amazing grace (lyrics and history)

8/11/2019 Amazing Grace (Lyrics and History)

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Amazing Grace

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.Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,And grace my fears relieved;How precious did that grace appearThe hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,I have already come;Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,His Word my hope secures;He will my Shield and Portion be,As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,And mortal life shall cease,I shall possess, within the veil,A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,

The sun forbear to shine;But God, Who called me here below,Will be forever mine.

When weve been there ten thousand years,Bright shining as the sun,Weve no less days to sing Gods praiseThan when wed first begun.

Words: John Newton (1779)

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Story:

The story of 'Amazing Grace' is found in the Bible, heard in the hymn and demonstratedin the lives of countless followers of Christ. The hymn, first titled 'Faith's Review andExpectation' was written by John Newton whose story is as amazing as the Grace thatwas his salvation. He began life as the priviliged son of a sea captain, became a slaveand a slave ship captain before becoming a servant of Christ.

John's mother, a fragile but determined woman, dedicated herself to his education. Shetaught him to read and write and fervently prayed that he become a minister of the

Gospel. By the time John was four she had taught him to read the Scriptures and recitehymns from 'Divine and


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Moral Songs for Children' by Isaac Watts. When John was only six years old his motherdied. His father remarried and John was sent on to boarding school. He was a goodstudent who, by age ten, could read Latin and showed a keen interest in mathematics.

When John was eleven his father took him to sea. He spent six years with his father onseveral voyages. John's father was a well respected man and captain who sought and

secured several positions of opportunity for his son. But John, who was becomingincreasingly rebellious, methodically squandered them all. Through his fathers influencehe began several voyages in positions of authority only to be demoted to commonseaman. He strayed so far from his mothers spiritual teaching that he began influencingothers away from deeply held beliefs. His life had so degenerated that he was oftendisliked and distrusted by officers and crew alike. He ran from his fathers support,ignored his superior officers authority and fell so far from his mothers dreams that hebecame known among sailors as "The Great Blasphemer."

During one of these voyages, at John's request and to his new captains relief, he wasallowed to accompany, and became a partner with, a slave trader from West Africa. Hispartner was married to an African princess who took an instant disliking to John. During

one of his partners absences he fell gravely ill and his partners wife took advantage ofthe situation. John found himself enslaved, brutalized and begging for food. Ironically,the other slaves were his only source of mercy. He was eventually rescued, at his fathersurging, and began a return journey to England. On this journey John once again earnedthe disdain of captain and crew. This was the voyage, however, that was to changeJohn's life in ways that he could not imagine. He began to wrestle with his conscienceduring a violent storm in March of 1748. After seeing a shipmate washed overboard,feeling a resignation to death among the crew and discussing their situation with hiscaptain, a plea rose from within him: "If this will not do, the Lord have mercy on us!" Ashe shouted he wondered; could there be any mercy for one who profaned the Lord'sname as effectively and deliberately as he?

In seeking an answer to his question John Newton was led back to the Bible. On March21st, lashed to the helm of a foundering ship, he considered many verses which hebegan to see in the Light of Truth. He was especially struck by the story of the prodigalson in Luke, chapter 15. He marveled at the father who raced to meet his wayward sonand he felt hope for his own soul. When the badly damaged ship finally dropped anchor,a transformed John Newton went safely ashore. Two years later, with his fathersblessing, he married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Catlett.

The slave trade, at the time, was a respectable profession and John continued in it forsome time before illness forced him to leave the sea. (Years later his testimony beforeParliament and his 'Thoughts upon the African Slave Trade' published in 1787 helpedinfluence law makers to abolish slave trade within British colonies in 1807 and

emancipate ,in 1833. British colonial slaves.)

In 1755, in need of employment, he was offered and accepted the position of Surveyorof the Tides in Liverpool England. While at sea he began a disciplined study of the Biblewhich he continued ashore. He also became friend to George Whitfield, deacon of theChurch of England and John Wesley, the founder of Methodism.

At the age of 39, on his second attempt at ordination, his mothers prayers wereanswered and John Newton was appointed Curate of Olney in Buckinghamshire where,three years later he met the poet William Cowper. In 1779 the first edition of the 'OlneyHymns' was published containing 348 pieces, 67 by Cowper and 281 by Newton,including what would later be known to the world as 'Amazing Grace'. Shortly after it'sfirst publication John left Olney to become pastor of St. Mary Woolnoth Church in

London. He remained in that position until his death December 21,1807. The epitaph hewrote for his tombstone reads: "John Newton, Clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a


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servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the gospel he had long labored to destroy

Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;Naught be all else to me, save that Thou artThou my best Thought, by day or by night,Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;Thou my souls Shelter, Thou my high Tower:Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor mans empty praise,Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,

High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,May I reach Heavens joys, O bright Heavens Sun!Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Words: Dallan Forgail (8th Century)

Blessed Assurance

Blessd assurance, Jesus is mine!O what a foretaste of glory divine!Heir of salvation, purchase of God,Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.Refrain

This is my story, this is my song,Praising my Savior, all the day long;

This is my story, this is my song,Praising my Savior, all the day long.


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Perfect submission, perfect delight,Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;Angels descending bring from aboveEchoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Refrain

Perfect submission, all is at restI in my Savior am happy and blest,Watching and waiting, looking above,Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Refrain

Words: Fanny Crosby (1873)

Need Thee Every Hour

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.Refrain

I need Thee, O I need Thee;

Every hour I need Thee;O bless me now, my Savior,I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.

Refrain

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain.

Refrain

I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

Refrain

I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessd Son.

Refrain

In The Garden


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I come to the garden aloneWhile the dew is still on the rosesAnd the voice I hear falling on my earThe Son of God discloses.Refrain

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,And He tells me I am His own;And the joy we share as we tarry there,None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,And the melody that He gave to meWithin my heart is ringing.

Refrain

Id stay in the garden with HimThough the night around me be falling,But He bids me go; through the voice of woeHis voice to me is calling.

Refrain

Words: Charles Austin Miles (1912)

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Story: I readthe story of the greatest morn in history: The first day of the weekcometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet very dark, unto the sepulcher. Instantly,completely, there unfolded in my mind the scenes of the garden of Joseph.Out of themists of the garden comes a form, halting, hesitating, tearful, seeking, turning from sideto side in bewildering amazement. Falteringly, bearing grief in every accent, with tear-dimmed eyes, she whispers, If thou hast borne him hence He speaks, and the soundof His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing. Jesus said to her, Mary! Just oneword from his lips, and forgotten the heartaches, the long dreary hours.all the pastblotted out in the presence of the Living Present and the Eternal Future. (Thanks to

cyberhymnal.org)

Another Story: Here is the account of how this beautiful hymn was writtenfrom thehymn-writer C. Austin Miles himself: One day in April, 1912, 1 was seated in the darkroom, where I kept my photographic equipment and organ. I drew my Bible toward me;it opened at my favorite chapter, John 20--whether by chance or inspiration let eachreader decide. That meeting of Jesus and Mary had lost none of its power and charm.

As I read it that day, I seemed to be part of the scene. I became a silent witness to thatdramatic moment in Mary's life, when she knelt before her Lord, and cried, Rabboni!

My hands were resting on the Bible while I stared at the fight blue wall. As the light

faded, I seemed to be standing at the entrance of a garden, looking down a gentlywinding path, shaded by olive branches. A woman in white, with head bowed, handclasping her throat, as if to choke back her sobs, walked slowly into the shadows. it was


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Mary. As she came to the tomb, upon which she placed her hand, she bent over to lookin, and hurried away.

John, in flowing robe, appeared, looking at the tomb; then came Peter, who entered thetomb, followed slowly by John.

As they departed, Mary reappeared; leaning her head upon her arm at the tomb, shewept. Turning herself, she saw Jesus standing, so did 1. 1 knew it was He. She kneltbefore Him, with arms outstretched and looking into His face cried, Rabboni!

I awakened in sunlight, grip ping the Bible, with muscles tense and nerves vibrating.Under the inspiration of this vision I wrote as quickly as the words could be formed thepoem exactly as it has since appeared. That same evening I wrote the music.(tanbible.com)

What A Friend We Have in Jesus

What a Friend we have in Jesus,all our sins and griefs to bear!What a privilege to carryeverything to God in prayer!O what peace we often forfeit,O what needless pain we bear,All because we do not carryeverything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?We should never be discouraged;take it to the Lord in prayer.Can we find a friend so faithfulwho will all our sorrows share?Jesus knows our every weakness;take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,cumbered with a load of care?Precious Savior, still our refuge,take it to the Lord in prayer.Do your friends despise, forsake you?Take it to the Lord in prayer!In His arms Hell take and shield you;you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promisedThou wilt all our burdens bearMay we ever, Lord, be bringing all toThee in earnest prayer.Soon in glory bright unclouded therewill be no need for prayerRapture, praise and endless worshipwill be our sweet portion there.

Words: Joseph Scriven (1857)


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Someone has well penned this statement, "A Christian's practical theology is often hishymnology." Many of us could attest to this truth as we recall some deeply moving

experience - perhaps the loss of a dear loved one-and a simple hymn which has beenused by the Holy Spirit to minister to our spiritual need. Such a hymn is "What a FriendWe Have in Jesus." Though it is not considered to be an example of great literarywriting, its simply stated truths have brought solace and comfort to countless numbersof God's people since it was first written in 1857. So relevant to the basic spiritual needsof people are these words that many missionaries state that it is one of the first hymnstaught to new converts. The very simplicity of the text and music has been its appealand strength.

Joseph Scriven was born in 1819 of prosperous parents in Dublin, Ireland. He was agraduate of Trinity College, Dublin. At the age of twenty-five he decided to leave hisnative country and migrate to Canada. His reasons for leaving his family and country

seem to be two-fold: the religious influence of the Plymouth Brethren upon his lifeestranging him from his family and the accidental drowning of his fiancee the nightbefore their scheduled wedding.

From that time Scriven developed a totally different pattern of life. He took the Sermonon the Mount literally. It is said that he gave freely of his limited possessions, evensharing the clothing from his own body, if necessary, and never once refused to helpanyone who needed it. Ira Sankey tells in his writings of the man who, seeing Scriven inthe streets of Port Hope, Ontario, with his sawbuck and saw, asked, "Who is that man? Iwant him to work for me." The answer was, "You cannot get that man; he saws woodonly for poor widows and sick people who cannot pay." Because of this manner of lifeScriven was respected but was considered to be eccentric by those who knew him.

"What a Friend We Have in Jesus" was never intended by Scriven for publication. Uponlearning of his mother's serious illness and unable to be with her in far-off Dublin, hewrote a letter of comfort enclosing the words of this text. Some time later when hehimself was ill, a friend who came to call on him chanced to see the poem scribbled onscratch paper near the bed. The friend read it with keen interest and asked Scriven if hehad written the words. Scriven, with typical modesty, replied, "The Lord and I did itbetween us." In 1869 a small collection of his poems was published. It was simplyentitled Hymns and Other Verses.

After the death of Joseph Scriven, also by accidental drowning, the citizens of Port Hope,Ontario, erected a monument on the Port Hope-Peterborough Highway, which runs from

Lake Ontario, with the text and these words inscribed: Four miles north, in Pengally'sCemetery, lies the philanthropist and author of this great masterpiece, written at PortHope, 1857. The composer of the music, Charles C. Converse, was a well-educatedversatile and successful Christian, whose talents ranged from law to professional music.Under the pen name of Karl Reden, he wrote numerous scholarly articles on manysubjects. Though he was an excellent musician and composer with many of his worksperformed by the leading American orchestras and choirs of his day, his life is bestremembered for this simple music so well suited to Scriven's text.

Ira D. Sankey discovered the hymn in 1875, just in time to include it in his well-knowncollection, Sankey's Gospel Hymns Number One. Later Sankey wrote, "The last hymnwhich went into the book became one of the first in favor."

Quoted from "101 Hymn Stories" by Kenneth Osbeck. Kregel Publishers, P.O. Box 2607,


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Grand Rapids, MI 49501, 1982.Used by permission - duplication without permission is a violation of U.S. copyright law.

amazing grace (lyrics and history)

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