Up next for you I have a powerful, beautiful poem by William Cowper. I recently learned his name is pronounced “Cooper.” He had a troubled life and spent a long time in a British asylum, which cannot have been pleasant. However, he was a friend of John Newton, the slaver-turned-preacher, and himself was one of the most brilliant hymnwriters of all time.
Read the whole thing (unless you’re just clicking through on your feed reader) and savor the stanzas.
Dear Lord! accept a sinful heart,
Which of itself complains,
And mourns, with much and frequent smart,
The evil it contains.There fiery seeds of anger lurk,
Which often hurt my frame;
And wait but for the tempter’s work,
To fan them to a flame.Legality holds out a bribe
To purchase life from thee;
And discontent would fain prescribe
How thou shalt deal with me.While unbelief withstands thy grace,
And puts the mercy by;
Presumption, with a brow of brass,
Says, “Give me, or I die.”How eager are my thoughts to roam
In quest of what they love!
But, ah! when duty calls them home,
How heavily they move!Oh, cleanse me in a Saviour’s blood,
Transform me by thy pow’r,
And make me thy belov’d abode,
And let me rove no more.
Look how damning it is of legalism! “Legality holds out a BRIBE.” That’s what our good works are to God without the blood of Christ. It would be a criminal headed to death row trying to buy off the judge for a few dollars.
Its interesting who is dwelling where in the last two lines. In the penultimate line he asks God to dwell in him. In the final line he asks to dwell in God. I really find those two working together–in the same thought really–a beautiful picture of a right relationship with Christ.
yay Chet! This is cool! miss you friend
Chet, the line “how eager are my thoughts to roam” reminds me of “prone to wander, Lord I feel it.” Just a connection. I’m glad hymnwriters are so honest, or I would feel bad about myself and try to engage in self-reformation