IN HIS OWN WORDS

John Newton's Experience of God's Amazing Grace

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now I'm found

T'was blind but now I see.

So begins the familiar hymn, Amazing Grace, one of

over 250 hymns written by John Newton (1725-1807).

But how did this blasphemer and slave ship master

come to experience God's marvelous grace? And how

might such a one as I? In the following selections from

Newton's spiritual autobiography, he tells us in his own

words.

YOUTHFUL DAYS – ACTIVE CONSCIENCE

My mother, as I have heard from many, was a pious,
experienced Christian.... I was her only child.... Almost
her whole employment was the care of my education....