There is a Fountain Filled with Blood

There is a Fountain Filled with Blood is a hymn text by William Cowper (1771) in C.M. meter. Found in CW21 401, CW93 112, ELH 301, bh08 247.

The hymn presents Christ's blood as the efficacious means of cleansing from sin, emphasizing the substitutionary atonement central to Lutheran soteriology. It connects Old Testament prophecy (Zechariah's fountain) with New Testament fulfillment, demonstrating how Christ's sacrifice accomplishes what the Law demands.

History & Background

Written by William Cowper in 1771 as part of the Olney Hymns collection, a collaborative effort with John Newton. The hymn draws directly from Zechariah 13:1 and became one of the most beloved Protestant hymns of atonement.

Hymnal Appearances

• Christian Worship: Hymnal — 401
• Christian Worship — 112
• Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 301
• Baptist Hymnal — 247
• Chalice Hymnal — 622
• Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 311
• Lutheran Book of Worship — 619
• Lutheran Service Book — 740
• Lutheran Worship — 506
• Trinity Hymnal — 253
• The Lutheran Hymnal — 157
• United Methodist Hymnal — 622
• Voices Together — 261
• With One Voice — 714

Bulletin Note

Written by William Cowper in 1771, this English hymn draws from Zechariah 13:1's messianic fountain, transforming Old Testament prophecy into a hymn of personal assurance grounded in Luther's doctrine of justification by faith alone.

Preaching Connection

This hymn crystallizes substitutionary atonement and offers a congregational voice to proclaim how Christ's blood satisfies the Law's demand and opens grace's floodgates to all who believe.

Background Research

William Cowper, Olney Hymns (1779), titled 'Praise for the Fountain Opened'. Written c. 1771/72, one of the first hymns he wrote after his first major bout of depression (Wikipedia), joyful evidence of grace experienced, before the darker breakdown of 1773 (see TLH 514). From memory, needs checking: built on Zech 13:1 ('a fountain opened… for sin and for uncleanness'), with the dying thief (Luke 23:39–43) as proof of grace for the worst ('and there have I, as vile as he, / washed all my sins away'), then a resolve to praise redeeming love until death and beyond. The vivid blood imagery has drawn criticism, and some books alter the first line; TLH prints a cento. Tune CLEANSING FOUNTAIN (American camp-meeting melody, 19th c.) in the US; also COWPER (Lowell Mason).

Sources: Wikipedia 'There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood' (stub).

Overview

William Cowper, the English poet and friend of John Newton, wrote this hymn for the Olney Hymns. Its opening image, drawn from Zechariah 13:1 ('a fountain opened… for sin and uncleanness'), is vivid enough that later hymnals (including LW, row 1660) softened it. It confesses that sinners washed in Christ's blood lose all their stains (st. 1); that the dying thief found that fountain, and so have I, 'as vile as he' (st. 2); that the blood will never lose its power until the whole Church is saved (st. 3); that redeeming love is my theme until death (st. 4); and that in heaven I will sing it better (st. 5).

Central theme: The cleansing power of Christ's blood, which washed the dying thief and washes me, and which never loses its power

Structure

Five common-meter quatrains. The fountain (1) — the thief and I (2) — unfailing power (3) — lifelong theme (4) — heavenly song (5).

Law & Gospel Shape

Law: 'guilty stains,' 'as vile as he' (1-2). Gospel: 'washed all my sins away'; the blood 'shall never lose its power' (2-3).

Confessional Connections

Cleansing by Christ's blood (1 John 1:7; AC IV). 'Immanuel's veins' — the blood is God's own (Acts 20:28; FC VIII). The dying thief as the type of salvation by grace alone without works (Luke 23:43). 'By faith I saw the stream' (st. 4) — faith receives what the blood accomplished (Ap IV). Lutherans also hear in 'the stream Thy flowing wounds supply' the water and blood of John 19:34, which the Church has long linked to Baptism and the Supper.

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Lent; Holy Week; Communion; general.

Historical Notes

Cowper (1731-1800) and John Newton published the Olney Hymns (1779); this hymn was written about 1771.

About the Tune

TLH: 'Horsley,' credited to Lowell Mason, 1830 — but HORSLEY is usually credited to William Horsley (1844), while Mason's 1830 tune for this text is COWPER. The index row lists 'HORSLEY / COWPER.' Check the TLH printing.

Scripture References

Zech 13:1 1 John 1:7 Rev 1:5 Rev 7:14 Isa 7:14 Luke 23:39-43 1 Tim 1:15 Heb 9:12-14 Heb 7:25 Eph 5:25-27 John 19:34 Ps 71:15-17 Rev 5:9

Stanza by Stanza

Themes

Atonement and redemption Blood of Christ Cleansing from sin Faith and trust Grace

Look Further

• Search Hymnary.org for "There is a Fountain Filled with Blood" ↗