John Newton
A proud mother raised her son with the Holy Bible and beautiful hymns. Her constant prayer was for him to become a minister. Tuberculosis called her home to God when the boy was seven. 11 year old John began his life at sea with a merchant navy captain. However his arrogance, lack of discipline, insubordination and poor morals did not bode well with the Royal Navy so he deserted, was caught put in irons and flogged.
Next John joined a slave trading crew giving him a great opportunity to encourage his co-workers in the ways of the world and his despicable behavior. He was known as the “great blasphemer.”
In 1747 a terrible storm tossed the Greyhound about breaking its walls. After 11 days, John too exhausted to help the sailors pump, was tied him to helm with the task of keeping the ship on course. John began to think about his life and imminent death as he recalled proverbs 1:24-31. “Since you refuse to listen when I call … since you disregard all my advice… I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you (Proverbs 1:24)
Fortunately he also remembered Luke 11:13, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
John Newton celebrated the anniversary of his new life in the Lord for the rest of his life. Eventually he left slave trading and, in answer to his mother’s prayers, the 39 year old John embarked on a 43 year career as a minister. While pastor of a small church in Onley, he often wrote hymns as part of his scripture lessons. His most famous, “Faith’s Review and Expectation” was written for a study on David’s Prayer in 1 Chronicles 17:16-17. This popular hymn is known today as “Amazing Grace.”
Source: http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1701-1800/john-newton-discovered-amazing-grace-11630253.html
“Amazing Grace”, with the words written by Newton and joined with “New Britain”, the melody most currently associated with it, appeared for the first time in Walker’s shape note tunebook
Thanks for your comment. However, the Wikipedia citation says more verification is needed to substantiate that claim.
Here is what I found at http://www.memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/html/grace/grace-timeline.html. I have confidence in Harper Collins.
This hymnal contains the first printing of “Amazing Grace.” The song is numbered “hymn 41” and begins at the bottom of page 53. Olney Hymns was written by the author of “Amazing Grace,” John Newton, rector of a parish in Olney, England, and William Cowper, a poet and close friend of Newton’s. The profits from the hymnal went to the benefit of Olney’s poor. Olney Hymns was later published in New York in 1790 and in Philadelphia in 1791.
Source: Steve Turner, Amazing Grace: The Story of America’s Most Beloved Song, New York: HarperCollins, 2002
God bless your day,
Lee