“The water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life,” John 4:14

 Recently, I was driving in my car, singing at the top of my voice with the Christian station I was listening to.  A song I hadn’t heard in years came on the radio, “There is a Fountain,” sung by Shane and Shane.   It brought tears to my eyes as a I remembered that song from my childhood.  I have distinct memories of my mother playing that song on the piano with my grandfather, her father, singing as loudly as he could.  He had a beautiful tenor voice that could be heard throughout the house.  Precious memories!  Those of us who were raised in Christian homes have so much to be thankful for!

That old hymn “There is a Fountain” was written in 1772 by William Cowper, a well-known poet from England.  William lost his mother when he was 6 years old and never fully recovered from the loss.  He had many setbacks in his early years, among them bullying, depression and attempted suicide.  Friends recommended a hospital run by a committed Christian and through his care, William slowly recovered.  In the hospital, he found the Lord by reading Romans 3:25, “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood – to be received by faith.  He did this to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished.”  His life was still to hold many dark days of depression, but he now had a spiritual foundation to lean on.  Soon after, he sat under the ministry of the famous evangelical preacher John Newton.  The two became lifelong friends, despite the striking difference in their personalities.  Newton was outgoing, exuberant, sociable and well-balanced.  Cowper was shy, reclusive and an introvert, however they had some things in common, both lost their mothers at 6, both were fluent in Latin and Greek and enjoyed literature.  Most of all, their hearts were tuned for Jesus Christ.  The Lord brought them together to sharpen and help one another and their friendship lasted 27 years.  Throughout all of Cowper’s depression, Newton faithfully stood by his friend.

Turning to writing, Cowper became famous in England for his secular poetry and writings.  He wrote an article, “Pity for Poor Africans,” which appeared in 1788, well before the Civil War in America, that contributed to John Newton and William Wilberforce’s efforts to abolish slavery in the British Empire.

However, his depression was never far away.  At one point, he drifted away from his hope in Christ and viewed himself as a “Castaway,” like a sailor swept overboard into the Atlantic.  In this state, he passed away.  On his deathbed, his face lit up and he exclaimed, “I am not shut out of heaven after all!!”  God moves in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform!!  He calls and uses all kinds of people to do His work!  Don’t ever think you are too young, too old, not educated or too insignificant!   He equips us for whatever task He gives us and works through us to accomplish His purposes!  “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength,” Philippians 4:13. 

In all, William Cowper wrote 15 hymns.  His most loved ones were: “There is a Fountain,” “God Moves in Mysterious Ways,” and “O for a Closer Walk with God.”

Your friend, Jean