Exhortation to Prayer

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What various hindrances we meet

Author: William Cowper (1779)
Published in 524 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Piano/Organ
	Ten Chorale Improvisations, Set 1

Choral
	A Song of Community - (Choral Score)

Handbells
	JUST AS I AM

Representative Text

1 What various hindrances we meet
in coming to the mercy seat!
Yet who that knows the worth of pray'r
but wishes to be often there!

2 Pray'r makes the darkened clouds withdraw;
pray'r climbs the ladder Jacob saw;
gives exercise to faith and love;
brings ev'ry blessing from above.

3 Restraining pray'r, we cease to fight;
pray'r makes the Christian’s armor bright;
and Satan trembles when he sees
the weakest saint upon his knees.

4 Have you no words? Ah, think again:
words flow apace when you complain,
and fill a fellow-creature’s ear
with the sad tale of all your care.

5 Were half the breath thus vainly spent
to heav’n in supplication sent,
our cheerful song would oft’ner be,
"Hear what the Lord hath done for me!"

Source: Hymns to the Living God #275

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Author: William Cowper

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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