This is the feast of heavenly wine

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This is the feast of heavenly wine

Author: William Cowper
Published in 51 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 This is the feast of heavenly wine,
And God invites to sup:
The juices of the living vine
Were press'd, to fill the cup.

2 Oh bless the Savior, ye that eat,
With royal dainties fed;
Not heaven affords a costlier treat,
For Jesus is the bread.

3 The vile, the lost, he calls to them,
Ye trembling souls, appear!
The righteous in their own esteem
Have no acceptance here.

4 Approach, ye poor, nor dare refuse
The banquet spread for you;
Dear Savior, this is welcome news,
Then I may venture too.

5 If guilt and sin afford a plea,
And may obtain a place,
Surely the Lord will welcome me,
And I shall see his face.

Source: A Collection of Hymns and Prayers, for Public and Private Worship #222

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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 >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	This is the feast of heavenly wine
Author:	William Cowper
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Notes

This is the feast of heavenly wine. W. Cowper. [Holy Communion.] First published in the Olney Hymns, 1779, Bk. ii., No. 53, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed "Welcome to the Table." Sometimes it begins with stanzas ii., "O bless the Saviour, ye that eat." See also “Bless'd with the presence of their God."

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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