THERE IS A FOUNTAIN a song written by William Cowper, 1731-1800

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13

The following is from a book by Kenneth W. Osbeck “Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymm Stories for Daily Devotions.”

William Cowper is viewed by some as one of the finest of all English writers. But Cowper’s emotional life was one of great turmoil. At an early age he was directed by his father to study law. Upon completion of his studies, however, was placed in an insane asylum for 18 months. During this detention, he one day read from the Scriptures the passage in Romans 3:25 that Jesus Christ is “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.” Through his reading of the Bible, Cowper soon developed a personal relationship with Christ and a sense of forgiveness of sin. This was in 1764, when he was 33 years old.

Three years later, Cowper was invited to move to Olney, England, where John Newton pastored the parish Anglican Church. It was here for nearly two decades that Newton and Cowper had a close personal friendship. In 1799 their combined talents produced the famous Olney Hymns hymnal, one of the most important single contributions made to the field of evangelical hymnody. In this ambitious collection of 349 hymns, sixty-seven were written by Cowper with the remainder by Newton.

“There Is a Fountain” was originally titled “Peace for the Fountain Opened.” The hymn, with its vivid imagery, is based on the Old Testament text, Zechariah 13:1-“In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and uncleanness.”

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.

Lyrics

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins, and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day, and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its pow’r, till all the
ransomed Church of God be saved to sin no more.

E’er since by faith I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply, redeeming love has been my theme and shall be till I die.

When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave, then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save.

Amazing Grace: 366 Hymn Stories for Personal Devotions: by Kenneth W. Osbeck. (c) 1990 by Kregel Publications, a division of Krege, Inc.

In 2015 my Worship Pastor, Mark Miller and I recorded a 3 track hymn album at our church. This rendition of There is a Fountain was musically arranged by Mark, he played keys and bass guitar and had Sean Moore play electric guitar. I simply sang these beautiful words in a new way.

What a beautiful thing it is that we can sing the same words of a song hundreds of years later and still feel the weight of those lyrics, still hear the heart behind them, and most importantly still be brought to a place to see our Savior and the incredible sacrifice He gave on that beautiful, terrible cross.

“Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.” John 19:34

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” Ephesians 1:7

“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” Colossians 1:19-20

“He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. ¹³ For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” Hebrews 9:12-14