Song: Amazing Grace (Lee-Ann Rimes)

John Newton (1725-1807)
Stanza 6

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.

T'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 come;
'Tis Grace that 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.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

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
.

Hymn Background (by Stephen Rapkin)

Many hymn writers grew up within the church. But John Newton's father was a sea captain and the 11-year-old John accompanied him on voyages. At 19, he was pressganged into service on a British man-of-war, an experience so brutal that he deserted, only to be recaptured and flogged. The navy transferred him to serve on a slave ship and eventually he became a slave trader. Yet God would speak to him.

Returning home from West Indies, his ship ran into a storm and perhaps for the first time, he prayed, 'Lord, have mercy upon us.' Thus, into his tough and brutal life, came the grace of God.

He retired, embarked ona programme of self-education and after initial rejection, was accepted as a minister in the Church of England. He was given a depressed rural parish called Olney, but God's word spoke so clearly through him that people flocked from miles around and the church had to be extended. He would write a hymn every week. Amazing Grace, the hymn that tells of his first experience of God's amazing grace, is surely and rightly the best known.