STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

My former hopes are dead The shining Light

William Cowper printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book III, no. 8, under Psalm 130:6.

WRITTEN BY

William Cowper 1731–1800

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 8

METRE

Short Metre 6.6.8.6 · 5 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 130:6 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 5 stanzas as Cowper printed them, with the verses their lines echo beside them. Point at a line to join it to its verse; click to read the passage.

SHARED WORDSthe verse shares the line's wording ECHOproposed by an AI model, confirmed by a separate check Not the author's own notes

AMONG THE SCRIPTURES

The stanzas at the centre; around them, every book its heading and its echoes come from, Old Testament on the left and New on the right. Choose a stanza or a book.

a line echoes this verse its heading or an echo comes from here

STANZA I

My former hopes are dead

My former hopes are dead,

My terror now begins;

I feel, alas! that I am dead

In trespasses and sins.

Where Cowper found it

Cowper printed the hymn under Psalm 130:6. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning— more than watchmen wait for the morning. PSALM 130:6 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 130

Fore–runner of the sun, It marks the Pilgrim’s way; I’ll gaze upon it while I run, And watch the rising day. STANZA V

Its place in the book

Book III of the hymn book, “On the progress and changes of the spiritual life”, holds these hymns in this order: 106 hymns. This is number 8. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 8 · WILLIAM COWPER · THIS HYMN My former hopes are dead

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