Sunday, Newton's Seafaring Career Near An End

By October 1753, shore time had run out, and Newton was at sea on the African again. The ten-month voyage was to be his last as a slave-ship captain. It marked a profound turning point in his spiritual life because he had a chance meeting with a fellow captain and fellow Christian, Alexander Clunie. In the short term, their meeting on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts proved a guiding light to Newton in matters of prayer, doctrine, and witness. In the long term, the two men formed an enduring friendship and exchanged many letters, which were eventually published under he title of The Christian Correspondent.

Newton's four week stop over on the Caribbean island was notable for the spiritual nourishment he received there. There, Newton met a Scotsman who was destined to make an enormous impact on his Christian faith and fellowship. Soon after their initial encounter in St. Kitts, Clunie and Newton became inseparable soul mates.

Clunie's Christian teaching was Bible-based with a strong learning toward Reformed theology. In modern terminology this would be called conservative evangelicalism. Up to this time, Newton's religion had been almost entirely self-taught. Apart from what he had absorbed from his late mother and childhood pastor, Newton had received no formal instruction or teaching in matters of faith since the age of six. ......ever since his conversion in the Atlantic storm of March 21, 1748 Newton had been a solitary Christian. He had traveled far in his Bible reading and in his studies of theological authors, but he had traveled alone. He had never experienced the joy of fellowship that so often follows from membership in the Body of Christ.

Now for the first time in his life, he found that Christian fellowship with Alexander Clunie who during those intense weeks at St. Kitts became John Newton's prayer partner, mentor and spiritual director. The doctrine of justification by faith was strongly emphasized by Clunie.

Newton on fire with enthusiasm for his new friend's teachings, accepted this promise of salvation. "Now I began to understand the security of the covenant of grace," wrote Newton, "and to expect to be preserved not by my own power and holiness but by the mighty power and promise of God, through faith in an unchangeable Savior."

---Jonathan Aitken, John Newton, From Disgrace to Amazing Grace