254.......Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace, hymn #254, the words were
from John Newton (1725-1807), written while he was curate at Olney, Bucks,
England. This is the third of his five hymns in this collection. His
early life was one of immorality, debauchery and failure. This hymn could
well be his own testimony of his conversion and his life as a Christian.
The hymn first appeared in Olney Hymns, 1779 in six fourline stanzas and
it bore the title, "Faith's Review and Expectation." The first three verses of
the present version are by Newton. The fourth stanza is anonymous and was
added by Edwin Othello Excell in Coronation Hymns, 1910. The music
is an early American melody of unknown origin that first appeared in Virginia
Harmony, 1831. The present form of the music is credited to Excell who
first included it in his Make His Praise Glorious, 1900.
John Newton's first hymn in this collection is
#09, Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken also appeared in the 1779
Olney Hymns. The reason Amazing Grace is in the year 1900 is
that the music, as we know it, was composed by Excell that year!
Other Original Verses by John Newton
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,
Shall be forever mine.
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