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THE STORY BEHIND THIS SONG
This hymn, written in 1771, was originally titled "Peace for the Fountain
Opened." The tune "Cleansing Fountain" is called "Western Melody" in most 19th
century hymnals. It is typical of the melodies used in camp meetings of that era
and following.
William Cowper was an English Poet of the 18th century, who was used
mightily by God to reach a great many souls for Christ.
He was a very frail and often melancholy man.
Cowper lost his mother at age six, and was later sent away to Westminister
School where he was teased and tormented by the other students. His father forced
him to attend law school. Upon completion, he was offered a position as clerk of
the journals for the House of Lords, but the pressure of appearing before the bar
of the House of Lords for examination was too much for him, and he was
institutionalized for his breakdown for 18 months. It was during this time that he
read the Scripture passage in Romans 3:25, "Whom God hath set forth to be a
propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the
remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;" As a result of reading his Bible,
he developed a personal relationship with Christ at age 33, and a sense of forgiveness.
He reflected on a complete dependency, for time and eternity, upon the atoning work of Christ at Calvary.
This song was based on Zechariah 13:1 and Revelation 7:14.
He wrote 67 of the 349 hymns in the "Olney Hymns" hymnal, compiled between 1767-1779.
"Only eternity will reveal the hosts who, through the singing of this hymn, have been made
aware of the efficacy of Christ's complete atonement."
He fought with melencholia for years, and on his death bed, his face lit up and his last words were
"I am not shut out of heaven after all".
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