Participants:
Series Code: IIW
Program Code: IIW023267S
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00:19 ♪[pensive orchestral music]♪ 00:22 [waves crashing] 00:35 ♪[contemplative synth piano music]♪ 00:39 [indistinct voices, traffic noise] 00:46 >>John Bradshaw: He's one of the great figures 00:47 of modern Christianity. 00:49 John Newton, born in London, the son of a ship's captain, 00:54 his mother died when he was young. 00:56 He became an angry young man, a drunk, a blasphemer. 01:00 He even got involved in witchcraft. 01:02 It's said that Newton could use profanity for half an hour 01:07 without ever repeating himself. 01:09 He said himself that he would invent new curse words. 01:12 Sent to work at the age of 10, at sea by 11, 01:16 he was hated by those he worked under 01:18 and worked with on the water. 01:21 A vicious storm at sea jolted him out of his recklessness. 01:26 How the ship he was on even made it back to land 01:28 is hard to understand, except that his mother, 01:31 who died when he was just 6 years old, 01:34 was a woman of great faith, a woman of prayer, 01:37 and she had dedicated her son to God and to ministry. 01:41 Satan put up a serious fight for John Newton, 01:44 but God wasn't going to let Newton go without a struggle. 01:47 ♪[music continues]♪ 01:49 Newton's life is often reduced to two events: 01:52 one, he was a slave trader, 01:55 and, two, he wrote "Amazing Grace." 02:01 Today, we struggle to understand how anyone could purchase 02:05 and resell human beings. 02:08 But when John Newton was trafficking in humans, 02:11 the trade offended essentially no one-- 02:14 except, of course, those being trafficked. 02:17 It had been socially acceptable in countries around the world 02:21 for hundreds of years, thousands, even. 02:24 There are currently more enslaved people on earth now 02:27 than at any other time in the history of the world: 02:30 between 40 and 50 million. 02:33 That's one in every 160 people or so enslaved. 02:38 Seventy-one percent are women. 02:40 One in four is a child. 02:44 Around 13 million people were captured and sold as slaves 02:48 globally between the 15th and 19th centuries-- 02:52 today, three times that many, at least. 02:57 So, that's one thing he's known for: the slave trade. 03:00 He worked on slave ships, and he captained a slave ship. 03:04 He was an exceedingly vile person at that time, he says. 03:09 "Amazing Grace" is the most popular hymn in the world. 03:12 It's been recorded thousands of times. 03:15 It was even sung at Live Aid and Woodstock. 03:19 But Newton was even bigger than that. 03:22 He was a pastor, an author. 03:25 He was a mentor. 03:26 He was a giant in Christianity. 03:29 >>Tom Jones: I mean, it's only one of 280-odd hymns 03:33 that he wrote, for start with, so if you're only talking 03:36 about his hymn-writing career, 03:38 uh, you're reducing it to a, a lower level. 03:40 And, uh, he, I, I don't think regarded the hymn 03:44 as, as one of his better hymns. 03:46 It was only in later years that it's been taken up by, um, 03:51 but particularly by, you know, 03:52 the gospel movement in the States and such like. 03:55 >>John: Through a remarkable series of providences, 03:58 Newton became the pastor of this church here in Olney 04:02 in Buckinghamshire, which is an hour or so by train 04:05 from St. Pancras station in London. 04:08 Olney is famous for its annual pancake race, which, 04:12 according to tradition, was first run in the year 1445. 04:18 Around 6,000 or 7,000 people now live in Olney, 04:21 three times as many as lived here when John Newton 04:25 came to be the pastor in 1764 when he was 39 years old. 04:30 >>Tom: He expanded the, the role of the, the church; 04:34 so no longer just a sermon on Sunday, um, 04:38 he would have sermons during the week. 04:39 He would have Bible studies 04:41 in, in the Earl of Dartmouth's house, the, the great house 04:44 here, which no longer exists, in, in Olney. 04:47 Um, so he was very, very active. 04:50 Um, he made, uh, a reputation for himself, 04:54 so much so that they overfilled the, the church, and they, 04:58 in 1765, they had to put a new gallery in the church 05:01 just to fit everybody, everybody in. 05:04 Uh, and he became something of a, a roving sensation as well. 05:08 So he would walk across country into other parishes, 05:11 uh, and give, uh, sermons wherever he went. 05:15 ♪[soft piano music]♪ 05:16 >>John: But one of his most creative innovations is that 05:19 he began to compose hymns for his church members. 05:24 He wanted to really teach his people the gospel. 05:27 The Anglican Church's Book of Common Prayer was, 05:30 in his opinion, too complicated 05:32 for the people to whom he was ministering. 05:34 He felt that if he wrote songs, the people could better learn 05:38 his teachings if they learned the teachings in song. 05:42 Now, before he entered the ministry, 05:44 Newton had a proven track record as a composer. 05:48 While he was working on ships he would write songs to ridicule 05:53 the ship's captains and then teach the songs to the sailors, 05:56 who all thought it was riotously funny. 05:59 He made plenty of enemies writing bawdy, ribald songs. 06:03 Now he could use his talent for the glory of God. 06:09 It's also interesting that Newton was influenced 06:11 as a child by Isaac Watts. 06:15 He and his mother would listen to Watts preach in Wapping, 06:18 where Newton was raised. 06:20 Watts wrote hymns such as "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," 06:25 "Joy to the World," the tune of which 06:27 was written by George Frideric Handel, who wrote the "Messiah." 06:31 Watts wrote the verses to "Marching to Zion." 06:35 He wrote "O God, Our Help in Ages Past" and "At the Cross." 06:40 So, Newton's keen intellect, his creativity, his desire 06:44 to reach simple people, and his pedigree, 06:48 all came together to make him an effective hymn-writer. 06:53 The museum here in Olney is the Cowper and Newton Museum-- 06:57 and, yes, that's "coo-per," not "cow-per." 07:01 It's, it's an English thing. 07:03 Cowper was a poet-- 07:04 in fact, an excellent poet, admired by both Coleridge 07:07 and Wordsworth, with Samuel Coleridge calling him 07:10 "the best modern poet." 07:13 Cowper's poem "The Negro's Complaint" was often quoted 07:16 by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 07:19 Newton and Cowper became very close friends. 07:22 Cowper struggled with mental illness, 07:25 and Newton spent countless hours with his friend, 07:28 helping him, ministering to him, 07:30 and, at times, literally saving his life. 07:34 >>Tom: Newton supported Cowper 07:37 when he had his melancholic episodes. 07:41 Twice Cowper moved into the vicarage, and Newton and Polly 07:45 looked after, after him when he was, uh, depressed. 07:50 I always like, I, I like the relationship with Cowper, 07:54 the, the odd couple, if you like. 07:56 I think, what, what was it 07:58 that attracted them to each other? 08:01 Um, and they fed off of each other, uh, throughout 08:04 the, the time here and continued to write to each other, 08:07 um, thereafter. 08:08 So, Cowper's, um, poems were published with a foreword 08:14 by John Newton, who introduced him. 08:17 So, so, uh, um, you know, they, they were both, 08:21 uh, familiar names around the, around the town 08:24 at the, at that time. 08:27 >>John: Cowper wrote hymns that are still sung today. 08:30 "There Is a Fountain Filled With Blood" 08:33 and "O for a Closer Walk [With God]." 08:36 That old saying, "God moves in...mysterious [ways], 08:39 His wonders to perform," Cowper wrote that. 08:42 He was a big deal. 08:45 Newton lived in the vicarage, 08:46 while Cowper lived only 150 yards away. 08:49 They spent a lot of time together, 08:51 and together they wrote a lot of hymns. 08:54 And it was in the vicarage, in what today we'd call the attic, 08:58 that Newton wrote "Amazing Grace." 09:01 So, how did this song come about? 09:03 I'll tell you in just a moment. 09:06 ♪[upbeat music swells and ends]♪♪ 09:15 >>John: It's the challenge that confronts every human heart: 09:19 evil. 09:20 How can you be kept from sin? 09:22 And why do everyday people commit truly despicable acts? 09:26 Get today's free offer, 09:27 "Evil: The Challenge of the Sinful Heart." 09:30 Call 800-253-3000. 09:33 Your can visit us online, write to the address on your screen, 09:36 or text "freeheart" to 71392. 09:41 Be sure to request your free copy now. 09:46 >>John: There's something placed by God inside the human heart: 09:51 a yearning to be free. 09:52 ♪[soft orchestral music]♪ [sound of writing] 09:54 And the actions of some went beyond the page 09:57 and the lecture hall 09:59 to the tracks of something that became known as 10:02 the Underground Railroad. 10:05 [America Wilson singing] ♪ Steal away, ♪ 10:09 [creak of opening door] ♪ steal away, ♪ 10:13 ♪ steal away to Jesus. ♪ 10:20 ♪ Steal away, ♪ 10:24 ♪ steal away home. ♪ 10:30 ♪ I ain't got long to stay here. ♪♪ 10:38 >>Announcer: Watch "Midnight to Dawn" 10:40 on itiswritten.tv. 10:43 ♪[music ends]♪♪ 10:47 ♪[soft piano music]♪ 10:50 >>John Bradshaw: As John Newton was preparing 10:52 a New Year's Day sermon to be preached on January the 1st, 10:56 1772, he wanted to write a hymn that would speak to the heart 11:01 and reinforce the text he would be using, 11:03 1 Chronicles 17:16 and 17. 11:08 "Then King David went in and sat before the Lord; 11:10 "and he said: 'Who am I, O Lord God? 11:13 "'And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? 11:17 "'And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O God; 11:20 "'and You have also spoken of Your servant's house 11:22 "'for a great while to come, and have regarded me 11:25 according to the rank of a man of high degree, O Lord God.'" 11:31 The famous hymn "Amazing Grace" was the result of that burden. 11:35 In many ways, it was an autobiographical work. 11:38 By the time he wrote the famous hymn, his conscience burned, 11:42 owing to his work on slave ships some years before. 11:46 "I once was lost, but now I'm found" is a reference 11:48 to the prodigal son, and Newton, whose Christian mother 11:52 prayed much for him before she passed away when he was a child, 11:55 was definitely a prodigal. 11:57 "Was blind, but now I see" comes straight out of John 9 12:01 from the story of a man Newton could relate to, 12:04 owing to the blindness of his former years. 12:07 "Through many dangers, toils, and snares 12:10 I have already come" was written by a man who himself 12:13 had been a slave and who had survived shipwrecks, 12:16 who'd been taken captive by the Royal Navy and forced to work 12:20 at sea with little prospect of ever coming home. 12:24 "Amazing Grace" came from his heart. 12:28 >>Tom: It was one of the hymns that was being written 12:32 by Cowper and Newton in collaboration. 12:35 In particular it was started in 1772, December, uh, 12:40 and it was written for the sermon that was, 12:43 was given on the 1st of January 1773. 12:47 So that was its first performance. 12:49 We don't know the tune that it was sung to 12:52 with, with any precision, only the words that, that he wrote. 12:56 Um, but the tune was added in 1835 in the States, 13:02 um, by a chap called, uh, William Walker. 13:06 Uh, and, uh, again, we don't know for sure 13:09 where that tune came from. 13:10 Various suggestions, it came from Southern spirituals, 13:13 Scottish folk songs, um, and, uh, it became bigger, 13:20 more of a sensation in the States than it was in the U.K. 13:25 Uh, and I think it was Mahalia Jackson, 13:27 after the Second World War, 13:29 who really brought it to the, to the fore. 13:32 It was the first big popular, uh, delivery of, 13:36 of that song to, uh, to folk in the States. 13:40 >>John: One thing you notice about "Amazing Grace" 13:42 is that of its 146 words, 13:45 125 of them contain just one syllable. 13:50 He kept it simple. 13:52 Newton, who was 47 years old at the time he wrote the song, 13:56 couldn't have realized how popular it was going to be. 13:59 >>Tom: I think he would be extremely surprised. 14:02 And I don't think he regarded it as his best hymn. 14:06 Uh, and, and some purists still don't see it as his best hymn, 14:11 but somehow it's, it's, uh, 14:14 uh, attracted the popular imagination. 14:17 It's to, to the point, it's very personal, um, 14:21 and it does everything that people want 14:23 from, really from any denomination, I think. 14:27 >>John: The song didn't catch on in England. 14:31 Maybe that had something to do with its original title. 14:34 Newton called it "Faith's Review and Expectation"-- 14:38 not so catchy. 14:40 But it caught on like wildfire in the United States, 14:43 especially once the words were coupled 14:45 with the tune we know now. 14:47 Later, Mahalia Jackson would sing "Amazing Grace" 14:50 at civil rights rallies. 14:52 Singer Judy Collins' recording of the song 14:54 went to number 15 on the pop charts, 14:57 and another version charted in the U.K. 14:59 There's no bigger Christian song today than "Amazing Grace," 15:04 a song that speaks to every person of the amazing grace 15:09 of a patient, loving God. 15:13 Not all of John Newton's songs were masterpieces. 15:16 Newton biographer Jonathan Aitken wrote 15:18 in "John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace," 15:22 "He was an unashamedly middlebrow lyricist 15:25 writing for a lowbrow congregation." 15:28 But between them, Newton and Cowper wrote hundreds 15:31 and hundreds of songs. 15:33 Three hundred and forty-eight of them were compiled 15:35 in a book titled "Olney Hymns," 15:38 and it sold like wildfire. 15:41 ♪[music crescendoes and fades]♪ 15:43 But it was as an author 15:44 that Newton really distinguished himself in Britain. 15:48 Although his book "An Authentic Narrative" was an autobiography 15:52 published anonymously, people figured out before too long 15:56 who the author actually was. 15:58 The book was a sensation. 15:59 Newton shared in vivid detail accounts of his life 16:02 on the high seas, his entanglement with slave trading, 16:05 his contradictory Christian experience, 16:08 the struggles he had with sin and temptation. 16:10 He shared the story of the love 16:11 between he and his wife Mary, or Polly, Catlett. 16:14 The book established Newton as an icon, 16:17 according to biographer Jonathan Aitken. 16:20 He was better known than the other Newton, Sir Isaac Newton, 16:23 the man who discovered the laws of gravity, 16:25 who died when Newton was an infant. 16:29 >>Tom: He made his name, um, writing his autobiography 16:33 within a series of letters. 16:35 This was common in the Georgian period, so, um, 16:38 even novels were what they would call epistolary novels, 16:42 uh, based on, on, uh, letters. 16:45 So, he wrote a series of letters to the Earl of Dartmouth. 16:48 It was his, became his sponsor. 16:50 The Earl of Dartmouth was so impressed by these-- 16:52 he must have been a good writer--uh, 16:55 that this was later published as the "Authentic Narrative," 16:59 and this is what made his name, and it was a bestseller. 17:02 [traffic noise] 17:03 >>John: After 16 years in Olney, Newton moved to London, 17:07 where he pastored at St. Mary Woolnoth, a stone's throw 17:11 from the Bank of England on Threadneedle Street 17:13 and almost halfway between St. Paul's Cathedral 17:16 and the Tower of London. 17:18 >>Tom: Well, this was, uh, uh, a church that was, 17:22 uh, controlled--the appointment was controlled by a chap 17:25 called John Thornton, who had already maintained and, and, uh, 17:29 supplemented his income here 17:32 for him to distribute to the poor in, in Olney. 17:34 Um, St. Mary Woolnoth, where he went, was the parish church 17:39 of the lord mayor of London. 17:41 So, this was seen as a, as a pulpit 17:44 rather than a ministry, if you like. 17:47 So he didn't have the poor to minister to; 17:49 he was preaching to "the great and the good of the country" 17:52 at the, the time. 17:53 It certainly was a massive, uh, promotion. 17:56 ♪[contemplative piano music]♪ 17:57 >>John: Here he grew in stature and influence, 18:00 even going so far as to be a key player 18:03 in the abolition of slavery. 18:07 By now, Newton was seen as an elder statesman 18:09 among gospel ministers. 18:12 While in London he received a surprise visit 18:15 that ultimately would impact the world. 18:20 Newton had known William Wilberforce 18:22 when Wilberforce was a lad. 18:25 His family even traveled from London to Olney 18:27 to hear Newton preach. 18:30 Now that Wilberforce was in his 20s and was a member 18:32 of parliament, this visit had the potential to be significant. 18:36 ♪[bells tolling]♪ It was. 18:40 Wilberforce was disillusioned with politics. 18:43 He was certainly disillusioned with himself. 18:46 By his own admission he had done nothing, 18:49 achieved nothing as a politician. 18:52 He was busy living it up, clubs and gambling and high society. 18:57 But then Wilberforce was converted. 19:00 He told Newton that he intended to give up politics. 19:04 Newton advised him strongly not to do so, 19:06 suggesting the younger man serve God 19:09 as a Christian politician. 19:11 Taking Newton's advice changed the course of history. 19:16 Without Wilberforce there would have been no abolition 19:19 in Britain, but without Newton there would have been 19:22 no William Wilberforce. 19:25 Wilberforce was a close friend of William Pitt, 19:27 who became prime minister of Great Britain 19:29 at the age of just 24. 19:31 By staying in politics, Wilberforce was able to have 19:34 an enormous amount of influence. 19:38 Newton didn't just give good advice to his younger friend. 19:42 He wrote a pamphlet titled 19:44 "Thoughts Upon the African Slave Trade," which was a bestseller. 19:49 In it, he expressed his deep remorse 19:51 for his role in the slave trade. 19:53 He described the horror of the slave trade, the barbarism, 19:58 sharing how it was usual for a third of the slaves on a ship 20:01 to die during the journey, owing largely to overcrowding. 20:07 He spoke about the cruelty of the slave trade, 20:10 saying English slavers were the cruelest of all. 20:14 He stated that 1,500 sailors died every year 20:17 in the slave trade. 20:19 One antislavery organization bought more than 20:22 3,5000 of the pamphlets to sell or give away 20:26 and sent a copy to every member of parliament. 20:30 The message got through. 20:33 Newton even addressed the privy council, 20:36 which advises the British monarch. 20:39 His experience, his passion, and his integrity 20:42 all spoke clearly to the elite of British politics. 20:46 He saw a lot in his time, 20:48 but perhaps nothing gave him more joy 20:51 than what would happen shortly before his death. 20:54 Back with more in just a moment. 20:56 ♪[upbeat music swells and ends]♪♪ 21:05 >>John: Thank you for remembering that It Is Written 21:07 exists because of the kindness of people just like you. 21:11 To support this international life-changing ministry, 21:13 please call us now at 800-253-3000. 21:18 You can send your tax-deductible gift 21:19 to the address on your screen, 21:21 or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. 21:25 Thank you for your prayers and your financial support. 21:27 Our number again is 800-253-3000, 21:31 or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. 21:37 ♪[soft instrumental music]♪ 21:40 [birds twittering] 21:42 >>John Bradshaw: During John Newton's lifetime, 21:44 the American War of Independence was fought 21:47 between the colonies and England. 21:49 England went to war with France twice, 21:51 and Newton very nearly found himself in the thick 21:54 of one of those wars having been press-ganged 21:56 into the Royal Navy just weeks before that war began. 22:00 The Gregorian calendar was introduced in Britain, 22:04 and the Battle of Trafalgar was fought, 22:06 with the navies of Spain and France being defeated 22:09 by Lord Nelson and the British. 22:13 But the greatest piece of history 22:15 occurred nine months before he died. 22:18 Newton lived to witness the abolition of slavery 22:21 in the British realm, 22:23 which happened on March the 25th of 1807. 22:28 Newton was dead nine months later at the age of 82, 22:32 a good innings in an era when the average lifespan in Britain 22:36 was under 40 years of age. 22:39 This was a young man who understood something 22:41 about the power of a second chance. 22:44 He came perilously close to death on numerous occasions 22:47 as a young man. 22:49 He considered murder and suicide. 22:52 But there was something that restrained him, 22:54 in part the love and prayers of his mother. 22:57 Even though she died when he was very young, 22:59 she poured herself into young John 23:02 and clearly touched his young heart. 23:04 There was love for the woman he married, Polly Catlett, 23:07 that restrained him. 23:09 But by his own admission, Newton was an evil young man. 23:12 He described himself in "Amazing Grace" 23:14 as "a wretch," remember. 23:16 Later in life, he was a changed man. 23:20 According to biographer Jonathan Aitken, 23:22 there were several things Newton devoted himself to 23:25 when he committed his life to God. 23:28 He devoted himself to prayer, reading, and meditation, 23:32 to reverence in his demeanor, 23:33 to moderation in all things, to eating less, 23:37 to speaking with plain words. 23:40 And the three ideals he clung to in life and ministry 23:44 were Christ crucified, the doctrine of love, 23:48 and the practice of holiness. 23:50 ♪[contemplative synth music]♪ 23:53 So how is it with your heart? 23:55 If you're in need of grace, and everybody is, 23:59 then you can know that God extends grace to you. 24:01 As Paul wrote to the Romans, 24:03 "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." 24:08 ♪[synth music continues with piano]♪ 24:11 John Newton understood that grace was not just pardon; 24:15 it was also cleansing. 24:17 He knew it wasn't just forgiveness; it was also power, 24:20 the power of God at work in a person's life. 24:24 Newton experienced that power-- 24:26 and longed for others to do the same. 24:31 Near the end of his life, Newton, 24:33 the self-proclaimed wretch saved by God's amazing grace, 24:38 is quoted as saying, 24:40 "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: 24:46 that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Saviour." 24:52 ♪[music fades]♪ 24:54 When John Newton died, he was buried in the crypt 24:57 beneath St. Mary Woolnoth Church, 24:59 about a mile from where he'd been born in London. 25:02 But he was interrupted in death 25:04 by London's need to enlarge its subway system. 25:08 When they excavated to build a tube station 25:11 near the Bank of England, 25:12 it meant that John and Mary Newton's remains 25:15 would need to be relocated. 25:18 So, they were brought here to Olney; 25:20 Newton and Mary were buried right behind the church 25:24 that John Newton had pastored. 25:27 If Newton was able to do so, 25:28 he would tell you that God's grace is amazing. 25:31 Well, I guess, he did tell you, didn't he? 25:34 He talked about how it saved a wretch like him, 25:36 that Newton once lost was then found, 25:39 once blind, he was enabled to see. 25:42 And why? Because of grace. 25:45 And God extends the same grace to you today. 25:48 The Jesus who died on the cross for John Newton 25:51 died on that same cross for you, to take away your sin, 25:55 to remove your guilt and shame, 25:57 to give you a new heart, to give you hope for a future. 26:01 That's what the grace of God does. 26:03 Jesus is coming back soon; He's coming back for you. 26:06 Not because you deserve everlasting life, nobody does, 26:09 but God gives it by grace. 26:14 Would you respond to the grace of God today? 26:16 Just say yes to Jesus, allow Him to live in your heart, 26:20 and then you'll live for all eternity because of grace, 26:26 which, as we now know, is amazing. 26:29 ♪[music ends]♪♪ 26:32 >>John: It's the challenge that confronts every human heart: 26:35 evil. 26:37 How can you be kept from sin? 26:39 And why do everyday people commit truly despicable acts? 26:42 Get today's free offer, 26:44 "Evil: The Challenge of the Sinful Heart." 26:47 Call 800-253-3000. 26:50 You can visit us online, 26:51 write to the address on your screen, 26:53 or text "freeheart" to 71392. 26:57 Be sure to request your free copy now. 27:03 >>John: Let me pray for you now. 27:04 Our Father in heaven, we thank You today for grace 27:07 and that You'd extend it to a wretch like me. 27:10 I wonder, friend, as we pray, if you would respond 27:12 to God's grace and say yes to Jesus, yes to the cross 27:16 where Jesus died for you, yes to everlasting life, 27:19 yes to forgiveness. 27:21 If you'd say yes right now, 27:22 then you can say, with Newton, that grace is truly amazing. 27:26 You have eternity to look forward to. 27:29 Our Father, we thank You that when we were undeserving, 27:31 You extended grace to us anyway, 27:34 so that now on this earth we can look forward 27:36 to everlasting life with hope and confidence. 27:40 For that we thank You, and we pray in Jesus' name. 27:44 Amen. 27:46 Thank you so much for joining me. 27:47 I'm looking forward to seeing you again next time. 27:50 Until then, remember: 27:52 "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, 27:56 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" 28:01 ♪[dramatic, triumphant theme music]♪ 28:25 ♪[music ends]♪♪ |
Revised 2024-06-26