Amazing grace, how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now I'm found Was blind, but now I see 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear And grace that fear 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 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ear It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds And drives away his fear Must Jesus bear the cross alone And all the world go free No, there's a cross for everyone And there's a cross for me. When we've been here ten thousand years Bright shining as the sun, We've no less days to sing God's praise than when we first begun
當聽到第一個聲音時,全身起疙瘩,好乾淨的聲音,唱來一點都不費力,但是感動力卻是十足,接著,當男四重唱唱出了和聲時,這個旋律簡直就是天籟!真的,一點都不誇張!
間奏時,鏡頭拉出了全景,那宏偉的古堡式建築,再搭配上t著蘇格蘭傳統服裝演奏者吹奏的風笛,震撼力更是不得了啊!間奏後轉調的高音,更是讓人彷彿隨著音樂提昇般,真的好棒!
這首「奇異恩典(Amazing Grace)」是一首大家耳熟能詳的西洋歌曲,作曲者已不可考,目前的樂譜是由美國福音詩歌作曲家艾克沙改編。
「奇異恩典」的歌詞是由約翰紐敦(JohnNewton 美國白人)所作,歌詞簡潔充滿敬虔、感恩的告白,也是他的生命見證。
約翰紐敦在奧而麗牧會15年,寫作聖詩極多,晚年在倫敦聖瑪利教堂牧會時,記憶力日漸衰退,甚至有時後語不對前言,有人建議他退休,他說:「我的記憶力已似全失,但我還能記得兩件事:第一、我是一個大罪人,第二、基督是大救主。」
「奇異恩典」一詩中,約翰紐敦自稱為「卑鄙惡者」,不配蒙主「恩典」,但主耶穌竟將此恩典施於其身,當他得知基督深愛罪人,並為罪人受死,他心中充滿無限驚奇,進而知曉眾罪已蒙恩赦。約翰紐敦從一個身歷萬劫,遭遇絕境的落難人,轉變為一個博貫群經,榮神益人,蒙主重用的鼎鼎大名宗教領袖,正是「奇異恩典」最好的寫照。