The Believer’s Endless Bliss
“As a preacher, Newton had a very clear goal: ‘To preach what I ought and to be what I preach.’”
― John Snyder, Behold Your God: The Weight of Majesty
John Newton (1725-1807) began as a captain of slave ships. But when he converted to Christianity, he became an outspoken abolitionist, pastor, and hymnist. John Newton partnered with William Cowper to write Olney Hymns, a hymnal containing 68 hymns by Cowper and 280 by Newton. Among those hymns are “Amazing Grace” and “Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken.”
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2
By various maxims, forms and rules,
That pass for wisdom in the schools,
I strove my passion to restrain;
But all my efforts proved in vain.
But since the Savior I have known
My rules are all reduced to one;
To keep my Lord, by faith, in view,
This strength supplies and motives too.
I see Him lead a suffering life,
Patient, amid reproach and strife;
And from His pattern courage take
To bear, and suffer, for His sake.
Upon the cross I see Him bleed,
And by the sight from guilt am freed;
This sight destroys the life of sin,
And quickens heavenly life within.
To look to Jesus as He rose
Confirms my faith, disarms my foes;
Satan I shame and overcome,
By pointing to my Savior’s tomb.
Exalted on His glorious throne,
I see Him make my cause His own;
Then all my anxious cares subside,
For Jesus lives, and will provide.
I see Him look with pity down,
And hold in view the conqueror’s crown;
If pressed with griefs and cares before,
My soul revives, nor asks for more.
By faith I see the hour at hand
When in His presence I shall stand;
Then it will be my endless bliss,
To see Him where, and as He is.