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Mysterious Ways

William Cowper was born in November 1731, at Berkhamsted, England. Seven children were born in his family, but only William and his brother John grew to maturity. William’s mother passed away when he was only six. Her death would grieve William for the rest of his days.

Between the ages of six and eight, William attended boarding school. He hated it and that primarily because he was the object of cruel bullying. William, described it thus:

“My chief affliction consisted in my being singled out from all the other boys, by a lad about fifteen years of age, as a proper object upon which he might let loose the cruelty of his temper…. He had, by his savage treatment of me, impressed such a dread of his figure upon my mind, that I well remember being afraid to lift up my eyes upon him, higher than his knees; and that I knew him by his shoe-buckles.”

In 1756, William was in love with Theodora, but for whatever reasons, he was forbidden by her family to marry her. Neither William nor Theodora would ever marry. William described the enduring pain:

“But now, sole partner in my Delia’s heart,
Yet doomed far off in exile to complain,
Eternal absence cannot ease my smart,
And hope subsists but to prolong my pain.”

This experience led to his first bout with depression, an illness that would trouble him for the rest of his life and lead him to attempt suicide on numerous occasions. So badly did he suffer that by December of 1763, he was committed to St. Albans Insane Asylum. It was while at St. Albans that he received the help he so much needed, and was converted to Christianity. He spoke of the love of God:

“Immediately I received the strength to believe it, and the full beams of the Son of Righteousness shone upon me. I saw the sufficiency of the atonement He had made, my pardon sealed in His blood, and all the fullness and completeness of His justification. In a moment I believed and received the gospel … Unless the Almighty arm had been under me, I think I should have died with gratitude and joy. My eyes filled with tears, and my voice choked with transport; I could only look up to heaven in silent fear, overwhelmed with love and wonder.”

William Cowper’s religious convictions would prove both a comfort and a curse in the years ahead.

In 1767, William met John Newton, the bold and charismatic pastor at Olney, and the two became friends. Newton recognized William’s bent to melancholy and drew him into the ministry to assist him.

Recognizing William’s exceptional skill as a poet, he suggested they collaborate on a new book of hymns. Beginning in 1769, the two began to write, and then it happened again — in 1773 William fell into a deep depression, right after he had completed a poem that would become the most beloved and remembered hymn that he ever composed. He attempted, as he had so many times before, to take his life, this time by drowning in the river Ouse, and as it happened every other time, he failed in the attempt. William had come to believe that he was predestined to hell and that he was consigned to an eternity lower than Judas.

William’s life is a mystery, an enigma. Out of his tortured mind and soul rose some of the most inspired poetry of his time. As has been written of him, “A life of more pathetic charm, and of deeper gloom, it would be hard to find.” He was England’s most popular poet of the time.

Somehow against all mortal odds, the Almighty preserved this man’s life to old age and blessed us all. William Cowper’s life and contribution is the living example of the greatest hymn he ever wrote — the first line of which has become proverbial.

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs
And works his sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding ev’ry hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

 

Sources:

https://www.wholesomewords.org/biography/bcowper3.html

https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/insanity-and-spiritual-songs-in-the-soul-of-a-saint

https://hymnary.org/person/Cowper_W

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Cowper