William Cowper (1731–1800)

I was a groveling creature once,

        And basely cleav’d to earth;

I wanted spirit to renounce

        The clod that gave me birth.

But God hath breath’d upon a worm,

        And sent me, from above,

Wings, such as clothe an angel’s form,

        The wings of joy and love.

With these to Pisgah’s top I fly

        And there delighted stand;

To view, beneath a shining sky,

        The spacious promis’d land.

The Lord of all the vast domain,

        Has promis’d it to me;

The length and breadth of all the plain,

        As far as faith can see.

How glorious is my privilege!

        To thee for help I call;

I stand upon a mountain’s edge,

        Oh save me, lest I fall!

Tho’ much exalted in the Lord,

        My strength is not my own;

Then let me tremble at his word,

        And none shall cast me down.