Amazing Grace
Published by Rick on Sunday, July 05, 2009.
The lyrics to Amazing Grace were written by John Newton, born in 1725 in Wapping, London. After a brief time in the Royal Navy, Newton began a career in slave trading.
The turning point in Newton's spiritual life was a violent storm that occurred one night while at sea. Moments after he left the deck, the crewman who had taken his place was swept overboard. Although he manned the vessel for the remainder of the tempest, he later commented that, throughout the tumult, he realized his helplessness and concluded that only the grace of God could save him. Prodded by what he had read in Thomas à Kempis' Imitation of Christ, Newton took the first step toward accepting faith.
This incident changed Newton significantly. On his slave voyages, he encouraged the sailors under his charge to pray. He also began to ensure that every member of his crew treated their human cargo with gentleness and concern. Nevertheless, it would be another 40 years until Newton openly challenged the trafficking of slaves.
The association with Highland bagpipes is relatively modern; for over a century, the tune was nearly forgotten in the British Isles until the folk revival of the 1960s began carrying traditional musicians back and forth between the British Isles and the United States where Amazing Grace had remained a very popular hymn.
Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind but now I see.
It was grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already overcome
It was grace that led me safe thus far
And grace will bring me home.
When we've been there a thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun.
The turning point in Newton's spiritual life was a violent storm that occurred one night while at sea. Moments after he left the deck, the crewman who had taken his place was swept overboard. Although he manned the vessel for the remainder of the tempest, he later commented that, throughout the tumult, he realized his helplessness and concluded that only the grace of God could save him. Prodded by what he had read in Thomas à Kempis' Imitation of Christ, Newton took the first step toward accepting faith.
This incident changed Newton significantly. On his slave voyages, he encouraged the sailors under his charge to pray. He also began to ensure that every member of his crew treated their human cargo with gentleness and concern. Nevertheless, it would be another 40 years until Newton openly challenged the trafficking of slaves.
The association with Highland bagpipes is relatively modern; for over a century, the tune was nearly forgotten in the British Isles until the folk revival of the 1960s began carrying traditional musicians back and forth between the British Isles and the United States where Amazing Grace had remained a very popular hymn.
Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind but now I see.
It was grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already overcome
It was grace that led me safe thus far
And grace will bring me home.
When we've been there a thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun.
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