Reading Newton's Mail

John Newton (1725–1807) referred to himself as “an apostate, a blasphemer, and an infidel,” and he wasn’t joking. Although he was born to a Christian mother, Newton’s early adulthood was marked by atheism, witchcraft, and blasphemy so vulgar that sailors blushed.

Newton was a sailor and spent much of his life on the sea, eventually working his way up to captain of a slave-trading ship. While on a ship in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean in 1748, his life was jostled by a violent thunderstorm at sea. The storm nearly sunk his ship—it did wreck his pride.

That experience shook Newton to the core. He was eventually converted and would later write an autobiographical hymn, “Amazing Grace,” that focuses on God’s kindness that “saved a wretch like me.”

God’s dramatic call on Newton’s life pulled him out of darkness, into the light, and eventually placed him into full-time pastoral ministry. Without formal training or education Newton entered the ministry, faithfully serving two congregations in and around London for 43 years. In these years Newton penned hundreds of hymns, sermons, and stacks of pastoral letters on topics of great value to the Christian life.

“Newton was indubitably one of the three greatest eighteenth-century evangelical leaders,” J. I. Packer writes. “As a warm-hearted pastoral counselor, in groups and by letter, he had no peer."

Those peerless letters cover a wide variety of topics and are biblically rich, pastorally wise, and—like Newton himself—street smart. These letters continue to offer rich pastoral counsel to any patient reader who is willing to snoop around in someone’s old outbox.

Beginning this week we are launching a new blog series titled Reading Newton’s Mail. The series will feature a few highlights from Newton’s published letters. Although I plan to write most of the posts, C.J. may join the fun and contribute a post to the series on occasion.

Watch for Reading Newton’s Mail on Fridays here on the Cheap Seats blog.

Tony Reinke serves as C.J. Mahaney’s editorial and research assistant.

Posted by Tony Reinke