JOHN NEWTON was the son of a sailor. He ran away from home, and after a life of sin and shame, at thirty years of age he was soundly converted to God. At fifty he wrote the hymn, “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds,” which is sung worldwide. He lived to the good old age of 82, and continued to preach to the last.
One day when he had passed eighty years and was preaching, it was with difficulty that he could see to read his Bible and his notes. So he had taken along his servant, who stood behind him in the pulpit and with a wooden pointer traced out the lines.
On this Sunday morning Mr. Newton came to the words, “Jesus Christ is precious,” and wishing to emphasize them, he repeated, “Jesus Christ is precious.” His servant, thinking the old man was getting confused, whispered, “Go on, go on; you said that before.” Mr. Newton, looked around and replied, “John, I said that twice, and I’m going to say it again.” Then with redoubled force he sounded out the words, “JESUS CHRIST IS PRECIOUS.”
John Newton, one time wild slave dealer on the African coast, enjoyed this truth in his own heart and confirmed it in his musing on the seashore.
When he thought of himself he wrote:
“In every object here I see
Something, my heart, that points to Thee,
Hard as the rocks that bound the strand,
Unfruitful as the barren sand,
Deep and deceitful as the ocean,
And like the tides in constant motion.”
Then thinking of his precious Lord he sang:
“In every object here I see
Something, O Lord, that leads to Thee,
Firm as the rocks, Thy promise stands,
Thy mercies countless as the sands,
Thy love a sea immensely wide,
Thy grace an overflowing tide.”
Dear young friends, learn these two verses by heart, and repeat them to others. You will get a blessing, and perhaps they will too.
ML-12/24/1972