William Cowper

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 7
 
In the Memoirs of William Cowper, the poet writes of his experience in coming to Christ through Rom. 3:25:
"The happy period which was to afford me a clear opening of the free mercy of God in Christ Jesus was now arrived.
"I flung myself into a chair near the window; and seeing a Bible there, ventured once more to apply to it for comfort and instruction. The first verse I saw was the 25th of the 3rd of Romans.
‘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.'
"Immediately I received strength to believe it, and the full beams of the Sun of Righteousness shone upon me.
"I saw the sufficiency of the atonement He had made, my pardon sealed in His blood, and all the fullness and completeness of His justification.
"In an instant I believed and received the peace of the Gospel. Unless the Almighty arm had been under me, I think I should have died with gratitude and joy.
"My eyes filled with tears, transports choked my utterance. I could only look up to Heaven in silent fear, overwhelmed with love and wonder. But the work of the Holy Spirit is described in His own words: it is
‘Joy unspeakable and full of glory.' "
There is a stream of precious blood
Which flowed from Jesus' veins;
And sinners washed in that blest flood
Lose all their guilty stains.
E'er since, by faith, we saw the stream
Thy wounds supplied for sin.
Redeeming love has been our theme,
Our joy, and peace have been.
William Cowper