Sin enslaved me many years

Sin enslaved me many years

Author: William Cowper
Published in 19 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Sin enslaved me many years,
And led me bound and blind,
'Till at length a thousand fears
Came swarming o'er my mind;
Where I said in deep distress
Will these sinful pleasures end?
How shall I secure my peace,
And make the Lord my friend?

2 Friends and minsters said much,
The gospel to enforce;
But my blindness still was such,
I chose a legal course;
Much I fasted, watched, and strove,
Scarce would show my face abroad,
Feared almost, to speak or move,
A stranger still to God.

3 Thus afraid to trust his grace,
Long time did I rebel;
'Till despairing of my case,
Down at his feet I fell;
Then my stubborn heart he broke,
And subdued me to his sway
By a simple word he spoke,
"Thy sins are done away."

Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians, 1803

Author: William Cowper

William Cowper (pronounced "Cooper"; b. Berkampstead, Hertfordshire, England, 1731; d. East Dereham, Norfolk, England, 1800) is regarded as one of the best early Romantic poets. To biographers he is also known as "mad Cowper." His literary talents produced some of the finest English hymn texts, but his chronic depression accounts for the somber tone of many of those texts. Educated to become an attorney, Cowper was called to the bar in 1754 but never practiced law. In 1763 he had the opportunity to become a clerk for the House of Lords, but the dread of the required public examination triggered his tendency to depression, and he attempted suicide. His subsequent hospitalization and friendship with Morley and Mary Unwin provided emotional st… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Sin enslaved me many years
Author: William Cowper
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 19 of 19)

A Selection of Hymns #d247

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A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors. #A34

Family Hymns #d211

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Hymn and Tune Book for Use in Old School or Primitive Baptist Churches #201

Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians. 9th ed. #d159

Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Use of Christians #d127

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Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians #145a

Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Use of Christians. 8th ed. #d155

Hymns and Spiritual Songs, for the Use of Christians #d91

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Hymns for Social Worship #149

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Hymns of the Church Militant #602

Hymns of Zion #d179

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Select Hymns, The Third Part of Christian Psalmody. 3rd ed. #aa40

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Select Hymns #40

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The Baptist Hymn Book #550

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The New England Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #35

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The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. #D40

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