Isun Kan Wa To Kun Feje
William Cowper, 1731-1800
Isun kan wa to kun feje, O yo niha Jesu. Elese mokun ninu re, O bo ninu ebi. Gba mo figbagbo risun naa, Ti n san fun ogbe Re, Irapada dorin fun mi Ti n o ma ko titi. Ninu orin to dun ju lo, Lemi o korin Re: 'Gba t'akololo ahon yii Ba dake niboji. Mo gbagbo p'O pese fun mi (Bi mo tile saiye) Ebun ofe ta feje ra, Ati duru wura. Duru ta towo'Olorun se, Ti ko ni baje lai: T'a o ma fi yin Baba wa, Oruko Re nikan. Source: YB Hymnal #232 |
There is a fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Immanuel’s veins, And sinners plunged beneath that flood Lose all their guilty stains: The dying thief rejoiced to see That fountain in His day; And there may I, though vile as he, Washed all my sins away: Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood Shall never lose its pow’r, Till all the ransomed church of God Are safe, to sin no more: E’er since by faith I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply, Redeeming love has been my theme, And shall be till I die: When this poor, lisping, stamm’ring tongue Lies silent in the grave, Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save: |
THE STORY
“I find this account rather profound. It encourages us to know that our challenges are not unique to us, even old and contemporary heroes of faith go through the same (I Peter 5:9). Be emboldened to plunge into that ceaseless Flow all over again.”—Ayobami Temitope Kehinde
“I find this account rather profound. It encourages us to know that our challenges are not unique to us, even old and contemporary heroes of faith go through the same (I Peter 5:9). Be emboldened to plunge into that ceaseless Flow all over again.”—Ayobami Temitope Kehinde
This is one of the first hymns Cowper wrote after his first attack of
temporary madness. Cowper had been promised a post as Clerk of the Journal
to the House of Lords, but was dismayed upon learning he would have to undergo
a public examination in the House before beginning his duties. The following
article from the North American Review, January, 1834, describes
his dilemma, and how God prevented him from destroying himself:
As the
time drew nigh, his agony became more and more intense; he hoped and believed
that madness would come to relieve him; he attempted also to make up his mind
to commit suicide, though his conscience bore stern testimony against it; he
could not by any argument persuade himself that it was right, but this desperation
prevailed, and he procured from an apothecary the means of self-destruction.
On the day before his public appearance was to be made, he happened to notice a
letter in the newspaper, which to his disordered mind seemed like a malignant
libel on himself. He immediately threw down the paper and rushed into the
fields, determined to die in a ditch, but the thought struck him that he
might escape from the country. With the same violence he proceeded to
make hasty preparations for his flight; but while he was engaged in packing
his portmanteau his mind changed, and he threw himself into a coach, ordering
the man to drive to the Tower wharf, intending to throw himself into the river,
and not reflecting that it would be impossible to accomplish his purpose
in that public spot. On approaching the water, he found a porter seated
upon some goods: he then returned to the coach and was conveyed to his lodgings
at the Temple. On the way he attempted to drink the laudanum, but as often
as he raised it, a convulsive agitation of his frame prevented it from
reaching his lips; and thus, regretting the loss of the opportunity, but
unable to avail himself of it, he arrived, half dead with anguish, at his
apartment. He then shut the doors and threw himself upon the bed with the
laudanum near him, trying to lash himself up to the deed; but a voice within
seemed constantly to forbid it, and as often as he extended his hand to
the poison, his fingers were contracted and held back by spasms.
At this
time one of the inmates of the place came in, but he concealed his agitation,
and as soon as he was left alone, a change came over him, and so detestable
did the deed appear, that he threw away the laudanum and dashed the vial to
pieces. The rest of the day was spent in heavy insensibility, and at night he
slept as usual; but on waking at three in the morning, he took his penknife and
lay with his weight upon it, the point toward his heart. It was broken and
would not penetrate. At day break he arose, and passing a strong garter
around his neck, fastened it to the frame of his bed: this gave way with his
weight, but on securing it to the door, he was more successful, and remained
suspended till he had lost all consciousness of existence. After a time the
garter broke and he fell to the floor, so that his life was saved.; but the
conflict had been greater than his reason could endure. He felt for himself a
contempt not to be expressed or imagined; whenever he went into the street, it
seemed as if every eye flashed upon him with indignation and scorn; he felt as
if he had offended God so deeply that his guilt could never be forgiven,
and his whole heart was filled with tumultuous pangs of despair. Madness
was not far off, or rather madness was already come.
After recovering,
Cowper came to realize how God can erase the stain of any sin. (Source)
The writer is William Cowper.1731-1800. I however do not know who translated it to Yoruba. I will post as soon as I get the informantion
ReplyDeleteOkay. Thank you for the information. I will update.
DeleteJust realising I posted the hymn twice, I have the author's name on the first one.
DeleteKehinde God bless you!
ReplyDeleteJob welll done
ReplyDeleteThou tryeth
ReplyDeleteGreat job. God bless you
ReplyDelete