1 The Lord proclaims his grace abroad!
Behold I change your hearts of stone:
Ye shall renounce each idle-god
And serve, and praise the Lord alone.
2 My grace, a flowing stream proceeds,
To wash your filthiness away;
Ye shall abhor your former deeds,
And learn my statutes to obey.
3 My truth the great design insures,
I give myself away to you;
ye shall be mine, I will be yours,
Your God unalterably true.
4 Yet not unsought, nor unimplored,
The plenteous grace will I confer;
No--your whole hearts shall seek the Lord,
I'll put a praying spirit there.
5 From the first breath of life divine,
Down to the last expiring hour;
The gracious work shall all be mine,
Begun and ended in my power.
The Hartford Selection of Hymns from the most approved authors, 1799
William Cowper (pronounced "Cooper"; b. Berkampstead, Hertfordshire, England, 1731; d. East Dereham, Norfolk, England, 1800) is regarded as one of the best early Romantic poets. To biographers he is also known as "mad Cowper." His literary talents produced some of the finest English hymn texts, but his chronic depression accounts for the somber tone of many of those texts. Educated to become an attorney, Cowper was called to the bar in 1754 but never practiced law. In 1763 he had the opportunity to become a clerk for the House of Lords, but the dread of the required public examination triggered his tendency to depression, and he attempted suicide. His subsequent hospitalization and friendship with Morley and Mary Unwin provided emotional st… Go to person page >
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