William+Cowper

=William Cowper (November 26, 1731-April 25, 1800)= Although after being institutionalised for insanity in the period 1763-65, Cowper found refuge in a fervent [|evangelical] [|Christianity], the inspiration behind his much-loved hymns, he often experienced [|doubt] and after a dream in 1773 believed that he was doomed to [|eternal damnation]. His religious sentiment and association with [|John Newton] (who wrote the hymn " [|Amazing Grace] ") led to much of the poetry for which he is best remembered. His poem "Light Shining out of Darkness" gave the English language the [|idiom] "God moves in a mysterious way / His wonders to perform."
 * [[image:William Cowper.jpg width="183" height="227"]] || **William Cowper** was an English [|poet] and [|hymnodist] . One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. In many ways, he was one of the forerunners of [|Romantic poetry] . [|Samuel Taylor Coleridge] called him "the best modern poet", whilst [|William Wordsworth] particularly admired his poem //Yardley-Oak//. He was a nephew of the poet [|Judith Madan].

Cowper is represented with fifteen hymns in [|The Church Hymn book 1872] :
 * 127 //Jesus! where'er thy people meet//
 * 357 //The Spirit breathes upon the word//
 * 450 //There is a fountain, filled with blood//
 * 790 //Hark! my soul! it is the Lord//
 * 856 //To Jesus, the Crown of my hope//
 * 871 //Far from the world, O Lord! I flee//
 * 885 //My Lord! how full of sweet content// (1782 translation)
 * 932 //What various hindrances we meet//
 * 945 //Oh! for a closer walk with God//
 * 965 //When darkness long has veiled my mindn//
 * 1002 '//Tis my happiness below//
 * 1009 //O Lord! in sorrow I resign// (1782 translation)
 * 1029 //O Lord! my best desire fulfill//
 * 1043 //There is a safe and secret place//
 * 1060 //God of my life! to thee I call//

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