‘Amazing Grace’: The story behind the timeless hymn

The story behind the hymn Amazing Grace appeared in the “Our Daily Bread” daily devotional for May 22, 1968, while this chaplain was serving in Vietnam. The devotional was written by Henry G. Bosch (1914-1995), and I have saved it through the years for such a time as this. Here it is: 

“John Newton had a praying mother, but she died when he was seven. He therefore had to leave home and sail with is sea-captain father. He later fell into bad company and forgo his mother’s God and her earnest, prayerful warnings. When he became of age, he signed up with the British Navy, got into trouble and sought escape from punishment through desertion. His freedom was short-lived, for he was captured, put into irons and publicly whipped.

Upon his release, defiant and bitter, he signed on to sail on the lowest of all types of craft – a slave ship. Being familiar with the sea, he worked his way up until he found himself captain of his own “slaver.” At 23, hardened and irreligious, be became a familiar figure, scowling at his poor captives with a whip in one hand and a gun in the other. One day, when returning from a long voyage, a violent storm arose which threatened to send them all to the bottom of the sea. In those hours of peril, when the wild waves dashed the ship madly hither and yon, he began thinking of what would happen to his soul if the ship sank. Visions of his praying mother troubled his dreams. Recalling a book she had owned, entitled ‘The Imitation of Christ,’ he took it from the bottom of his trunk and began to read. Its message spoke to his heart.

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To the amazement of all when they finally made port, John Newton turned from the sea and became a devout Christian. After 16 years of self education, he was ordained to the ministry and given a little church in he town of Olney, England. While serving the congregation, he wrote his personal testimony in the words of that splendid hymn, ‘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 appear the hour I first believed!'” -HGB

This testimony of faith by John Newton (1725-1807) has been blessed by God through these many years, and we and millions of others have been and continue to be blessed by the reading, singing and hearing of this song of faith.

Peace!