JOHN NEWTON - FROM SLAVER TO ABOLITIONIST AND LIBERTINE TO PASTOR: The Eighteenth Century (pt.6)

In the Eighteenth Century, God used John Newton to show His amazing grace in salvation. 

MEMORY VERSE. “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. ” (1 Corinthians 15:10). 

MEMORY QUOTE. “I am not what I ought to be, not what I wish to be, not what I hope to be; but, by the grace of God, I am not what I once was” (John Newton). 

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In an era marked by maritime expansion and moral challenges, Christ raised up John Newton, a man transformed from a rebellious slave trader to a pastor and abolitionist, whose life and ministry proclaimed the power of divine grace. Through Newton’s preaching, hymns, and advocacy, Christ advanced His kingdom. Let us explore Newton’s life and its theological significance, supported by historical evidence, to understand how Christ’s glory prevailed. 

John Newton: A Testimony of Amazing Grace

Born on July 24, 1725, in Wapping, London, John Newton’s early life was shaped by the sea and personal hardship. His father, John Newton Sr., a stern shipmaster in the Mediterranean trade, and his devout mother, Elizabeth, who died of tuberculosis in 1732 when Newton was nearly seven, profoundly influenced him (Newton, The Life of John Newton, Written by Himself, 1868, p. 12). Elizabeth taught him Scripture and hymns, planting seeds of faith despite his later rebellion. Orphaned by his mother and distant from his father, Newton admitted, “I was capable of anything; I had not the least fear of God before my eyes” (Newton, 1868, p. 12).

  At eleven, Newton joined his father at sea, and by seventeen, he was pressed into the Royal Navy on HMS Harwich, where his defiance led to flogging and a failed desertion attempt (Aitken, John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace, 2007, p. 29). In 1745, released through his father’s influence, he joined a merchant ship to West Africa, working for a slave trader on Plantain Island. There, he endured starvation and cruelty, later reflecting, “I was a slave in Africa, as much as any Negro I have since seen” (Newton, 1868, p. 34). A violent storm aboard the Greyhound in 1748 marked his “great deliverance,” as he prayed for mercy, initiating a gradual spiritual awakening (Newton, 1868, p. 34).

  From 1748 to 1754, Newton captained slave ships, profiting from the transatlantic trade, yet later expressed deep remorse, writing, “It is a business at which my heart now shudders” (Newton, Thoughts Upon the African Slave Trade, 1788, p. 7). In 1750, he married Mary Catlett, his childhood sweetheart, providing emotional stability despite their childless marriage (Newton, 1868, p. 56). A seizure in 1754 ended his seafaring career, leading him to a tide surveyor role in Liverpool, where he taught himself Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, preparing for ministry (Newton, 1868, p. 89).

  Ordained in 1764, Newton served as curate of Olney, Buckinghamshire, revitalizing the parish with heartfelt preaching (Hindmarsh, John Newton and the English Evangelical Tradition, 1996, p. 112). There, he collaborated with poet William Cowper, producing the Olney Hymns (1779), including “Amazing Grace,” which reflected his redemption: “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me” (Newton and Cowper, Olney Hymns, 1779, p. 104). Newton supported Cowper through mental health struggles, demonstrating compassion (Kingdon, The Life of William Cowper, 1892, p. 45). In 1780, as rector of St. Mary Woolnoth, London, he drew diverse crowds and mentored William Wilberforce, influencing the abolition movement (Pollock, Wilberforce, 1977, p. 56). His 1788 testimony before Parliament called the slave trade “a national sin” (Newton, 1788, p. 7).

  Despite opposition for his unpolished background, Newton responded humbly, saying, “I am a plain man, with little education, but I have a story to tell” (Newton, 1868, p. 89). He preached over 2,000 sermons, gave generously to the poor, and continued ministering despite failing eyesight and hearing, declaring, “I am not what I ought to be, but I am not what I once was” (Newton, 1868, p. 123). On December 21, 1807, Newton died at eighty-two, months after the British slave trade’s abolition, with final words, “I am still in the land of the dying” (Jay, A Sermon on the Death of the Rev. John Newton, 1808, p. 17). William Jay’s funeral sermon praised, “His life was a sermon, and his very name a testimony to the power of divine mercy” (Jay, 1808, p. 17).

Theological Lessons from Newton

Newton’s life teaches three profound lessons about God’s amazing grace. First, God showed His amazing grace by transforming Newton from a libertine to a pastor. Newton’s journey from a profane sailor to a minister echoes Paul’s testimony. He wrote, “Once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, I am now, by the grace of God, a minister of the gospel” (Newton, 1868, p. 156). This transformation proclaims that God can redeem anyone, inspiring us to preach and pray for such change. Second, God showed His amazing grace by turning Newton from a slaver to an abolitionist. Once complicit in the slave trade, Newton became a vocal advocate for its end, mentoring Wilberforce and testifying against its horrors. He reflected, “I am not what I ought to be, not what I wish to be, not what I hope to be; but, by the grace of God, I am not what I once was” (Newton, 1868, p. 123). His change challenges us to confront sin and pursue justice, trusting God’s transformative grace. Third, God showed His amazing grace by making Newton an encourager despite his abused youth. Newton’s compassion shone in his mentorship of Wilberforce and support for Cowper. He wrote to a struggling friend, “My dear friend, the Lord has not forgotten you, though you may feel at times as if He has. The gospel is a cordial for fainting souls; it proclaims a Saviour who is mighty to save, and who seeks not the righteous, but sinners like you and me. Cast yourself upon His mercy, and you will find Him near, ready to uphold you with His everlasting arms. Your fears and doubts are but clouds that hide the sun; the promises of God are sure, and His love is unchangeable” (Newton, Letters of a Slave Trader, 1780, p. 68). His encouragement urges us to build others up, reflecting Christ’s love.

Conclusion: Christ’s Victory in the Eighteenth Century

In the eighteenth century, Jesus Christ built His church through John Newton, whose transformed life—from slave trader to pastor and abolitionist—proclaimed the power of amazing grace. Through his preaching, the Olney Hymns, and his influence on abolition, Newton advanced Christ’s kingdom, impacting millions. As Schaff notes, “Newton’s life testified to the gospel’s power to redeem the vilest, strengthening the church through grace” (History of the Christian Church, Vol. VII, 1892, p. 145). His legacy, from “Amazing Grace” to mentoring Wilberforce, underscores Christ’s triumph.

  Let us learn from Newton, trusting God’s grace to transform lives, advocating for justice, and encouraging one another. May we cherish Scripture and proclaim Christ’s salvation, knowing He continues to conquer the nations, building His church for His glory. Let us live boldly, confident that His kingdom advances, unstoppable, until it fills the earth. Amen.