By Sandra Gilkerson
THERE IS A FOUNTAIN FILLED WITH BLOOD
Written by William Cowper,
BORN : November 15, 173, Great Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire, England
Died : April 25, 1800, East Derecham, Norfolk, England
Music : a camp song melody
William Cowper, whose father was chaplain to King George II, went through the motions of becoming an attorney, but never practiced law. He co-wrote hymns with John Newton, author of “Amazing Grace.”
William Cowper suffered from deep depression for most of his life. In 1764 he found himself within the walls of an institution for the mentally ill. There, William Cowper found Christ through reading the Bible.
Despite his emotional pain, or perhaps because of it, Cowper produced literature of amazing insight. He is still, renowed in literary circles as one of England’s greatest poets. Today’s hymn, written about 1770, is based on Zechariah 13: 1, “On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David….to cleanse them from sin and impurity.” Cowper grabbed any assurance of God’s forgiveness that he could find. As you can tell from this text, he always felt guilty, unworthy of Christ’s love. He would certainly be surprised that the work of “this poor lisping, stammering tongue” has filled the mouths of millions who claim the blood of Christ as their atonement.
There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains. lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
E’er since by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave;
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Lord, I believe Thou hast prepared, unworthy though I be,
For me a blood bought free reward, a golden harp for me!
“Tis strung and tuned for endless years, and formed by power divine,
To sound in God the Father’s ears no other name but Thine.
Let God use YOU!
Notes from One ear Of Hymns
