William Cowper (1731-1800) was an English poet and hymnist, and the celebrated friend and companion of John Newton. Together the two collaborated on producing Olney Hymns for the congregants of Newton's parish, which contains Newton's famous hymn Amazing Grace.
In between bouts of severe depression, Cowper contributed 68 hymns to the collection, including such classics as "There is a fountain filled with blood" and "Sometimes a light surprises / The Christian while he sings".
Cowper's final hymn gives a taste of the whole:
"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 every 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."
![The Miscellaneous Works of William Cowper ... With a life and notes, by John S. Nemes. [With portraits.]](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Publication/v4/7e/4d/1a/7e4d1a6b-cd47-30e3-454e-c8957d1feebb/9780699485838_cover.jpg/270x0w.webp)
![Poems. [With a portrait.]](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Publication/v4/5c/06/da/5c06da68-52c1-6f4a-68c1-a9da7aec6160/9780699513951_cover.jpg/270x0w.webp)
![Poems ... A new edition. [With plates after Fuseli.] Vol. I.](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Publication/v4/86/d6/93/86d69346-50f9-22ce-e7ac-dfa2ab8318ee/9780699492720_cover.jpg/270x0w.webp)
![Poems. [With plates after W. M. Craig, and a portrait.] Vol. I](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Publication/v4/1b/a6/91/1ba691f8-a4e7-a176-b944-441532785362/9780699486347_cover.jpg/270x0w.webp)
![The Miscellaneous Works of William Cowper ... With a life and notes, by John S. Nemes. [With portraits.]VOL.I](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Publication/v4/cb/7d/8a/cb7d8ac4-f92d-2149-fc7b-0339d40a0a92/9780699488532_cover.jpg/270x0w.webp)
![Poems. [With plates after W. M. Craig, and a portrait.] VOL. I](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Publication/v4/66/8c/b2/668cb2f7-49b4-f54b-7ebd-b97ee8bb95b3/9780699481632_cover.jpg/270x0w.webp)
![Poems. [With plates after W. M. Craig, and a portrait.]. Vol. II](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Publication/v4/b0/89/cd/b089cdf2-e6e9-5514-9bdb-14fef5211829/9780699492317_cover.jpg/270x0w.webp)
![Milan Commission. The diverting history of Baron Ompteda, coadjutor of great folks, and rival of Bill Soames. Shewing how he went a peeping and picking locks, but did not get safe home again. By John Gilpin. [In verse. A parody of Cowper's poem.]](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Publication/cb/71/b1/mzi.kkzyyjhg.jpg/270x0w.webp)
![The Rural Walks of Cowper; displayed in a series of views near Olney, Bucks: representing the scenery exemplified in his poems; with descriptive sketches, and a memoir of the poet's life [by J. S. S.]](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Publication/b1/85/22/mzi.krkmmxzv.jpg/270x0w.webp)
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