By T. Sulman – Martin, Bernard (1950), John Newton: A Biography, William Heineman, Ltd., illustration between pages 222 and 223., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11258269

The man who wrote the words of “Amazing Grace” was a reformed English slave trader. He wrote the following:

“I am bound in conscience to take shame to myself by a public confession which, however sincere, comes too late to prevent or repair the misery and mischief to which I have formally been an accessory.” (John Newton, 1788)

It’s the most abject, poignant, unvarnished, soul-baring, unsparing, uncowardly and realistic apology uttered by mortal man that I have encountered. The moist evasions drooled through clenched teeth by today’s “men” reek of slobber by comparison. A world in which “I’m sorry that you were offended” is the excuse for so much offense is a sorry world.

If there’s a heaven, I hope John Newton looks down from it. Our misery and mischief are enduring, but his words were an atonement.

(c) 2019 JMN