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Newton, James, A.M., was born at Chenies, in Bucks, in the year 1732. At the age of 17 he went to London, where he joined the Baptist church under the care of the Rev. B. Wallin [Wallin, B,]. In 1757 he became assistant minister to the Rev. J. Tommas, pastor of the Baptist church in the Pithay, Bristol; and in 1770, classical tutor at the Baptist College in that city. He filled both these offices with honour and usefulness until his death in 1790. As a hymn-writer he is known by one hymn only, "Proclaim, saith Christ, my wondrous grace" (Holy Baptism), which appeared in 3 stanzas in the Bristol Collection of Ash & Evans, 1769, No. 381; Rippon's Baptist Selection, 1787, and others of the older hymn-books. In the Baptist New Selection, 1828; the Baptist Psalms & Hymns, 1858; the New Congregational Hymnal, 1850, and others, it begins with stanza ii.: "Let plenteous grace descend on those." In this form it is widely used. [Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M. A.]

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)