William Cowper (1731 - 1800)

William Cowper (pronounced Cooper) (November 15, 1731 - April 25, 1800) was an English poet and hymnodist.
He was born in Great Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, England.

William Cowper was one of the most popular poets of his time. He changed the direction of 18th-century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside.

He suffered from periods of severe depression, which caused him frequently to doubt his fervent evangelical Christianity, the source of his much-loved hymns - going so far once as to express his dismayed surprise at ever having written a particular hymn.

Cowper died in East Dereham, Norfolk.

The poems are by default sorted according to volume, but you can also choose to sort them alphabetically or by page views.

First Line	Comments
(Ezekiel, xlviii.35)	1 Comment
(Genesis, xxii.14)
(Judges, vi.25)
(Proverbs, viii. 22-31)
I was a grovelling creature once,
Lord, who hast suffer'd all for me,
Thy country, Wilberforce, with just disdain,
England, with all thy faults, I love thee still--
Thou know'st my praise of nature most sincere,
"Me too, perchance, in future days,
(Exodus, xv.26)
(Exodus, xvii.15)
(Ezekiel, xxxvi. 25-28)
(Genesis, v.24)
(Hebrews, iv.2)
(Isaiah, ix. 15-20)
(Isaiah, lvii.15)
(Isaiah, xii.1)
(Jeremiah, xxiii.6)
(Jeremiah, xxxi. 18-20)
(John, xxi.16)
(Mark, xi.17)
(Matthew, xiii.3)
(Phillipians, iv.11)
(Revelations, iii. 1-6)
(Zecheriah, xiii.1)
A poet's cat, sedate and grave
Ah! wherefore should my weeping maid suppress
Almighty King! whose wondrous hand
Breathe from the gentle south, O Lord,
Dear Lord! accept a sinful heart,
Delia, the unkindest girl on earth,
Far from the world, O Lord, I flee,
God gives his mercies to be spent;
God moves in a mysterious way	2 Comments
God moves in a mysterious way	1 Comment
God of my life, to Thee I call,
Grace, triumphant in the throne,
Gracious Lord, our children see,
Hark! 'tis the twanging horn! O'er yonder bridge,
Hatred and vengeance, my eternal portion,
Hatred and vengence—my eternal portion	1 Comment
Here lies, whom hound did ne’er pursue,	1 Comment
His master taken from his head,
Holy Lord God! I love Thy truth,
Honor and happiness unite
How bless'd Thy creature is, O God,
I thirst, but not as once I did,
Jesus! where'er Thy people meet,
Lord, my soul with pleasure springs
My former hopes are fled,
My song shall bless the Lord of all,
My soul is sad, and much dismay'd;
No strength of nature can suffice
O God, whose favorable eye,
O Lord, my best desire fulfil,
Obscurest night involv'd the sky,	1 Comment
Of all the gifts Thine hand bestows,
Oh happy shades--to me unblest!
Oh how I love Thy holy Word,
Oh that those lips had language! Life has pass'd
Sin enslaved me many years,
Sin has undone our wretched race;
Sometimes a light surprises
The billows swell, the winds are high,
The Lord receives his highest praise
The new-born child of gospel grace,
The poplars are felled, farewell to the shade	1 Comment
The Saviour hides His face;
The Saviour, what a noble flame
The Spirit breathes upon the word,
The twentieth year is well nigh past
This is the feast of heavenly wine,
Thus heav'nward all things tend. For all were once
To Jesus, the crown of my hope,
To keep the lamp alive,
To tell the Saviour all my wants,
To those who love the Lord I speak;
Too many, Lord, abuse Thy grace
What thousands never knew the road!
What various hindrances we meet
When darkness long has veil'd my mind,
When Hagar found the bottle spent	1 Comment
Winter has a joy for me,
Written when the news arrived.
'Tis morning; and the sun, with ruddy orb
'Tis my happiness below