The Covenant. - Ezekiel xxxvi.25-28.

The Lord proclaims his grace abroad!
Behold, I change your hearts of stone;
Each shall renounce his idol-god,
And serve, henceforth, the Lord alone.


My grace, a flowing stream, proceeds
To wash your filthiness away;
Ye shall abhor your former deeds,
And learn my statutes to obey.


My truth the great design ensures,
I give myself away to you;
You shall be mine, I will be yours,
Your God unalterably true.


Yet not unsought, or unimplored,
The plenteous grace shall I confer;^[1]
No - your whole hearts shall seek the Lord,
Ill put a praying spirit there.


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.

William Cowper

William Cowper was an English poet and hymnodist known for his contributions to English literature and the Evangelical revival of the 18th century. He suffered from periods of severe depression and mental illness, which influenced much of his work. Despite his struggles, Cowper produced notable works including 'Olney Hymns' in collaboration with John Newton and 'The Task,' which gained considerable popularity. His poetry is often characterized by its introspective, religious, and sometimes melancholic themes.

William Cowper

Exhortation To Prayer.

William Cowper, Simple Poetry

The Light And Glory Of The Word.

William Cowper, Simple Poetry

Inscription For A Stone Erected At The Sowing Of A Grove Of Oaks At Chillington, The Seat Of T. Giffard, Esq., 1790.

William Cowper, Simple Poetry

To Miss C-----, On Her Birthday.

William Cowper, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

Love Constraining To Obedience.

No strength of nature can suffice
To serve the Lord aright:
And what she has she misapplies,
For want of clearer light.


How long beneath the law I lay
In bondage and distress!
I toild the precept to obey,
But toild without success.


Then, to abstain from outward sin
Was more than I could do;
Now, if I feel its power within,
I feel I hate it too.


Then, all my servile works were done
A righteousness to raise;
Now, freely chosen in the Son,
I freely choose his ways.


What shall I do, was then the word,
That I may worthier grow?
What shall I render to the Lord?
Is my inquiry now.


To see the law by Christ fulfilld,
And hear his pardoning voice,
Changes a slave into a ch...

William Cowper

Old Testament Gospel. - Hebrews iv.2.

Israel, in ancient days,
Not only had a view
Of Sinai in a blaze,
But learnd the Gospel too;
The types and figures were a glass
In which they saw a Saviours face.


The paschal sacrifice,
And blood-besprinkled door,^[1]
Seen with enlightend eyes,
And once applied with power,
Would teach the need of other blood,
To reconcile an angry God.


The Lamb, the Dove, set forth
His perfect innocence,^[2]
Whose blood of matchless worth
Should be the souls defence;
For he who can for sin atone,
Must have no failings of his own.


The scape-goat on his head^[3]
The peoples trespass bore,
And, to the desert led,
Was to be seen no more:
In him our Surety seemd to say,
Behol...

William Cowper

O Lord, I Will Praise Thee. - Isaiah xii.1.

I will praise thee every day,
Now thine angers turnd away!
Comfortable thoughts arise
From the bleeding Sacrifice.


Here in the fair gospel-field,
Wells of free salvation yield
Streams of life, a plenteous store,
And my soul shall thirst no more.


Jesus is become at length
My salvation and my strength;
And his praises shall prolong,
While I live, my pleasant song.


Praise ye then his glorious name,
Publish his exalted fame!
Still his worth your praise exceeds,
Excellent are all his deeds.


Raise again the joyful sound,
Let the nations roll it round!
Zion, shout, for this is he,
God the Saviour dwells in thee!

William Cowper

The Future Peace And Glory Of The Church. - Isaiah ix.15-20.

Hear what God the Lord hath spoken,
O my people, faint and few,
Comfortless, afflicted, broken,
Fair abodes I build for you;
Thorns of heart-felt tribulation
Shall no more perplex your ways:
You shall name your walls, Salvation,
And your gates shall all be praise.


There, like streams that feed the garden,
Pleasures without end shall flow;
For the Lord, your faith rewarding,
All his bounty shall bestow;
Still in undisturbd possession
Peace and righteousness shall reign;
Never shall you feel oppression,
Hear the voice of war again.


Ye no more your suns descending,
Waning moons no more shall see;
But, your griefs for ever ending,
Find eternal noon in me;
God shall rise, and shining oer you,
Change to day the g...

William Cowper

The Contrite Heart. - Isaiah lvii.15.

The Lord will happiness divine
On contrite hearts bestow;
Then tell me, gracious God, is mine
A contrite heart or no?


I hear, but seem to hear in vain,
Insensible as steel;
If aught is felt, tis only pain
To find I cannot feel.


I sometimes think myself inclined
To love thee, if I could;
But often feel another mind,
Averse to all thats good.


My best desires are faint and few,
I fain would strive for more:
But when I cry, My strength renew,
Seem weaker than before.


Thy saints are comforted, I know,
And love thy house of prayer;
I therefore go where others go,
But find no comfort there.


O make this heart rejoice or ache;
Decide this doubt for me;
And if it be not broken,...

William Cowper

Jehovah Our Righteousness. - Jeremiah xxiii.6.

My God, how perfect are thy ways!
But mine polluted are;
Sin twines itself about my praise,
And slides into my prayer.


When I would speak what thou hast done,
To save me from my sin,
I cannot make thy mercies known,
But self-applause creeps in.


Divine desire, that holy flame
Thy grace creates in me;
Alas! impatience is its name,
When it returns to thee.


This heart, a fountain of vile thoughts,
How does it overflow!
While self upon the surface floats,
Still bubbling from below.


Let others in the gaudy dress
Of fancied merit shine;
The Lord shall be my righteousness,
The Lord for ever mine.

William Cowper