The story behind the hymn
William Cowper was one of England's finest poets and one of its most tormented souls, sunk repeatedly into suicidal depression. He found refuge in the friendship of John Newton at Olney, and the two produced the Olney Hymns together. This hymn is Cowper's, and it clings to the blood of Christ the way a drowning man clings to a rope.
Its imagery — a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel's veins — comes from Zechariah 13:1, a fountain opened for sin and uncleanness. Cowper reaches immediately for the worst-case sinner and finds him already saved: the dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day; and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.
For a man who feared he was beyond mercy, the third stanza is a personal lifeline made public: e'er since, by faith, I saw the stream thy flowing wounds supply, redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die. The hymn has carried assurance to countless others who feared themselves too far gone.
The lyrics
There is a fountain filled with bloodDrawn from Immanuel's veins;And sinners plunged beneath that floodLose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to seeThat fountain in his day;And there may I, though vile as he,Wash all my sins away.
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious bloodShall never lose its power,Till all the ransomed church of GodBe saved, to sin no more.
E'er since, by faith, I saw the streamThy flowing wounds supply,Redeeming love has been my theme,And shall be till I die.
Public domain. Free to sing, copy, print, and share.
The Scripture behind it
In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
A fountain opened for sin and uncleanness — the hymn's title image.
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Lord, remember me — the dying thief the second stanza envies and joins.