Bear on, my soul, the bitter cross

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Bear on, my soul, the bitter cross

Author: William Cowper
Published in 7 hymnals

Representative Text

Bear on, my soul! the bitter cross
Of every trial here
Shall lift thee to thy heaven above,
But shall not enter there.

Bear on, my soul! on God rely;
Deliverance will come;
A thousand ways the Father hath
To bring His children home.

And Thou, my heavenly Friend and Guide,
Hast kindly led me on;
Taught me to rest my fainting head
Upon Thy heart alone.

So comforted and so sustained,
With dark events I strove,
And found, when rightly understood,
All, messengers of love.

Source: A Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion (15th ed.) #532

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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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