Adelphi: The Life of Rev. John Cowper

by William Cowper

Adelphi or “siblings” is an account William Cowper wrote of the last days before his brother John’s death. William and John discussed spiritual blindness, the school of affliction, and God’s mercies. John was a scholar educated at Cambridge who spent ten years living an outward appearance of an ordained minister but was “dissatisfied with his own views of the gospel.” About ten days before his death, he was touched by a heart knowledge of the Savior that gave him a firm and unshakable peace. This volume contains many letters from John Cowper which illustrate these events. Also included are some of his poetry.

106 pages, Paperback

Published June 27, 2017

About the author

The Task , best-known work of William Cowper, British poet, considered a precursor of romanticism, in 1785 praises rural life and leisure.

William Cowper served as an English hymnodist. Cowper, one most popular man of his time, wrote of everyday nature scenes of the English countryside and thus changed the direction of 18th century. In many ways, he foreran later authors. Samuel Taylor Coleridge called him "modern," whilst William Wordsworth particularly admired Yardley-Oak . He a nephew of Judith Madan.

From severe manic depression, Cowper suffered, found refuge in a fervent evangelical Christianity, the inspiration behind his much-loved hymns, often experienced doubt, and feared doom to eternal damnation. His religious sentiment and association with John Newton (who wrote Amazing Grace , the hymn) led to much memorable writing.