Heal Us, Emmanuel, Hear Our Prayer

Author: William Cowper

Cowper, William, the poet. The leading events in the life of Cowper are: born in his father's rectory, Berkhampstead, Nov. 26, 1731; educated at Westminster; called to the Bar, 1754; madness, 1763; residence at Huntingdon, 1765; removal to Olney, 1768; to Weston, 1786; to East Dereham, 1795; death there, April 25, 1800. The simple life of Cowper, marked chiefly by its innocent recreations and tender friendships, was in reality a tragedy. His mother, whom he commemorated in the exquisite "Lines on her picture," a vivid delineation of his childhood, written in his 60th year, died when he was six years old. At his first school he was profoundly wretched, but happier at Westminster; excelling at cricket and football, and numbering Warren Hasti… Go to person page >

Heal us, Emmanuel, here we are. W. Cowper. [Lent.] First published in the Olney Hymns, 1779, Book i., No. 14, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed, "Jehovah Rophi, — I am the Lord that healeth thee." It is often found in the older collections in its original form, and it still retains its place in a few modern hymnals. Taken in its original, and the following altered forms of the text, its use is somewhat extensive:— 1. Heal us, Emmanuel! hear our prayer. This was given in the Salisbury Hymn Book, 1857, and was repeated in the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Church Hymns, 1871, and others. 2. Heal us, Emmanuel, here we stand. In the American Tract Society's Songs of Zion, 1864, &c. 3. Heal us, Immanuel, we are here. In the New Congregational Hymn Book 1859, and others. 4. Divine Physician of the Soul. In Kennedy, 1863. 5. Healer Divine, 0 hear our prayer. In a few American hymnals, including the Episcopal Hymns for Church & Home. Philadelphia, 1860. The references in this hymn to the father of the deaf and dumb child (St. Mark ix. 24), and to the woman healed of the issue of blood (St. Mark v. 34), render it most appropriate for use when those portions of Holy Scriptures are read in public worship, e.g. March 2, and 9. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)