Music and the Bible
King James Bible containing “Precious Bible, what a treasure” handwritten by John Newton
King James Bible containing “Precious Bible, what a treasure” handwritten by John Newton
By: John Newton
BIB.000306
Bible - Printed Book
1774
Oxford, (England)
English
Printed on Paper
5.2 × 3 × 1.7 in. (13.4 × 7.8 × 4.4 cm)
Not on View
This Bible contains a six-stanza poem, “Precious Bible, what a treasure,” handwritten by John Newton. Newton, best known as the author of “Amazing Grace,” wrote hundreds of hymns, as well as this poem that was published in Olney Hymns, book 2, as hymn 63. A former slave trader, his late influence on William Wilberforce had considerable impact on Wilberforce’s life. Wilberforce had considered leaving politics for the ministry, but Newton encouraged him to stay in Parliament and “serve God where he was.” While this poem is handwritten in Newton’s hand, it is believed this Bible did not belong to him.
Printed in 1774 in Oxford, England. Acquired in 1798 by Elizabeth Heudebourck (1758–1842), Taunton, England.[1] Acquired by David Lachman, Los Angeles, California; Purchased before 2010 by Christian Heritage Museum, Hagerstown, Maryland; Purchased in 2010 by Green Collection, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Donated in 2017 to National Christian Foundation (later The Signatry) under the curatorial care of Museum of the Bible, Washington, DC.
Notes: [1] Handwritten note on the title page states, “Elizabeth Heudebourck, 21st Aug. 1798.” On the endpapers, Elizabeth’s husband, William Heudebourck, wrote a poem to his wife for her birthday in 1828 and a separate poem on his birthday dated December 27, 1828.
Museum of the Bible Publications:
Amy Van Dyke, ed., Amazing Grace: How Sweet the Sound (Washington, DC: Museum of the Bible, 2018), 27.
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