Living the Christian life Online magazine of Spiritual truth
John Newton's mother was a very godly person. Because of her tuberculosis she knew she would soon die. Every day she prayed with and for John and taught him the Scriptures. When he was seven years old, she died. Neither his father nor his stepmother was interested in spiritual things. He first went to sea at the age of eleven on his father's ship. He became very wicked, constantly blaspheming the name of God. He repeatedly escaped death by the narrowest margin.
Newton tried to get as far away as he could from any sacred influence. He became involved in the slave trade and was employed by a Portuguese man married to a African woman. While the man was gone, his evil wife chained John, made him her slave, and gave him almost no food or clothing. After fifteen months he escaped but went deeper and deeper into drunkenness, revelry, and blasphemy. At the age of twenty-eight a severe illness prevented him from going to sea again.
He later was won to Christ and had fellowship with Whitefield, Wesley, and others. He began to study Greek and Hebrew and in six years had become a preacher of the gospel. He later became the most famous minister in London. Among those he led to Christ were Thomas Scott, the commentator, and William Wilberforce, who led in the eradication of slavery from the British Empire. His numerous hymns still bless the church, including "Amazing Grace," his autobiographical hymn.
John Newton won thousands to Christ, and when he died, Parliament closed, London shops closed, and several thousand followed his body to the cemetery. His mother's prayers had prevailed in spite of all Satan's efforts to destroy her son and keep him from becoming God's instrument. After twenty-two years, during which he faced death again and again, God's individualized, providential circumstances finally brought him to Christ, answering his mother's persevering prayers.
A Mothers Prevailing Prayer -
John Newton's mother was a very godly person.
Every day she prayed with and for John and taught him the Scriptures.
A Mother’s Prevailing Prayer