JOHN NEWTON (1725 -1807) wrote the words to one of the most beloved hymns of all time. Newton was captain of a slave ship for many years. In 1748, at the age of 23, he underwent a dramatic religious conversion while steering his vessel through a storm in the Atlantic.

Here in Newton’s own words, from An Authentic Narrative, is an account of the ordeal.

“The sea had torn away the upper timbers on one side, and made the ship a mere wreck in a few minutes . . . Taking all the circumstances, it was astonishing, and almost miraculous that any of us survived to relate the story.

“We had recourse to the pumps; but the water increased against our efforts . . . We had but eleven or twelve people to sustain this service; and, notwithstanding all we could do, she was full, or very near it: and then, with a common cargo, she must have sunk of course. But we had a great quantity of bees wax and wood on board, which were specifically lighter than the water.”

Toward dawn, the wind lessened, and the crew were able to use bedding and clothes to plug the leaks, nailing pieces of boards over them, the intake of water slowed and the crew continued pumping. Newton remained at the pumps until noon, waves continually breaking over his head as he worked; he and the others made themselves fast with ropes to prevent them from being washed overboard.

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In a state of exhaustion, Newton – who had been at the pumps for some nine hours – went to his bunk to rest for an hour. He was called to steer the vessel until midnight. Here he had the opportunity for reflection on “the extraordinary turns in my life; the calls, warnings, and deliverances I had met with . . . About six in the evening, [I heard] that the ship was freed from water. There rose a gleam of hope. I thought I saw the hand of God displayed in our favour; I began to pray.”

Repenting and regretting the misery he had inflicted on the thousands of human cargo he had transported across the Middle Passage for many years, he devoted his life to the church, and wrote the lyrics to many hymns which are still popular today.

For the rest of his life, he observed the anniversary of May 10, 1748 as the day of his conversion – a day of humiliation, in which he subjected his will to a higher power.

“Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ‘tis grace has bro’t me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.”

Text and art by British artist Mike Haywood. He describes the paintings, inspired by Newton’s story, as “an allegory of the current state of the World.”

mikehaywoodart.co.UK  /  mike@mikehaywoodart.co.UK

September 2007