The Sovereignty of God - A Hymn by Isaac Watts Isaac Watts (1674-1748), born on July 17, 1674 in Southampton, England, is often called the father of English hymnody. The eldest of nine children, his father was an educated deacon in a dissenting Congregational church. At the time of Isaac's birth, his father was in prison for his non-conformist beliefs. Watts showed an unusual aptitude and literary genius as a boy. F Romans 5 Chapter 5 1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; 2 through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we also rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh stedfastness; 4 and stedfastness, approvedness; and approvedness, hope: 5 and hope putteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us. 6 For while we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: for peradventure for the good man some one would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath `of God' through him. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life; 11 and not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. 12 Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned:-- 13 for until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is a figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the trespass, so also `is' the free gift. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound unto the many. 16 And not as through one that sinned, `so' is the gift: for the judgment `came' of one unto condemnation, but the free gift `came' of many trespasses unto justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, `even' Jesus Christ. 18 So then as through one trespass `the judgment came' unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness `the free gift came' unto all men to justification of life. 19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous. 20 And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly: 21 that, as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. until 13 years old, he learned Latin, Greek, French, and Hebrew, and began to write quality verses. He had the habit of rhyming ordinary conversations that sometimes annoyed people around him. As a student of theology and philosophy, he wrote volumes which had powerful influence on English thinking during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. One of his early concerns was the deplorable state in which congregational singing had degenerated in most English-speaking churches. Watts was seen as a radical churchgoer who was critical of the slow singing. One Sunday, after returning from a service, young Isaac was challenged by his father, "why don't you give us something better to sing?" Watts, then aged 18, accepted his father's challenge. The next Sunday he produced his first hymn, with enthusiastic response from the congregation. He wrote new hymn texts every Sunday for the next two years. In a book Hymns and Spiritual Songs, he published over 200 hymns. Watts wrote some more than 600 hymns. Some favorite hymns he wrote, aside from this hymn, include "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," "I Sing the Mighty Power of God" and the famous Christmas song "Joy to the World." The Sovereignty of God Isaac Watts, 1674-1748 Keep silence all created things, And wait your Maker's nod; My soul stands trembling while she sings, The glories of her God. Life, death, and Hell, and worlds unknown, Hang on His firm decree; He sits on no precarious throne, Nor asks assent to be. Chained to His throne, a volume lies, With all the fates of men, With every angel's form and size, Drawn by the eternal pen. His providence unfolds the book, And makes His counsels shine; Each opening leaf, and every stroke, Fulfills some deep design. Here He exalts neglected worms, To kingship and a crown; And then the following page He turns, And treads the monarch down. My God, I would not long to see, My fate with curious eyes; What gloomy lines are writ for me, Or what bright scenes may rise. In your pure book of life and grace, O may I find my name, Recorded in some humble place, Beneath my Lord the Lamb. Psalms 115:3 3 But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever he pleased. KJV] 3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Psalms 135:5-6 5 For I know that Jehovah is great, And that our Lord is above all gods. 6 Whatsoever Jehovah pleased, that hath he done, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps; KJV] 5 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. 6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, [that] did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.