GOD MOVES IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY – EMHB 503
Author: William Cowper (1731-1800)
Tune: Dundee (1615) or London New (1635)
Introduction:
William Cowper (1731-1800) produced some of the finest religious verses in English Language despite a life spent in acute mental misfortune.
Cowper came from a distinguished literary and ecclesiastical family. His father was a Chaplain to King George II and his mother was a descendant of John Donne, the metaphysical poet and dean of St. Paul.
Cowper went to Westminster School where he showed considerable promise as a versifier in both Latin and English and then read for the Bar. However from age 21 he began to be affected by severe bouts of Melancholia this continued until he was committed to a lunatic asylum in the early 1760s and was never again capable of uninterrupted work.
In 1767 at the invitation of John Newton he went to him in Olney Buckinghamshire where he was looked after by a Clergyman’s widow - Mrs. Unwin. Together Cowper and Newton wrote Hymns to be sung at weekly prayer meetings held in Olney Church. They also collaborated on a Hymn Book which was published in 1779 with 67 entries by Cowper and 280 by Newton.
“God moves in a mysterious way” was written by Cowper in the early 1770s when he was in an almost permanent state of depression alleviated by occasional periods of calm. Cowper introduced Jesus’ words to Simon Peter in John 13 : 7 in this Hymn – “What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter”. There is a story that he wrote this Hymn after being saved from a suicide attempt.
This Hymn is a Hymn of hope and thousands of Christians have taken it so and it has given them a lot of encouragement.
The 3rd verse – “Ye fearful saints fresh courage take” was said to have roused the Spirit of hundreds of Lancashire Mill workers in 1840s when they were told that the depression in their trade was going to lead to the closure of the works and of course an inevitable loss of jobs.
The last verse has a strong message of assurance for those who are perplexed as we all are at times by the seeming irrationality and arbitrariness of God’s ways. The common tune is from the Scottish Psalter.
EMHB 503
1. God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
2. Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.
3. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
4. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace,
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
5. His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour,
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
6. Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His work in vain,
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
Adesegun Akitoye
Author: William Cowper (1731-1800)
Tune: Dundee (1615) or London New (1635)
Introduction:
William Cowper (1731-1800) produced some of the finest religious verses in English Language despite a life spent in acute mental misfortune.
Cowper came from a distinguished literary and ecclesiastical family. His father was a Chaplain to King George II and his mother was a descendant of John Donne, the metaphysical poet and dean of St. Paul.
Cowper went to Westminster School where he showed considerable promise as a versifier in both Latin and English and then read for the Bar. However from age 21 he began to be affected by severe bouts of Melancholia this continued until he was committed to a lunatic asylum in the early 1760s and was never again capable of uninterrupted work.
In 1767 at the invitation of John Newton he went to him in Olney Buckinghamshire where he was looked after by a Clergyman’s widow - Mrs. Unwin. Together Cowper and Newton wrote Hymns to be sung at weekly prayer meetings held in Olney Church. They also collaborated on a Hymn Book which was published in 1779 with 67 entries by Cowper and 280 by Newton.
“God moves in a mysterious way” was written by Cowper in the early 1770s when he was in an almost permanent state of depression alleviated by occasional periods of calm. Cowper introduced Jesus’ words to Simon Peter in John 13 : 7 in this Hymn – “What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter”. There is a story that he wrote this Hymn after being saved from a suicide attempt.
This Hymn is a Hymn of hope and thousands of Christians have taken it so and it has given them a lot of encouragement.
The 3rd verse – “Ye fearful saints fresh courage take” was said to have roused the Spirit of hundreds of Lancashire Mill workers in 1840s when they were told that the depression in their trade was going to lead to the closure of the works and of course an inevitable loss of jobs.
The last verse has a strong message of assurance for those who are perplexed as we all are at times by the seeming irrationality and arbitrariness of God’s ways. The common tune is from the Scottish Psalter.
EMHB 503
1. God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
2. Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.
3. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
4. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace,
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
5. His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour,
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
6. Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His work in vain,
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
Adesegun Akitoye
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