Grace in the Coliseum of Rome

Per Scriptum E. Wesley - Mackinac Center Intern

“Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.”

Within the weak and contrite walls,
The sound of faith has rung,
Tyrants once owned what Christ now calls;
Hear hymns where martyrs sung!

The hush of soft and tranquil notes,
Absolve the dying lays,
And now bagpipes forgive the gloats
Of Hadrian’s stone maze.

“Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.”

The lions roared, the Christians fell,
Under the Emperor’s sneer,
But now all’s stopped, and none can tell,
That blood was shed so dear.

Italian poets now do sing,
Of Him who died for them,
For they who died within the ring,
Bore true His peaceful gem.

“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.”

Those days of murder now have passed;
In brakes the glorious day!
Freedom trumpets Jesus’ blast;
A brighter morn’ than May.

Here peace reigns still in liberty,
Fair, until the gray-
Silver horns ring eternity,
And grace shall lead the way.