Through Many Dangers: The Story of John Newton

by Brian H. Edwards

A common sailor at the age of eleven and press-ganged onto a man-of-war at nineteen, John Newton experienced the thrill of action against French warships, the cruel lash of navy discipline for desertion, the loose and blasphemous life of a freethinker, and the pain of an overwhelming love for a girl beyond his reach.

Rejecting God and morality, Newton entered the slave-trade, became a slave himself, and by the age of twenty-three was little removed from the state of a wild animal.

A violent Atlantic storm brought Newton to his knees and to his God. With a changing life and growing faith there followed years as a slave captain and customs man, in the heyday of smuggling, before he entered the ministry.

The author of "Amazing Grace" left hymns and letters that for over two-hundred years have led people to Christ. His story illustrates what God can do with one man preserved Through Many Dangers

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Brian H. Edwards is a retired pastor, writer, lecturer, and editor.

Edwards began his career as an Assistant Pastor in London. He then moved to Hook Evangelical Church in Surbiton, south-west London, where he stayed for almost thirty years. He resigned to become President of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches.

Reviews

[Will Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

"John Newton. Clerk. Once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith." Inscription on the tomb of @john__newton

[Hannah Buckland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant and gripping biography of an amazing Christian.

[Andrzej Stelmasiak · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the whole, not a big fan of Brian Edwards' writing, BUT this biography of Newton is awesome, possibly the best out of them all.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

a wonderful book that oozes out God's amazing grace in one of His servants' lives.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book introduced John Newton as well as a number of other individuals of his day that in some way influenced his life or he theirs. His story is fascinating in itself how he went from seaman to slave to slave trader to minister to his writing having an influence on the abolition of slavery in England.

What I also enjoyed was the look into a very different time. While he was at sea he taught himself Greek and Hebrew and Latin. While he was a slave, he learned geometry writing in the sand. Other people in the book also taught themselves languages and went to here people preaching for entertainment. There was a very different social life than what I am familiar life. I feel like there was more focus on real and lasting things rather than the next distraction.

As much as I liked this book and the story it took me a long time to read. I think it is a fairly easy read but requires more thought than other books that I pick up and I felt like it required much concentration to get through.