Stories behind the hymns
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class examined the backstory of the hymn “There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood,” focusing on its author William Cooper, an 18th‑century Scottish poet who struggled with severe anxiety, depression, and a deep fear of sin amid the intense revival atmosphere of the First Great Awakening. Cooper’s personal turmoil, including multiple suicide attempts and institutionalization, led him to a profound encounter with grace, inspiring the hymn that draws upon Zechariah 13:1’s vision of a cleansing fountain. The teacher highlighted Cooper’s collaboration with John Newton, the author of “Amazing Grace,” and how Newton’s encouragement helped Cooper view his suffering as a testament to divine mercy. Through the hymn’s lyrics, the class illustrated how Old‑Testament imagery of a blood‑filled fountain prefigures New‑Testament redemption, and how Cooper’s self‑description in verse two parallels the repentant thief on the cross. The discussion contrasted the era’s emphasis on personal religious experience and rigorous piety with the New‑Testament teaching that believers are saints, redeemed, and adopted children of God, urging participants to find assurance in Christ rather than in self‑driven righteousness.