Lesson 369: AMAZING GRACE

Chaplain Alan Farley --

AMAZING GRACE

Genesis 19:19, “Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life;”

John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Ephes. 2:7-8, “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

Everybody, Christian and non-Christian alike have heard the song Amazing Grace. Few though know the story behind the song and the author-John Newton.

Death took his saintly mother in July, 1732, when John was but 13 days short of his 7th birthday. Newton wrote of his mother; "Almost her whole employment was the care of my education. She stored my memory with many valuable pieces, chapters and portions of Scripture, hymns and poems."

After her death Newton went to sea with his father and began a decline into rebellion and degradation that lasted until he was 23 years old. His willful and wanton disregard for all that was right and holy led him into a life plagued with despair, dangers at sea, abuse, public floggings, depression, near drowning and miraculous escapes. It is reported that at times he was so wretched that even his crew regarded him as little more than an animal. At the age of 23 Newton found himself on a small island off North Africa. He had contracted an illness that left him burning up with fever. He wrote; "Weak and almost delirious, I arose from my bed and crept to a secluded part of the island; there I found a renewed liberty to pray. I made no more resolves, but cast myself before the Lord to do with me as He should please. I was enabled to hope and believe in a crucified Saviour.”

For the next sixteen years he married and studied for the ministry. At the age of 39 he became a pastor in Olney, England. In 1779 Newton published a hymnal "The Olney Hymns" in which he placed 281 of his own works, including his life’s story, "Amazing Grace." Anticipating HIS Soon Return, Chaplain Alan Farley D.D.www.rmjc.org,www.chaplainsmuseum.org