Cowper is viewed by some as one of the finest of all English
writers. It was during his time in an insane asylum that he read from the
Scriptures in Romans 3:25 that Jesus Christ is “set forth to be a propitiation
through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of
sins that are a past. Through the forbearance of God.” His life was still to hold many dark days of
intense depression, but at least he now had a spiritual foundation.
Through this reading Cowper soon developed a personal
relationship with Christ and a sense of forgiveness of sin. This was in 1764,
when he was 33 years old.
William Cowper was born in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire,
England, in 1731. His father was a rector of an Anglican church, and his aunt
an English poet. In November 1737, less than three weeks before William’s sixth
birthday, his mother died giving birth to his brother John. Seven children were
born to John and his wife, but only William and his brother lived past infancy.
Friends recommended an asylum run by Dr. Nathaniel Cotton, a
lover of poetry and a committed Christian. Under Dr. Cotton’s care, William
slowly recovered. Through his reading of the Bible, Cowper soon developed a
personal relationship with Christ and a sense of forgiveness of sin. This was
in 1764, when he was 33 years old. It was during this time that Cowper wrote “There
is a Fountain Filled With Blood?”
He was treated at St. Alban’s Hospital and took up residence
with the Rev. Morley Unwin in Huntingdon. During this time, his depression
slowly lifted.
Cowper was invited to move to Olney, England, where John Newton pastored the
parish Anglican Church. It was here for nearly two decades that Newton and
Cowper had a close personal friendship. In 1799 their combined talents produced
the famous Olney Hymns hymnal, one of the most important single contributions
made to the field of evangelical hymnody. In this ambitious collection of 349
hymns, sixty-seven were written by Cowper with the remainder by Newton.
“There is a Fountain” was originally titled “Peace for the
Fountain Opened.” The hymn, with its vivid imagery, is based on the Old
Testament text, Zechariah 131: “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to
the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and
uncleanness.”
Studylight.org, Clarke’s Commentary: God has glorified His grace by giving us redemption by the blood of His Son, and this redemption consists in forgiving and delivering us from our sins; so then Christ's blood was the redemption price paid down for our salvation: and this was according to the riches of His grace; as His grace is rich or abundant in benevolence, so it was manifested in beneficence to mankind, in their redemption by the sacrifice of Christ, the measure of redeeming grace being the measure of God’s own eternal goodness.
Bibleref.com: This verse transitions to payment Jesus made for us “through his blood.” Paul is referring to Christ’s death on the cross as the sufficient payment for the sins of all who believe. What did this redemption cover? It paid to release us from the eternal penalty and the earthly power of our own sins. This freedom was not “free,” since it is paid for by Christ’s death; it cost Him everything. As a result, for the believer, the ultimate price has already been paid. This is grace: the ability to become a child of God, because God provided a free way to know Him by faith.
Godsbless.ing: “Hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience” poignantly captures the transformative power of Jesus’ sacrifice in purifying and forgiving our sins. This imagery of cleansing and renewal through Christ’s atoning blood echoes the profound truth articulated in 1 John 1:7, where we are reminded that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin, offering us redemption and freedom from guilt.
Bibleref.com: Under the new covenant, Christians can truly
experience a release of guilt. And, in order to live the life to which we are
called, we should set aside feelings of guilt, since all of our sins are truly
forgiven.
Godsbless.ing: This powerful verse brings to light the transformative power of redemption and forgiveness. Despite being a criminal, the man on the cross next to Jesus recognizes his wrongdoing and humbly asks to be remembered in Jesus’s kingdom. This moment captures the essence of grace and mercy, showcasing how even in our darkest moments, we can seek forgiveness and be embraced by God’s love . . . Reflecting on this verse prompts us to ponder our own actions and seek repentance for our wrongdoings. It reminds us that no matter our past mistakes, it is never too late to turn to God and seek his forgiveness.
Bibleref.com: Our Father purchased us with the blood of Christ. The value God place on our lives was equal to that of the very life of His "only begotten Son." Peter describes Christ as a lamb free from blemish or defect . . . As the sinless, perfectly righteous Son of God, the life of Jesus—His blood—was of such great value that He became the final offering required under that Old Covenant system. No more animal sacrifices are needed to temporarily cover human sin. Instead, the Father paid the ultimate price to redeem us, giving limitless value to lives that would otherwise have been futile and empty.
Biblehub.com, Matthew Poole’s Commentary: in Psalm 16:9, it is my glory, as the tongue is frequently called; communicating our thoughts or apprehensions by speech, being the excellency of a reasonable creature.
Scripturesavvy.com: “My tongue rejoices,” emphasizing that
the overflow of joy must be shared. Our expressions can reflect the happiness
we feel, allowing others to witness the beauty of faith and relationship with
God. It’s in these expressions – whether through singing, sharing testimonies,
or simply being present – that we build community and invite others to share in
this joy. Through every praise we lift, we create ripples that can influence
and inspire those around us.
Cowper’s constant mental breakdowns produced a lisp and
stutter he lived with the rest of his life which make the closing words of this
hymn all the more precious: “When this poor lisping, stamm’ring tongue, Lies
silent in the grave, Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy pow’r to
save!”
By His Grace . . .
