BRIEF ANALYTICAL APPROACH TO HOUSE OF PRAYER BY WILLIAM COWPER

Stanza 1:

Thy mansion is the Christian's heart,
O Lord, Thy dwelling place secure!
Bid the unruly throng depart,
And leave the consecrated door.

Man’s heart is the dwelling place of God, hence the poet pleads on the Lord to take away anything that will corrupt the heart and keep the things that will help the heart.

Stanza 2:

Devoted as it is to Thee,
A thievish swarm frequents the place,
They steal away my hopes from me,
And rob my Saviour of His praise.

The heart is devoted to the Lord though the devil do visit to steal away God’s place in man’s heart.

Stanza 3-4:

There, too, a sharp designing trade
Sin, Satan, and the World maintain;
Nor cease to press me, and persuade
To part with ease, and purchase pain.

I know them, and I hate their din;
And weary of the bustling crowd;
But while their voice is heard within,
I cannot serve Thee as I would.

The poet was specific in mentioning those things that intrude the peace of his heart such as (1) Sin (2) Satan (3) The World

“There, too, a sharp designing trade

Sin, Satan, and the World maintain”

The above line can be compared to John Bunyan confession in Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinner, “I was tempted to part from Christ; to exchange Him for the things of this world…” Sin was brought by Satan into the world to capitalize on the ignorance of man which will bring about destruction. The poet believes that Sin, Satan and the World never cease to persuade him to patronize their product hence the poet develop hatred for the devil. He finalizes the fourth stanza by out pouring his anger on these things that are like mountains toward his sweet fellowship with God.

Stanza 5:

Oh! for the joy thy presence gives,
What peace shall reign when Thou art there;
Thy presence makes this den of thieves
A calm delightful house of prayer.

 

The poet boast of the product of God’s presence in his heart saying that it brings 

(1) Peace (2) God’s presence turns his heart to a heart of prayer.

Stanza 6:

And if Thou make Thy temple shine,
Yet self-abased, will I adore;
The gold and silver are not mine;
I give Thee waht was Thine before.

The poet promise to give back to God what belongs to Him, if God will take care of his heart.