William Cowper
English poet and hymnodist (1731–1800)
1731–1800, born in Berkhamsted
- Born
- 26 November 1731
- Birthplace
- Berkhamsted
- Died
- 25 April 1800
From their work
But oars alone can ne'er prevail To reach the distant coast; The breath of Heaven must swell the sail, Or all the toil is lost.
Of all the gifts Thine hand bestows,Thou Giver of all good!Not heaven itself a richer knowsThan my Redeemer's blood.Faith too, the blood-receiving grace,From the same hand we gain;Else, sweetly as it suits our case,That gift had been in vain.Till Thou Thy teaching power apply,Our hearts refuse to see,And weak, as a distemper'd eye,Shut out the view of Thee.Blind to the merits of Thy Son,What misery we endure!Yet fly that Hand from which aloneWe could expect a cure.We praise Thee, and would praise Thee more,To Thee our all we owe:The precious Saviour, and the powerThat makes Him precious too.
Quotes from Wikiquote (CC BY-SA 4.0). Texts of this author are in the public domain in the UK.