William Cowper (1731–1800)

The Lord proclaims his grace abroad!

Behold, I change your hearts of stone;

Each shall renounce his idol god,

And serve, henceforth, the Lord alone.

My grace, a flowing stream, proceeds

To wash your filthiness away;

Ye shall abhor your former deeds,

And learn my statutes to obey.

My truth the great design insures,

I give myself away to you;

You shall be mine, I will be yours,

Your God unalterably true.

Yet not unsought, or unimplor’d,

The plenteous grace shall I confer;

No — your whole hearts shall seek the Lord,

I’ll put a praying spirit there.

From the first breath of life divine,

Down to the last expiring hour;

The gracious work shall all be mine,

Begun and ended in my pow’r.