ANOTHER “AMAZING” HYMN
John
Newton is probably best known for being the author of the hymn “Amazing
Grace”. However, this Anglican Clergyman, and once prosperous slave trader,
also authored many more hymns including “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken”
considered one of his finest.
John
Newton was the son of an English shipmaster. After a few years of boarding
school and going to sea with his father, he was conscripted into the British
Royal Navy. When he attempted desertion, he was reduced in rank to a common
seaman and was transferred to a slave ship headed to West Africa .
In
1748 his father sent a sea captain to rescue him from West Africa . It was during the
return voyage to England that John experienced a
religious conversion after reading Thomas à Kempis and being on board a ship
that nearly sank. He began reading the Bible and by the time his ship reached
port, he had accepted Christ and was transformed, repenting his sinful habits
and renouncing his role in the African slave business. He eventually became an
advocate of the abolition of slavery.
John Newton (In the public domain) |
He
gave his life to God and returned to England in 1750, and married
his childhood sweetheart, Mary Catlett. In 1755 he became renowned as an
evangelical lay minister. For the next two years he studied to be ordained as
an Anglican priest, but was initially denied. He applied to other denominations
as well but met with the same results. In 1764 he finally became an Anglican
priest at Olney, Buckinghamshire where he would spend the next sixteen years as
the rector at Olney. It was while he was there that he collaborated with the English
poet William Cowper on a number of hymns. His desire was to teach his
illiterate congregation spiritual songs they could memorize and sing as they
went about their daily tasks. In 1779 these
hymns were published as "Olney's Hymns". Among them was "Glorious
Things of Thee Are Spoken”.
In
1779 he became the rector of Saint Mary Woolnoth Church in London , England , and served there
twenty-eight years until his death at the age of 82. In 1788 he spoke against
the slave trade and apologized for his participation. He became a supporter and
friend to William Wilberforce, the leader of the Parliamentary campaign to
abolish slavery. After the death of his wife in 1790, he began to suffer poor
health and failing eyesight. John Newton died in London and was originally
buried next to his wife in the Saint Mary Woolnoth Church cemetery. However,
due to the extension of the London Underground rapid transit system in 1893,
their remains were re-interred in Saint Peter and Paul Church cemetery.
JOHN NEWTON Clerk
ONCE AN INFIDEL AND LIBERTINE
A SERVANT OF SLAVES IN AFRICA WAS
BY THE RICH MERCY OF OUR
LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST
PRESERVED, RESTORED,
PARDONED
HAD LONG LABOURED TO
DESTROY
NEAR 16 YEARS AS CURATE
OF THIS PARISH
Scripture
references for “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken”
Exodus 13:21-22, 16:16 , Isaiah
33:20-21, Psalms 87:3, John 10:35,
Matthew 16:18
GLORIOUS THINGS OF THEE ARE SPOKEN
Glorious things of thee
are spoken,
he whose word cannot be
broken
formed thee for his own
abode;
on the Rock of Ages
founded,
what can shake thy sure
repose?
With salvation's walls
surrounded,
thou may'st smile at all
thy foes.
See! the streams of
living waters,
spring form eternal
love,
well supply thy sons and
daughters
and all fear of want
remove.
Who can faint, when such
a river
ever flows their thirst
to assuage?
Grace which, like the
Lord, the Giver,
never fails from age to
age.
Round each habitation
hovering,
see the cloud and fire
appear
for a glory and a
covering,
showing that the Lord is
near.
Thus they march, their
pillar leading,
light by night, and
shade by day;
daily on the manna feeding
which he gives them when
they pray.
Blest inhabitants of Zion ,
washed in the Redeemer's
blood!
Jesus, whom their souls
rely on,
makes them kings and
priests to God.
'Tis his love his people
raises
over self to reign as
kings:
and as priests, his solemn
praises
each for a
thank-offering brings.
Savior, if of Zion 's city,
I through grace a member
am,
let the world deride or
pity,
I will glory in thy
Name.
Fading is the
worldling's pleasure,
all his boasted pomp and
show;
solid joys and lasting
treasure
none but Zion 's children know.
Words: John Newton,
1779 Tune: “Austrian Hymn” composed
by Franz Joseph Hayden
Franz
Joseph Hayden, the composer of the hymn was an eighteenth century Austrian who wrote
music for numerous symphonies, operas, masses and chamber music. He was also a
devout Christian.
Love that hymn !
ReplyDeleteLinda Finn
faithfulacres7@gmail.com
Lovely hymn! I love the idea of teaching people about Christ and worship through song. That is one reason I don’t care for modern day worship music all that much. I know there are some great modern stuff out there, but so much of it doesn’t actually say anything substantial and certainly doesn’t teach us anything. I love songs that actually tells us about Christ and what He has done for us!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda and Emma, for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteI love praise music as well as the hymns. It seems that many hymns have the longevity that so many, even wonderful, praise songs don't share.
Wonderful post, Janet. I enjoyed reading about Newton. Love the story about how God got ahold of him and his conversion and repentance.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post, Janet! Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken is one of my favorite hymns! And Emma, I agree with you. The old hymns were written to teach theology and doctrine through excellent poetry and music that would stay in your mind and heart, and so much of today's praise music doesn't teach anything of depth. So often it's self centered instead of God centered. What a wealth of music we're losing in the church today!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this reminder of a man redeemed by the Grace of God and how he served. Such a beautiful and wondrous hymn. I knew John Newton's story but had forgotten that he wrote this hymn as well as Amazing Grace.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the post Carrie, Joan and Vera.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful hymn and while I'm not a good singer, I love the way the melody flows in it. And yes, it really communicates the gospel.Newton is such a good reminder that God is merciful and gracious and can use any of us.
I love all the stories behind hymns. Thank you for this great post!
ReplyDelete