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Great in weakness

By Pastor William Register
Posted 2/7/18

One of the greatest hymns ever written is, “There is a Fountain.” The words are powerful! The first verse says:

There is a fountain filled with blood

Drawn from Immanuel's veins

And …

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Great in weakness


Posted

One of the greatest hymns ever written is, “There is a Fountain.” The words are powerful! The first verse says:

There is a fountain filled with blood

Drawn from Immanuel's veins

And sinners plunged beneath that flood

Lose all their guilty stains.

The hymn was written by William Cowper and first published in 1772. It has been sung by millions in these ensuing years and is still sung in worship today.

Many things about Cowper’s life were sad. His mother died in childbirth when William was five years old. He was tormented in his early school years by older boys. His frailties became even more apparent as the years passed.

He was emotionally tormented and was committed to mental institutions twice in his life. He made several suicide attempts. But through all these trials he continued to write the blessed poetry of his Savior.

The wonderful thing is that his poems and hymns still live today, to bless multitudes of people.

He was a friend and colleague of John Newton, the former slave ship captain, who wrote the beautiful hymn, “Amazing Grace.” Newton and Cowper collaborated on many hymns and jointly published them. Even so, Cowper’s emotional struggles and fears continued to plague him.

No matter how strong the emotional, spiritual, mental attacks against him were, he continued to contribute great poetry to the annals of faith by his talented – even inspired – writing.

God used the life of this man, despite his mental depression and spiritual doubts, to pen words that have been an inspiration to the church for 200 years. The Holy Spirit has used these words to encourage many saints and to call sinners to find their peace with God. This is peace that can only be found in that “fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel’s veins.”

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood

Shall never lose its pow’r,

Till all the ransomed church of God

Are safe, to sin no more.

www.firstagcc.org

Write the Pastor at PastorBill@firstagcc.org