|
by John Newton After surviving a particularly violent stormy voyage from Africa to England, and reading "The Imitation of Christ", Newton's heart was softened. At first he tried to justify his work by improving conditions on his ship, and even holding worship services for his crew. Later he served as a clerk at the Port of Liverpool and became a strong crusader against slavery. Ordained in 1764, John Newton, 39, became Pastor in Olney where one of his "extremist' practices was the singing of hymns which expressed simple heartfelt faith rather than the staid singing of Psalms. Not finding enough hymns of this nature, Newton began writing his own. In 1780 he began a long pastoral ministry in London. When advised to retire, Newton replied, "What, shall the old African blasphemer stop while he can still speak?" His epitaph, which he wrote himself, reads:
Once an infidel and libertine, A servant of slavers in Africa, Was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Preserved, restored, pardoned, And appointed to preach the Faith He had long laboured to destroy. First entitled "Faith's Review and Expectation", this hymn, was sung to the plantation melody known as "Loving Lambs".
|
- - 
- 
