John Newton (1725 – 1807) began his career as a depraved sailor involved with the African slave trade. After repenting and coming to faith in Christ, he became an Anglican clergyman, hymnwriter, and abolitionist. His most famous work, of course, is “Amazing Grace”.
Tim Keller, of Reedemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, observes, “For decades Kathy and I have profited immensely from the pastoral wisdom of the converted slave trader John Newton. As an 18th-century Anglican minister, Newton was a good preacher, but it was as a pastor, counselor, and adviser that he excelled. His pastoral letters are a treasure chest.”
