John Newton

John Newton (1725–1807) was an English clergyman and hymn writer whose theological writings, particularly *Cardiphonia*, articulated an evangelical Protestant spirituality emphasizing the experiential dimensions of Christian faith and the transformative power of divine grace. His work emerged during the eighteenth-century evangelical revival and reflected the Calvinist theology of the period while pioneering a more introspective, affective approach to religious devotion that influenced subsequent Protestant thought. Newton's legacy as both a theologian and hymnodist—most notably as author of "Amazing Grace"—established him as a significant figure in the development of modern evangelical Christianity.