William Cowper suffered from a...
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William Cowper suffered from a terrible inferiority complex. His life spanned almost seventy years of the eighteenth century. As a young English boy he battled fits of depression, even contemplating and attempting suicide on several occasions. Shy and timid as he was, he never had the courage to take his own life.
He spent almost two years in a mental institution, but while he was there a Christian physician introduced him to the Christian faith. Although Cowper always would remain a basically diffident man, now he began to explore ways of expressing his new Christian experience. He seemed to have the gift of poetry, and he began to write secular poems and Christian hymns.
A turning point in Cowper's life happened when he moved to Olney and came in close contact with John Newton, the Anglican rector of the village church and author of the exceedingly popular hymn, "Amazing Grace." Newton helped Cowper with his bouts of depression by encouraging him to enjoy gardening, bird-
watching, and carpentry, and most importantly of all, by asking him to join him in the task of writing hymns. The so-called "Olney Hymns" -- 354 in all -- provided a rich legacy for the Christian church. Among Cowper's hymns still sung today are "O For A Closer Walk With God" and "God Moves In A Mysterious Way."
The wise and strong of the world strut their stuff, but often God uses the supposedly weak of the world to do his work. -- Hasler
He spent almost two years in a mental institution, but while he was there a Christian physician introduced him to the Christian faith. Although Cowper always would remain a basically diffident man, now he began to explore ways of expressing his new Christian experience. He seemed to have the gift of poetry, and he began to write secular poems and Christian hymns.
A turning point in Cowper's life happened when he moved to Olney and came in close contact with John Newton, the Anglican rector of the village church and author of the exceedingly popular hymn, "Amazing Grace." Newton helped Cowper with his bouts of depression by encouraging him to enjoy gardening, bird-
watching, and carpentry, and most importantly of all, by asking him to join him in the task of writing hymns. The so-called "Olney Hymns" -- 354 in all -- provided a rich legacy for the Christian church. Among Cowper's hymns still sung today are "O For A Closer Walk With God" and "God Moves In A Mysterious Way."
The wise and strong of the world strut their stuff, but often God uses the supposedly weak of the world to do his work. -- Hasler
