There is a fountain filled with blood

William Cowper is the a highly regarded English poet among the ranks of Pope and Shelley in classic literature. Some of his best known works include a translation of “Homer” and poems such as “The Task” and his most famous literary poem, “John Gilpin. ”

Cowper was born in Great Berkhamstead, England, on November 15, 1731. His father was an English clergyman while his mother was from a family of royalty. William was of a frail constitution and emotionally sensitive. At age six, his mother died which contributed to his instability. Towards the end of his life he remarked that there had never been a day when he had not mourned his mother’s death.

Cowper studied law as it had been his father’s wish for him to do so. After he finished, the idea of showing up to take his final examination frightened him so much that it caused him to have a mental breakdown and attempted suicide. He was afterwards placed for a period of eighteen months in an insane asylum. It was during time that as he was reading the Bible, he came across 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 past, through the forbearance of God. ” Though the reading of the Scriptures, William realized his need for a Savior and the need for forgiveness of sins. In 1764, at the age of thirty-three, William Cowper dedicated his life to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

After his conversion and mental recovery, Cowper befriended the family of Reverend Morley Unwin, who became a great great help to him. Mrs. Unwin remained Cowper’s friend and caregiver until she passed away.

After Reverend Unwin died in 1767, John Newton, the converted ship captain (wrote Amazing Grace), persuaded Mrs. Unwin, her family and William Cowper to move to Olney, England, where Newton pastored the parish Anglican Church. For nearly two decades Newton and Cowper retained a close friendship, and in 1799 their combined talents produced the “Olney Hymns” hymnal, one of the greatest contributions made to evangelical hymnody. Out of the 349 hymns, sixty-seven were written by Cowper and the rest by Newton.

“There Is a Fountain” was originally called “Peace for the Fountain Opened, ” is one of Cowper’s best loved hymns. The text with its vivid imagery is based on the Old Testament verse Zechariah 13:1, “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and uncleanness. ” The tune for this text is borrowed from an American folk melody, probably one of the typical tunes used in camp meetings of the early nineteenth century.

Throughout his life Cowper continued to have bouts of depression and melancholia followed by attempted suicide. Ironically, some of his greatest hymns were penned during these times. He was never able to shake off the fear that God would abandon him. On his death bed, however, it is said that his face lit up as he uttered these words, “I am not shut out of heaven after all. ” William never married but but God endowed him with such extraordinary literary talents that he continues to enrich the lives of Christians everywhere for over 200 years.

Great song like Rivers of Living Waters started flowing out of my belly just now. God has spoken to me in this song richly and I am blessed. Glory be God. Amen.

God has indeed been gracious to me. This song truly witnesses to my heart. Redeeming love has been my theme And shall be till I die.

Amazing song we song it at church today and it just stayed with me, John 3:16 thank you Jesus Hallelujah!!!

I love so much this song...

I appreciate all the recent comments I read. I think the Lord for this and other precious and forever relevant, beautiful hymns. This hymn especially speaks to me in verse 3.

That verse reminds me that God longs to give the same lasting grace, love, forgiveness and redemption I received through Christ to ALL His people. I am but one of His tools to do that.

I was just minding my own business, doing my work, when the Holy Spirit just impressed on me that "minding my own business" signifies separation from God. So much more joyful to mind His business!! And then with great joy, the spirit led me to this song. Oh the quantity of Jesus' blood. Oh the infinite quality. There is enough for every sin, were there 3 trillion people on this earth! I was so thoroughly washed, so cleansed, so purified, ready for God's business! What a song. What a blood. What a redemption. You can't ever exhaust it. I think the most powerful part of the experience to me was to realize this is a CONTINUOUSLY FLOWING fountain, constantly forgiving, constantly cleansing, constantly reconciling.

I can never have enough of this song. I love verse 4 the most.

This song is good

Shortly after waking up, I was thinking of songs we once heard during on Easter/Resurrection Sunday. Several songs came to my mind but this one stayed on my mind. I walked to the kitchen and began singing this song and then got on the computer to find the lyrics. As I sang each verse I felt the Spirit of God. Thank God for hymns!