Have you ever heard of Horatius Bonar?
Have you ever heard of Horatius Bonar? He was a pastor in the early 1800s who wrote 600 hymns and poems. I tried to find a relatable comparison in my life. I figure that in 13 years of marriage, I’ve probably written close to 600 grocery lists. Many of those end up crushed into tiny, wrinkled fragments in the bottom of my purse. And absolutely none are being sung en masse on Sunday mornings—though my family is grateful for our well-stocked fridge and freezer!
Photo by Geoff Chang on Unsplash
Horatius reminded me of another hymn writer, William Cowper. Cowper’s pastor was none other than John Newton. My assumption was that Newton’s post-conversion demeanour would be that of a sombre, old man. His glum expression paying penance for his horrendous sins. Foolish me to forget that he who is forgiven much, loves much! Pastor Newton experienced amazing grace to the depth of his soul, transforming the old, soiled creature to a new, clean creation. He was a joyous, well-loved pastor who cared deeply for his congregation.
William Cowper was quite the opposite of his pastor. Dealing with terrible loss and abuse from childhood, Cowper struggled deeply with depression, despair, and suicidal thoughts. John Newton was a faithful and caring presence, speaking truth and comfort to his dear friend. Together, they compiled a hymnal called Olney Hymns, which contains one of my favorite hymns, “God Moves in a Mysterious Way.” It’s a masterful work of poetic theology by William Cowper.
The lines are penned from a heart that had encountered the mingling of grief and grace. I suspect hymns and their writers capture me for the same reason that the psalmist wrote Psalm 95. It begins, “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.” Then the psalmist provides some reasons for that exuberant praise. God is great (v. 3). God is creator; he is sustainer (vv. 4–5); our maker and keeper (vv. 6–7).
Then comes the core reason that I appreciate Sunday morning worship and my continuous stream of Spotify worship playlists: “…Today, if only you would hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…” (vv. 7–8). The writer of Hebrews quotes this psalm as a reminder, “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (3:12–13).
Why do I appreciate William Cowper’s song? Because I need to remember to “judge not the Lord by feeble sense but trust him for his grace.” I daily need to remind myself that “in his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him” (Psalm 95:4). I constantly need to be renewing my mind, repeating the Lord’s goodness and his promises, because the cares of this world can easily distract my affections. Psalm 96:2, “Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.” Isn’t that a wonderful adventure? Instead of looking for what we will eat, wear, and drink … let’s look throughout the day for his blessings and praise him for his salvation.
