...."  So begins one of my favorite hymns, sung around the world by followers of many religious denominations.  The author of the words was John Newton, the self-proclaimed wretch who once was lost, then found, saved by amazing grace. 

Newton was a man with little schooling, but was taught religious scripture by his mother, who died when he was a child.  His father was the commander of a merchant ship.  When his father retired, Newton took over.  However he found the conditions onboard the H.M.S. Harwich deplorable, and deserted.  He was soon captured and publicly flogged. 

Finally, at his own request, he was exchanged into service on a slave ship, which took him to the coast of Sierra Leone.  He became the servant of a slave trader and was brutally abused.  In 1748 Newton was resuced by a sea captain who had known his father, and he ultimately became captain of his own ship, one which plied the slave trade.

It was on homeward voyage from West Africa, while attempting to steer the ship through a violent storm, that he experienced what he referred to later as his "Great deliverance."  He felt that God had addressed him through the storm and that grace had begun to work for him.  He had begun to study Hebrew, Latin and Greek, and was able to read the Old Testament in Hebrew and the New Testament in Latin.  After he returned safely to England (after making it through the storm) he devoted his life  helping mankind.  For a time he continued in the slave trade, however he saw to it that the slaves under his care were treated humanely. 

He decided to become a minister, applied to the Archbishop of York for his ordination, was initially refused, but persisted and was subsequently ordained in Olney, in the county of Buckinshamshire.  He was so popular that the church had to be enlarged to accomodate the crowds that came to hear his sermons. 

Among John Newton's many contributions were a number of hymns that are still loved and sung today.  Amazing grace is the most famous.  It was probably composed between 1760-1770 in Olney.  It was likely written for one of his weekly services.  There were six original verses, but other verses, by other writers, were added later.  The melody is either an early American folk melody, or a tune of a song the slave sang.  No one knows for sure. 

Newton was not only a prolific hymn writer but also responsible for much of what is known today about the eighteenth century slave trade.  He kept journals and letters which have been invaluable on  uncovering what happened on the slave ships.  The first few stanzas of this hymn refer to his survival through the storm, and how he turned his live around.

The next time you hear the hymn "Amazing Grace" you will probably think of John Newton, his trip through a treacherous storm, and his conversion. 

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

Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come:
Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far

And grace will lead me home