"Newton's private devotions were well recorded in his diary. Its pages show that it was Newton's practice to rise every morning at 5 a.m. and to spend at least the first two hours of the day in Bible reading and prayer. "The one is the fountain of of living water and the other the bucket with which we are to draw," he wrote.....In Newton's prayers, words surged like a torrent. They were most often directed to expressions of gratitude, thanking God for his mercy, peace, and grace. They convey the impression of a soul involved in a deeply personal relationship with the Lord. "I often find that prayer is the index of my present state. It is indeed the gate of heaven."On Saturday evenings it was Newton's practice to take what he called his 'serious walk,' which in winter became his 'serious hour of retirement.' He used this as an opportunity for calling to mind his sins and shortcomings during the previous week....
Although self-reproach and contrition were important features of Newton's prayer life, they were transcended by his fervent belief that his sins had been forgiven and his soul had been saved. Expressions of gratitude for his salvation were preeminent in his devotions, particularly on certain anniversaries. He never failed to commemorate in special prayers March 21 as his 'great turning day' during the Atlantic storm of 1748 when he began his spiritual journey toward conversion."
----Jonathan Aitken, John Newton, From Disgrace to Amazing Grace
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