Posts Tagged ‘William Cowper’

God Moves in Mysterious Ways

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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. – William Cowper

The Law Proclaims Destruction Nigh

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For as long as we are pleased with ourselves, and are inflated with the false notion that we are alive, the law is dead to us, because we blunt its point by our hardness; but when it pierces us more sharply, we are driven into new terror. – John Calvin, Commentary Upon the Book of Genesis, 162

My former hopes are fled
My terror now begins
I feel, alas, that I am dead
In trespasses and sins
Ah, whither shall I fly?
I hear the thunder roar
The Law proclaims Destruction nigh,
And Vengeance at the door
Vengeance at the door,
Vengeance at the door

When I review my ways
I dread impending doom
But sure a friendly whisper says
“Flee from the wrath to come.”
I see, or think I see,
A glimmering from afar
A beam of day that shines for me
To save me from despair
Save me from despair,
Save me from despair

Forerunner of the sun
It marks the pilgrim’s way
I’ll gaze upon it while I run
And watch the rising day

Forerunner of the sun
It marks the pilgrim’s way
I’ll gaze upon it while I run,
And watch the rising day
Watch the rising day,
Watch the rising day – Watch The Rising Day, Written by Matthew S. Smith, based in part on a hymn text by William Cowper