Amazing grace! How sweet the sound! That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now I am found, Was blind but now I see. Was 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; This 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 vail, 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 forever mine. 一種譯文:
“奇異恩典,何等甘甜,我罪已得赦免;
前我失蹤,今被尋回,瞎眼今得看見。
如此恩典,使我敬畏,我心已得安慰;
初信之時,即蒙恩惠,真是何等寶貴!
許多危險,試煉網(wǎng)羅,我已平安經(jīng)過;
靠主恩典,安全不怕,更引領我歸家。
將來禧年,圣徒歡聚,恩光愛誼千年;
喜樂頌贊,在父座前,深望那日快現(xiàn)?!?/span>
上面這一首“奇異恩典”可以說是作者牛頓·約翰的自傳。他雖然是一位偉大的布道家,又是圣樂詩人,無論是他所寫的圣詩或講道,都有極大的感力,他一生都不能忘記,他原來在罪中生活,作罪奴隸;那是蒙神恩典,才把他從火坑內和淤泥中拯救出來,所以他口唱新歌(共寫了二百八十首圣詩,似乎以“奇異恩典”這一首為代表作。)
《甜美圣名》(How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds)
何等甜美耶穌圣名,信徒聞即歡呼;
能愈傷痛能慰愁情,心中憂懼盡除!
能將破碎心靈醫(yī)好,使煩惱心安定;
更使饑餓得靈得飽,勞倦人得安寧!
主名是我堅固磐石,是盾牌避難處;
耶穌是我良友善牧,先知祭司君王;
又是救主生命道路,懇納我眾頌揚!
今雖竭我心智熱衷,愛主猶顯微弱;
來日見主真體圣容,必獻更美頌歌!
當趁今生氣息尚存,愿宣主愛不停;
并靠救主美名大恩,永遠鼓舞我靈!
這首歌是根據(jù)雅歌1章3節(jié)而寫:“你的膏油馨香,你的名如同倒出來的香膏,所以眾童女都愛你?!?/span>
前三段歌詞通過對耶穌圣名的思念,從各個角度表達對耶穌基督的贊美。他是安慰者、醫(yī)治者、喂養(yǎng)者、保護者……他是先知、祭司、君王,是道路、真理、生命,又是我們的親密朋友。
后兩段歌詞表達了對耶穌的愛。今天在地上,我們雖竭力,愛主之心仍何其微弱,然而我們期待著將來在天上,向他獻上完全的頌贊。為此,就趁現(xiàn)在短暫的年日,被他的恩典鼓舞,也不停地宣揚主的大愛!