The story of John Newton is truly the story behind "Amazing Grace." One would be hard pressed to imagine, let alone to live, a blasphemous life equal to Newton's early years. Had I not read the accounts written by his own hand, I would not have believed them.

Death took his sairitiy mother in July, 1732, when John was thirteen days from his seventh birthday. He writes, "Almost her whole employment was the care of my education. At not more than three years of age she herself taught me English. When I was four years old I could read with propriety in any common book. She stored my memory with many valuable pieces, chapters and portions of Scripture, hymns and poems."

After her death, and with only three years of formal schooling, Newton went to sea witfi his father, the captain of a merchant ship. From that day Newton began a decline into rebellion and degradation that lasted until his twenty-fourth year. His willful and wanton disregard for all that is right and holy led him into a life plagued with despair, dangers at sea, abuse public floggings, destitution, depression, near drownings and miraculous escapes.

On one occasion Newton became employed by a slave trader in North Africa. Newton soon fell sick, was unable to care for himself, and nearly starved to death. He was so ill that the slaves in chains pitied him, sharing their meager portions with him. Yet, he still remained stubbornly wicked, and in his degeneracy tried to influence others to live as he did.

During those years Newton often entered into a state of spiritual awakening. Consequently those times were shortlived, and he invariably lapsed into a more wicked and loathsome direction.

Even in his youth he became, almost inexplicably, the captain of a slave ship, landing at least one load of his human cargo in Charleston, South Carolina. It is reported that at times he was so wretched that Even his crew regarded him as little more than an animal. Once he fell overboard and his ship's crew refused to drop a boat to him.

Instead they threw a harpoon at him, with which they dragged him back into the ship. He seemed oblivious to the plight of the poor black souls chained in the hold of his ship.

A harrowing experience at sea was used of the Lord to cause young Newton to seriously consider his standing before a holy God. After being at sea for several months with a load of lumber, livestock and beeswax, the ship ran into a violent storm. So severe was the gale that he otherwise seaworthy vessel was in danger uf sinking. When the livestock were washed overboard, the crew tied themselves to the ship to keep from being swept into the sea. For four weeks, because of damage to the ship, the sailors despaired of life. Most of their waking hours were spent at the pumps to lighten the ship of water she had taken in. Rations were so low the men feared
starvation. When they finally reached a port in Ireland, Newton began a sincere effort to become right with God.

Sometime later, at age twenty-three, Newton found himself on a small island off the coast of North America. He had contracted an illness that left him burning with fever, miserable and listless, he wrote, "Weak and almost
delirious, I arose from my bed and - crept to a secluded part of the island; there I found a renewed liberty to pray. I made no more resolves, but cast myself before the Lord to do with me as He should please. I was enabled to hope and believe in a crucified Savior. The burden was removed from my conscience," From that hour, according to his autobiography, Newton began to improve, both physically and spiritually.

To Be Continued
January 27— February 1, 2010

January 27-February 2, 2010