John Newton's Amazing Grace

Published in 1779, and still considered “one of the most popular songs in the English-speaking world” “Amazing Grace” was perhaps John Newton’s greatest known music compositions (Phipps). This influential hymn is inspired by Newton’s personal testimony of how he had graciously experienced forgiveness from God for living vilely and had been given a second chance at life with new eyes to explore his true purpose in this world. As a result of his transformed life, which his hymn so beautifully describes, he entered the priesthood and mentored many lost souls including an English politician named William Wilberforce. Due in part to Newton’s overwhelming influence, Wilberforce fought gallantly to bring national change ending the slave trade in British

It was onto the ship Greyhound that Newton clung for his life as it was being battered by a storm (Severence). The memorable day was March 21, 1748, when in the throes of death, Newton mentally performed an inventory of his life and felt convicted that he had been living a rebellious life against God. His eyes were opened to his vile personal choices and the heinous career of carting human beings against their wills across the Atlantic Ocean to their further doom as slaves. The second verse of his most beloved hymn reads, “Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved” (Newton). Before that fateful day, Newton had not feared God and had lived his life disregarding God’s statutes, but he attributed God’s grace for awakening a fearful reverence that led him to salvation in Jesus Christ. Webster’s dictionary defines grace as “the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him” (Webster). Realizing the evilness of the trade in which he had participated; Newton acknowledged that it was God’s grace, which had protected him from danger, disease, and death. “Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come. ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far; and grace will lead me home.”(Newton) In the midst of that storm, he cried out to God for mercy and that was exactly what he received. Newton then pursued a life of ministry and “was ordained in 1764, when

He later began attending St. Mary Woolnoth Church. Wilberforce was so affected by Newton’s ministry that he considered leaving his political career to become a priest, but Newton strongly urged him to allow his religious fervor to drive his political leadership. “On 28 October 1787, Wilberforce wrote in his diary, ‘God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners” (White). Since most of upper society England outwardly claimed to be Christian, Wilberforce used this influence to gain support in the fight against slavery. Wilberforce’s “crusade to improve morality and end slavery lasted his entire career in the parliament” (White). Throughout the course of his forty plus years in politics, he was supported by at least 112 evangelical ministers who voted alongside him in parliament. They were committed to principle more than they were subservient to a political party. Many years were spent enlightening people to the injustices of the slave trade. Wilberforce was determined to never give up despite continual defeat in parliament. The stresses of this pursuit possibly contributed to his declining health as he struggled with a deathly illness comparable