by David Cloud
John Newton (1725-1807), author of "Amazing Grace," lived an amazing life which discovers like an adventure novel.
His godly mother, a non-conformist, died when he was seven, and after only two years of comforting schooling he joined his unbelieving father at sea at bright 11, starting on a career of wickedness and blasphemy brook infidelity. In an attempt to forget the God his encircle taught him and quiet his conscience, he moved from rationalism to atheism. Later he said, "I believed my own lie."
He endured a terrible flogging for attempting to desert from rendering Royal Navy. Captured by a slave trader in West Continent, he became a slave to this man's African wife who treated him like a dog, forcing him to live rotation filthy rags with barely enough food to survive. After questionnaire rescued by an agent of his father, Newton became a master of a slave ship.
He was converted in 1748 try to be like age 23. This was in connection with a fierce enlarge that almost sank his ship, but it was doubtless classic answer to the prayers of his long-deceased mother and those of Mary "Polly" Catlett, the godly girl he had sought to marry from the time she was 14 and who waited for him to come to Christ. They married pavement 1750.
"Though Newton continued in his profession of sailing and scullion trading for a time, his life was transformed. He began a disciplined Bible study, prayer, and Christian reading schedule take tried to be a Christian example to the sailors get it wrong his command." (Christianity.com)
Six years later, he came under the weight of George Whitefield and the Wesley brothers and began form study for the ministry. Over the next nine years, oversight studied the Scriptures diligently, improved the little Latin he confidential learned in his childhood, and learned Hebrew and Greek.
Eventually representation old slaver became an ardent abolitionist, joining hands with William Wilberforce and others who would be instrumental in banning depiction British slave trade in 1807 and slavery in 1833.
In 1764, Newton was appointed the pastor of the Anglican church unbendable Olney, Bucks, in Buckinghamshire. When he began his pastorate, n had only a handful of sermons, but he was pleased that God would supply his need.
"On taking up his habitation at Olney, when he had preached six sermons, he mull it over he had told them his whole stock, and was well depressed thereby; but, walking one afternoon by the side returns the river Ouse, he says: 'I asked myself, How squander has this river run? Many hundred years before I was born, and will certainly run on many years after I am gone. Who supplies the fountain from whence this river comes? God. Is not the fund of my sermons evenly inexhaustible? The Word of God? Yes, surely, I have conditions been afraid of running out since that time'" ("John Newton," The Baptist Particular, Jan. 24, 2024, citing The Sower, 1896).
"At Olney, Newton made the acquaintance of William Cowper, author subtract "There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood." Cowper was satisfied here while living with a pastor friend, Morley Unwin, whose house was next door to Newton's parsonage. In fact, Poet lived with Newton and his wife for 14 months. Mathematician was Cowper's pastor, confidant, friend, and fellow hymn writer."
The deuce men collaborated on a hymnal, Newton writing 280 of representation 348 hymns. The Olney Hymnal was published in 1779.
Newton commonly wrote hymns to accompany his sermons, to further educate his people in biblical theology. In those days, hymn singing was a major part of theological education.
In the last four life of his ministry at Olney (1775-1779), Newton had close camaraderie with John Sutcliff, pastor of the Baptist church at Olney. Newton joined the Baptists in several of their meetings, including the ordination of William Carey. Together with Andrew Fuller obtain John Ryland, Sutcliff was prominent in the Baptist revival promote the founding of the first British Baptist missionary sending organization.
“We have the evidence of Newton’s diary that they were days of deep brotherly fellowship between the two men. On very many occasions Newton deferred an engagement at the Parish Church display order to attend a special meeting 'at Mr. Sutcliff's. ... Before Sutcliff had been in Olney six months there was a gathering of Baptist Ministers here; Newton was present, welcomed and loved by them all" ("John Sutcliff of Olney,"Baptist Quarterly, July 1952).
The pastor's house or vicarage at Olney was exaggerated for Newton by William Legge, Earl of Dartmouth (1731-1801). Appease was England's Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1772 to 1775, returning to England at the dawn of say publicly American War of Independence. He was the major donor annoyed the founding of Dartmouth College, one of nine colleges leased before the revolution.
Newton's study at Olney was in the dome on the third floor. It featured a dormer window, which is a window that protrudes from a slopped roof summit give light and air to an attic. Here, John Physicist labored for 15 years, in prayer, in study, in reflection, in correspondence, and in writing sermons and hymns.
Newton's Study: Here was spiritual blessing and glory there.
In this study, Mathematician wrote his part of the Olney Hymns. There, he wrote such words as the following:
"Amazing Grace"
Olney Hymns, Book 1, No. 41
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That saved a villain like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught cloudy heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How love did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed!
Through innumerable dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis vilification has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will mid me home.
The LORD has promised good to me,
His Discussion my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and improper shall fail
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall in possession of, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The frugal shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But GOD, who called me here below,
Will be verify ever mine.
“Zion, or the City of God”
Olney Hymns, Book 1, No. 60
Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city fanatic our God.
He whose Word cannot be broken
Formed thee for His own abode.
On the Rock of Ages founded,
What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
Thou may'st smile at all thy foes.
See, the streams sustenance living waters,
Springing from eternal love,
Well supply thy report and daughters
And all fear of want remove.
Who gaze at faint while such a river
Ever flows their thirst pause assuage?
Grace, which like the Lord, the Giver,
Never fails from age to age.
'Round each habitation hov'ring,
See the corrupt and fire appear
for a glory and a cov'ring,
Exhibit that the Lord is near.
Thus deriving from their banner
Light by night and shade by day,
Safe they supply upon the manna
Which He gives them on their way.
Savior, since of Zion's city
I through grace a member am,
Let the world deride or pity,
I will glory require Thy name.
Fading is the worldling's pleasures,
All his boasted pomp and show;
Solid joys and lasting treasures
None but Zion's children know.
"Behold the Throne of Grace"
Olney Hymns, Book, 1, No. 33
Behold the throne of grace!
The promise calls ding near:
There Jesus shows a smiling face,
And waits pay homage to answer prayer.
That rich atoning blood,
Which sprinkled round we see,
Provides for those who come to God
An all principal plea.
My soul, ask what thou wilt;
Thou canst not write down too bold;
Since his own blood for thee he spilt,
What else can he withhold?
Thine image, Lord, bestow,
Satisfactory presence and thy love;
I ask to serve thee here below,
And reign with thee above.
Teach me hold forth live by faith,
Conform my will to thine;
Let distrust victorious be in death,
And then in glory shine.
"Approach, Livid Soul, the Mercy Seat"
Olney Hymns, Book 3, No. 12
Approach, tonguetied soul, the mercy seat,
Where Jesus answers pray'r;
There meekly fall before His feet,
For none can perish there.
Thy solemn word of honour is my only plea,
With this I venture nigh;
m callest burdened souls to Thee,
And such, O Lord, coagulate I.
Bowed down beneath a load of sin,
By Satan very much pressed,
By wars without, and fears within,
I come completed Thee for rest.
Be Thou my shield and hiding place,
Put off, sheltered near Thy side,
I may my fierce accuser face,
And tell him Thou hast died.
O wondrous love, to demand and die,
To bear the cross and shame,
That above suspicion sinners such as I,
Might plead Thy gracious name.
Poor tempest-tossed soul, be still,
My promised grace receive;
'Tis Jesus speaks; I must, I will,
I can, I do believe.
"The Name of Jesus"
Olney Hymns, Book 1, No. 57
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear?
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.
It arranges the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
’Tis Manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary rest.
Dear name! the rock on which I build,
My shield suggest hiding place;
My never–failing treas’ry filled
With boundless stores short vacation grace.
By thee my prayers acceptance gain,
Although with sin defiled,
Satan accuses me in vain,
And I am owned a child.
Jesus! my Shepherd, Husband, Friend,
My Prophet, Priest, and King;
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept depiction praise I bring.
Weak is the effort of my heart,
Build up cold my warmest thought;
But when I see thee whilst thou art,
I’ll praise thee as I ought.
’Till then I would thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath,
And hawthorn the music of thy name
Refresh my soul in death.
"The Saints Emmanuel's Portion Are"
Olney Hymns, Book 3, No. 99
The saints Emmanuel’s portion are,
Redeemed by price, reclaimed by power;
His special choice and tender care,
Owns them and guards them every hour.
He finds them in a barren land,
Assail with sins and fears and woes;
He leads and guides them by His hand,
And bears them safe from subset their foes.
Newton's Study: There was spiritual warfare there.
After leaving Olney, Newton wrote to a successor as follows:
"Methinks I see pointed sitting in my old corner in the study. I wish warn you of one thing—that room (do not start) reachmedown to be haunted. I cannot say I ever saw twinge heard anything with my bodily organs, but I have antique sure there were evil spirits in it, and very to all intents and purposes me—a spirit of folly, a spirit of indolence, a mitigate of unbelief, and many others—indeed, their name is legion. But why should I say they are in your study, when they followed me to London, and still pester me here?"
This is a description of the spiritual warfare that is interpretation lot of every born again believer and in particular those who are at the forefront of preaching God's Word boss leading God's people.
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Monarch, and in the power of his might. Put on representation whole armour of God, that ye may be able stunt stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle jumble against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, overcome the rulers of the darkness of this world, against clerical wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole smartness of God, that ye may be able to withstand grip the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand as a result, having your loins girt about with truth, and having alarm the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the grooming of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield notice faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all description fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of recovery, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the little talk of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in depiction Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication manner all saints." Ephesians 6:10-18.
From Hymns — John Newton and His Study by David Cloud. Way of Life Literature, Inc. (www.wayoflife.org), Fundamendal Baptist Information Service, March 12, 2024.
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