John Newton
 
 
 
 
John Newton, evangelical minister of Church of England
  
 
1725-1807AD
  
 

JOHN NEWTON was born in London, July 24, 1725 and died there December 31, 1807. According to his excellent autobiography, in early life, as a sailor, he was foul-mouthed and impious, which led him to call himself towards the end of his life, the “old African blasphemer.” In Africa the slave-trader was himself a slave to slave-traders in a fearful humiliation, but, by the Providential hand of the Lord, escaping by ship for the long journey home, he was brought near death in a great storm when all seemed lost. He now prayed where before he blasphemed. From that moment a wonderful change came over him. From being a mocker of the Bible he now became its most ardent reader. John Newton the foul-mouthed blasphemer had been converted to Jesus Christ. It was not of his doing but by the grace of God. He faithfully taught this doctrine throughout the rest of his long life.

In England he decided on taking orders in the Church of England, and, after some difficulty, was ordained in 1764. He took a curacy at Olney in Buckinghamshire, a small town with which his name has ever since been connected. It was there that he became the friend and mentor of the poet William Cowper, who suffered from severe bouts of depression. There can be no doubt that Newton was a cheerful man, and that he helped Cowper during the poet's darkest moments. It should also be said that Cowper greatly inflluenced Newton's many letters of consolation and sermons of hope for those suffering doubts and afflictions.

After an exemplary ministerial course at Olney, Newton became rector of St. Mary Woolnoth, London, and lived to a great age, exercising much influence throughout the country as well as London, as much by his godly living as by his writings and sermons. He was also influential in helping to end the slave trade.

He was the main pillar of the Evangelical party in the Church of England, and gathered round him at his simple reunions in Hoxton, where he lived, Dissenting ministers as well as Established clergy. He was a prolific writer and the first edition of his complete Works came out 9 years after his death. But above all, he was the letter writer par excellence. His letters are full of wisdom and consolation as they expound the Word of God. His contributions to the famous Olney hymns (348 in number, of which 67 were Cowper's) rank high in English psalmody. “Amazing Grace” is one his best loved hymns.

The epitaph on his monument, written by himself, is very characteristic: “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.”


 
 
LETTERS
  
MESSIAH SERMONS (50)

AUTOBIOGRAPHY
 
 

EVANGELICAL TRACTS

J. C. RYLE

REFORMATION

GEORGE WHITEFIELD

JOHN BUNYAN

J. GRESHAM MACHEN

JOHN OWEN

GEORGE SALMON

JAMES WYLIE

JOHN CHARLES RYLE

JONATHAN EDWARDS

R. C. TRENCH

JOHN KNOX

LORAINE BOETTNER

CHARLES SPURGEON

JOHN WYCLIFFE

CHARLES HODGE

OTHER TRACTS
MARTIN LUTHER JOHN CALVIN FOXE'S MARTYRS ROBERT L. DABNEY SAMUEL DAVIES OTHER BOOKS

JOHN NEWTON

 WILLIAM THE SILENT CONFESSION OF FAITH SAMUEL RUTHERFORD SAVONAROLA CHURCH HISTORY