Next to John Newton, John Paton, John Piper (that's a lot of John's!!!), and William Carey, William Cowper (pronounced Cooper) is easily one of the most influential people in my life. I've obviously never met the man, because he lived 1731 - 1800. However, because of John Newton and my discovery of their Olney Hymns I came to know William Cowper.
Cowper was a gifted poet, and together with John Newton wrote one of the greatest set of hymns we have known. Cowper suffered from severe bouts of depression and anxiety and often times attempted to take his own life. In hopes to lift Cowpers spirits John Newton took himself and Cowper on a journey. He said each week I'll write a hymn and you write a hymn, and we will compile them together. He hoped in doing this Cowper would recover from his dark, dark depression. He never did. Newton faithfully finished what we now know as the Olney Hymns.
My interest in Cowper started with one of those hymns "O Holy I Love Thy Holy Word." I did not know much about him until just a few years back when I began to see signs of depression, anxiety, addiction, and coping in my own life. Not able to understand how to handle or deal with these "issues" was very difficult. In William Cowper's hymns and poetry I have found not only a remedy, but a hope. Cowper never fully recovered from his battle with depression, but he always hoped in God, until it was too much and the Lord took his life.
These were John Newton's final words in his sermon at Cowper's funeral:
" I have had hopes the Lord would remove his malady a little time before his death but it continued. The last twelve hours of his life he did not speak nor seem to take notice of anything but lay in a state of apparent insensibility. But I seem to think that while the curtains were taking down in the tabernacle removing, glory broke in upon his soul. The Lord had set his seal upon him and though he had not seen him he had grace to love him. He was one of those who came out of great tribulation. He suffered much here for twenty-seven years, but eternity is long enough to make amends for all. For what is all he endured in this life, when compared with that rest which remaineth for the children of God?"
Cowper is not your typical hero! He never recovered from his depression! Most of the time we look at a life and we see trials and heartache, but eventually we find triumph and victory! He never saw these things. He died in despair, but if you read his poetry and his hymns you know he died as mentally healthy as any of us.
I could write for days on this man, because he has so often touched my life and saved me from uncontrollable darkness, but instead I will let his words speak freely in hopes that it would encourage anyone who comes across them in the Lord.
Below are two of my favorite hymns by William Cowper. I have written new music to both pieces, so through new melodies the lyrics can sing truth into my soul every day. I would tell you my favorite verses, but it is worth it to get lost in his lyrics and discover which part blesses your soul.
God Moves in a Mysterious Way
William Cowper
1.) God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
2.) Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sov’reign will.
3.) Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
4.) Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
5.) His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow’r.
6.) Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
God of My Life to Thee I Call
William Cowper
1.) God of my life, to Thee I call;
Afflicted, at Thy feet I fall;
When the great water floods prevail
Leave not my trembling heart to fail!
2.) Friend of the friendless and the saint,
Where should I lodge my deep complaint?
Where but with Thee, whose open door
Invites the helpless and the poor!
3.) Did ever mourner plead with Thee,
And Thou refuse that mourner’s plea?
Does not the Word still fixed remain
That none shall seek Thy face in vain?
4.) That were a grief I could not bear,
Didst Thou not hear and answer prayer;
But a prayer hearing, answering God
Supports me under every load.
5.) Fair is the lot that’s cast for me!
I have an Advocate with Thee;
They whom the world caresses most,
Have no such privilege to boast.
6.) Poor thou I am, despised, forgot,
Yet God, my God, forgets me not;
And he is safe, and must succeed,
For whom the Lord vouchsafes to plead.
