|
Press
play
to
listen
to
"Amazing
Grace"
The
Story
Behind
Amazing
Grace
I
was
born
in
1725,
and
I
died
1807.
The
only
godly
influence
in
my
life,
as
far
back
as I
can
remember,
was
my
mother,
whom
I
had
for
only
seven
years.
When
she
left
my
life
through
death,
I
was
virtually
an
orphan.
My
father
remarried,
sent
me
to a
strict
military
school,
where
the
severity
of
discipline
almost
broke
my
back.
I
couldn't
stand
it
any
longer,
and
I
left
in
rebellion
at
age
of
ten.
One
year
later,
deciding
that
I
would
never
enter
formal
education
again,
I
became
a
seaman
apprentice,
hoping
somehow
to
step
into
my
father's
trade
and
learn
at
least
the
ability
to
skillfully
navigate
a
ship.
And
I
determined
that
I
would
sin
to
my
fill
without
restraint,
now
that
the
righteous
lamp
of
my
life
had
gone
out.
I
did
that
all
the
days
in
the
military
service
and
I
further
rebelled.
My
spirit
would
not
break,
and
I
became
increasingly
more
and
more
a
rebel.
Because
of a
number
of
things
that
I
disagreed
with
in
the
military,
I
finally
deserted,
only
to
be
captured
like
a
common
criminal
and
beaten
publicly
several
times.
After
enduring
the
punishment,
I
again
fled.
I
entertained
thoughts
of
suicide
on
my
way
to
Africa.
I
decided
on
Africa,
because
it
would
be
the
place
I
could
get
farthest
from
anyone
that
knew
me.
And
again
I
made
a
pact
with
the
devil
to
live
for
him.
Somehow,
through
a
process
of
events,
I
got
in
touch
with
a
Portuguese
slave
trader,
and
I
lived
in
his
home.
His
wife,
who
was
brimming
with
hostility,
took
a
lot
out
on
me.
She
beat
me,
and
I
ate
like
a
dog
on
the
floor
of
the
home.
If I
refused
to
do
that,
she
would
whip
me
with
a
lash.
I
fled
penniless,
owning
only
the
clothes
on
my
back,
to
the
shoreline
of
Africa
where
I
built
a
fire,
hoping
to
attract
a
ship
that
was
passing
by.
The
skipper
thought
that
I
had
gold
or
slaves
or
ivory
to
sell
and
was
surprised
that
I
was
a
skilled
navigator.
And
it
was
there
that
I
virtually
lived
for
a
long
period
of
time.
I
went
through
all
sorts
of
narrow
escapes
with
death
only
a
hairbreadth
away,
on a
number
of
occasions.
One
time
I
opened
some
crates
of
rum
and
got
everybody
on
the
crew
drunk.
The
skipper,
incensed
with
my
actions,
beat
me,
threw
me
down
below,
and
I
lived
on
stale
bread
and
sour
vegetables
for
an
unendurable
amount
of
time.
He
brought
me
above
to
beat
me
again,
and
I
fell
overboard.
Because
I
couldn't
swim,
he
harpooned
me
to
get
me
back
on
the
ship.
And
I
lived
with
the
scar
in
my
side,
big
enough
for
me
to
put
my
fist
into,
until
the
day
of
my
death.
On
board,
I
was
inflamed
with
fever
and
enraged
with
the
humiliation.
A
storm
broke
out,
and
I
wound
up
again
in
the
hold
of
the
ship,
down
among
the
pumps.
To
keep
the
ship
afloat,
I
worked
as a
servant
of
the
slaves.
There,
bruised
and
confused,
bleeding,
diseased,
I
was
the
epitome
of
the
degenerate
man.
I
remembered
the
words
of
my
mother.
I
cried
out
to
God,
the
only
way
I
knew,
calling
upon
His
grace
and
His
mercy
to
deliver
me,
and
upon
His
son
to
save
me.
The
only
glimmer
of
light
I
could
find
was
in a
crack
in
the
floor
above
me,
and
I
looked
up
to
it
and
screamed
for
help.
God
heard
me.
Thirty-one
years
passed,
I
married
a
childhood
sweetheart.
I
entered
the
ministry.
In
every
place
that
I
served,
rooms
had
to
be
added
to
the
building
to
handle
the
crowds
that
came
to
hear
the
gospel
that
was
presented
and
the
story
of
God's
grace
in
my
life.
My
tombstone
above
my
head
reads,
"Born
1725,
died
1807.
A
clerk,
once
an
infidel
and
libertine,
a
servant
of
slaves
in
Africa,
was
by
the
rich
mercy
of
our
Lord
and
Savior,
Jesus
Christ,
preserved,
restored,
pardoned,
and
appointed
to
preach
the
faith
he
once
long
labored
to
destroy."
I
decided
before
my
death
to
put
my
life's
story
in
verse.
And
that
verse
has
become
a
hymn.
My
name?
John
Newton.
The
hymn?
"Amazing
Grace
Amazing
grace!
(how
sweet
the
sound)
That
sav'd
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
reliev'd;
How
precious
did
that
grace
appear,
The
hour
I
first
believ'd!
Thro'
many
dangers,
toils
and
snares,
I
have
already
come;
'Tis
grace
has
brought
me
safe
thus
far,
And
grace
will
lead
me
home.
The
Lord
has
promis'd
good
to
me,
His
word
my
hope
secures;
He
will
my
shield
and
portion
be,
As
long
as
life
endures.
Yes,
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
call'd
me
here
below,
Will
be
forever
mine.
Author
of
this
story
Unknown
|
