This hymn might be hard for some to swallow as God’s absolute sovereignty is explicitly set forth. Many believe that God has imposed upon Himself limited sovereignty (a misnomer if there ever was one) so that finite and sinful man can exercise his own will. Such will therefore express considerable angst at the truths of this hymn.

I would urge such to consider the fourth paragraph of Orwell Bible Church’s doctrinal statement on God. Also, the hymnal I read this hymn from owed it’s origin to the “happy revival of religion in many towns in New England” in the late 17th century. These hymns that I have been posting were compiled for the benefit of such believers. I pray that our great God would graciously help believers to have a right view of Him.

Keep silence all created things,
And wait your Maker’s nod:
My soul stands trembling, while she sings
The honors of her God.

Life, death, and hell, and worlds unknown,
Hang on his firm decree:
He sits on no precarious throne,
Nor borrows leave to be.

Chained to his throne, a volume lies,
With all the fates of men,
With every angel’s form and size,
Drawn by th’ 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 scepters and a crown;
And there, the following page he turns,
And treads the monarch down.

Not Gabriel asks the reason why,
Nor God, the reason gives;
Nor dares the favorite angel pry
Between the folded leaves.

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 thy fair book of life and grace
O may I find my name,
Recorded in some humble place
Beneath my Lord the lamb!

–Isaac Watts (1674-1748)