Back to series
Love Constraining to Obedience
Click here to open a Print-Friendly PDF
No strength of nature can suffice
To serve the Lord aright:
And what she has she misapplies,
For want of clearer light.
How long beneath the Law I lay
In bondage and distress;
I toiled the precept to obey,
But toiled without success.
Then, to abstain from outward sin
Was more than I could do;
Now, if I feel its power within,
I feel I hate it too.
Then all my servile works were done
A righteousness to raise;
Now, freely chosen in the Son,
I freely choose His ways.
‘What shall I do,’ was then the word,
‘That I may worthier grow?’
‘What shall I render to the Lord?’
Is my inquiry now.
To see the law by Christ fulfilled
And hear His pardoning voice,
Changes a slave into a child,
And duty into choice.
Davie Donald, The New Oxford Book of Christian Verse (Oxford University Press, 1981), p. 195-196.


William Cowper
SpeakerWilliam Cowper, Poet, (1731 – 1800) wrote poems and hymns in England. His earlier poems pointed to everyday life and country scenery. After many struggles with doubt and emotional upheaval, he wrote poetry about his faith in Christ. A friend of John Newton, Cowper’s lyrics have brought encouragement to many who look to the gospel for truth and strength.

COPYRIGHT: This publication is published by C.S. Lewis Institute; 8001 Braddock Road, Suite 301; Springfield, VA 22151. Portions of the publication may be reproduced for noncommercial, local church or ministry use without prior permission. Electronic copies of the PDF files may be duplicated and transmitted via e-mail for personal and church use. Articles may not be modified without prior written permission of the Institute. For questions, contact the Institute: 703.914.5602 or email us.
-
Recent Podcasts
An Honest Search for God – Dr. Jay Medenwaldt’s Story
by Jana Harmon, Jay Medenwaldt on June 20, 2025Why do people believe in God? In this...Read More
-
Moving Beyond Forgiveness to an Abundant Life
by Robert Saucy, Aimee Riegert on June 13, 2025
-
Is There Something More? – Laura Zifer Powell’s Story
by Laura Zifer Powell, Jana Harmon on June 6, 2025
-
Recent Publications
Are Miracles Possible
by Christopher L. Reese on June 1, 2025The 21st century has provoked many conversations and...Read More
-
Is God Just, Not Fair?
by Jennifer Rothschild on May 15, 2025
-
Seeking Dietrich Bonhoeffer
by Joseph A. Kohm on April 29, 2025
0
All Booked
0.00
All Booked
0.00
All Booked
22904
GLOBAL EVENT: 2025 Study Tour of C.S. Lewis’s Belfast & Oxford
https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/?event=global-event-2025-study-tour-of-c-s-lewiss-belfast-oxford&event_date=2025-06-24®=1
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr
2025-06-24

Next coming event
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
GLOBAL EVENT: 2025 Study Tour of C.S. Lewis’s Belfast & Oxford
On June 24, 2025 at 12:00 pmat Belfast, Northern Ireland & Oxford, EnglandSpeakers
William Cowper
Speaker
Team Members

William Cowper
SpeakerWilliam Cowper, Poet, (1731 – 1800) wrote poems and hymns in England. His earlier poems pointed to everyday life and country scenery. After many struggles with doubt and emotional upheaval, he wrote poetry about his faith in Christ. A friend of John Newton, Cowper’s lyrics have brought encouragement to many who look to the gospel for truth and strength.
