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 >
The Lord will happiness divine. W. Cowper. [Lent.] Published in the Olney Hymns, 1779, Bk. i., No. 64, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines, and entitled "The contrite heart." It is in a large number of hymnals in Great Britain and America, and is specially suited for private use.
RICHMOND (also known as CHESTERFIELD) is a florid tune originally written by Thomas Haweis (PHH 270) and published in his collection Carmina Christo (1792). Samuel Webbe, Jr., adapted and shortened the tune and published it in his Collection of Psalm Tunes (1808). It was reprinted in 1853 in Webbe's…
Display Title: The Lord will happiness divineFirst Line: The Lord will happiness divineTune Title: CAMBRIDGEAuthor: William CowperMeter: C.M.Date: 1991
Display Title: The Lord Will Happiness DivineFirst Line: The Lord will happiness divineTune Title: SOHOAuthor: William CowperMeter: CMSource: Olney Hymns (London: W. Oliver, 1779), number 64