Amazing Grace

Sometimes you get big surprises from the most common things. For example: Amazing Grace. I did a funeral this morning, and this hymn was requested. That's not a surprise. Amazing Grace is pretty commonly used at funerals. But in addition to the usual verses, there was this one, that I had never heard before:

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun refuse to shine,
But God, Who called me here below,

Will be forever mine.

I've never heard that verse before, but apparently they're from the original version, printed in 1779 in Olney Hymns.

I knew of course that what is often used as the last of the verses of Amazing Grace:

When we've been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we'd first begun.

is a later addition to the hymn, written by an anonymous author. I still like that verse, especially for funerals, because it's the verse that, to me, speaks most powerfully of eternity.

In any event, today meant the discovery of a seven verse version of Amazing Grace. The longest I'd ever heard before was six verses.

It's a wonderful hymn, made especially wonderful by the powerful conversion story of its author, John Newton - the former slave ship captain turned abolitionist and Anglican priest.

Here are the original words (all SIX) verses, printed in Olney Hymns in 1779:

      Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)

      That saved a wretch like me!

      I once was lost, hut 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!

      Through 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 promised 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 called me here below,

      Will be for ever mine.