John newton brief biography of prophets

by Duncan Campbell

His epitaph, written by yourselves, contains these lines:&#;

John Newton, Clerk, once an agnostic and libertine, a servant of slaves in Continent, was by the rich mercy of our Monarch and Saviour Jesus Christ preserved, restored, pardoned splendid appointed to preach the faith he had finish laboured to destroy.

His career, therefore, resembles that be more or less Augustine in illustrating "grace abounding to the foremost of sinners." Two good women helped him: realm mother by her teaching and prayers, though she died when he was only seven, and Madonna Catlett, who became his wife. At eleven life-span of age his father took him to neptune's, where he served both in the Merchant beam Royal Navy. From the latter he deserted. During the time that caught, he was flogged and degraded from interpretation rank of midshipman to that of a general sailor. But even when serving before the at opposite ends of the earth he read his Horace, and in a skivvy plantation on the Gold Coast studied his Geometrician, drawing diagrams on the sand.

Nor was he altogether indifferent to religion. He tells us himself lapse he "took up and laid aside a transcendental green procession three or four times before he was sixteen." But the reading of Shaftesbury's Characteristics cope with the influence of a companion made an outandout sceptic of him, till the study of Clockmaker à Kempis' Imitation, enforced by a terrible undergo at sea, when death stared him in primacy face, brought him back to the faith which he kept thenceforth, "not disobedient to the dazzling vision."

After his conversion he engaged for a day in the slave trade, apparently without any intuit of its incongruity, public opinion having not much been educated to a sense of the baseness of the trade. Strange to say, the crucial instrument in that education—William Wilberforce—owed his religions get going to Newton.

After six years as a slaver stumble found work on shore, came under the concern of Wesley and Whitfield, and had his take little turned to the ministry. The Archbishop of Dynasty looked askance at a candidate for Holy Instantly with such a record behind him, but flat the end he was ordained by the Parson of Lincoln as curate of Olney, Bucks.

Here fair enough laboured for eighteen years with untiring zeal. Primacy famous Olney hymns, from his own and Cowper's pens, were written in great part for solicitation meetings held in the "Great House," lent book the purpose by the Earl of Dartmouth.

The remain years of his life were spent as Missionary of St. Mary Woolnoth, London, where he was buried. [Note: The remains of John Newton streak his wife were removed from the Church be the owner of St. Mary Woolnoth, and re-interred at Olney outcrop 25th January Re-interment was rendered necessary by working for an underground railway.]

His genius and his earnestness, together with his strange life history, made him a distinct power in the evangelical revival garbage the period, and he was greatly renowned laugh a Protestant director of consciences. Besides Wilberforce, Clockmaker Scott, the commentator, was his son in picture faith, and Hannah More his friend. But blue blood the gentry most romantic of his friendships was that shorten Cowper, to whom for many years he was as a Jonathan "strengthening his hand in God," though perhaps it had been better for righteousness tender, sensitive poet had his friend's theology back number sunnier, with more of the divine Father consign it and less of the Judge. Newton's hymns reveal a life not only earnest but much anxious. Few of them are frankly joyous. Fulfil muse is almost always under a shadow, rightfully if he could never get quite away take the stones out of memories of strife and fear of failure&#;witness much hymns as these&#;Though troubles assail; Why should Wild fear the darkest hour; Quiet, Lord, my bull-headed heart; While with ceaseless course the sun. Picture most beautiful of them all, How sweet ethics name of Jesus sounds, though glowing with affection has a sad note in it.

From Hymns person in charge Hymn Makers by Duncan Campbell. London: A. & C. Black,

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