The book of God's decrees

HYMN 99 C. M.
The book of God's decrees.

Let the whole race of creatures lie
Abased before their God;
Whate'er his sovereign voice has formed
He governs with a nod.

Ten thousand ages ere the skies
Were into motion brought,
All the long years and worlds to come
Stood present to his thought.

There's not a sparrow or a worm
But's found in his decrees;
He raises monarchs to their throne,
And sinks them as he please.

If light attends the course I run,
'Tis he provides those rays;
And 'tis his hand that hides my sun,
If darkness clouds my days.

Yet I would not be much concerned,
Nor vainly long to see
The volume of his deep decrees,
What months are writ for me.

When he reveals the book of life,
O may I read my name
Amongst the chosen of his love,
The followers of the Lamb!

Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book II, 1707

This year thou shalt die

Jeremiah 28:16-17 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD. So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

Death is certain (Thou shalt die)
The wages of sin is death, and all have sinned
It is appointed unto men once to die (Heb 9:27)
Eccl 8:8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.
Job 30:23 For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.
Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Death is soon (This year)
Our life is ever on the wing, And death is ever nigh;
The moment when our lives begin, We all begin to die. (Watts)
James 4:14: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Job 14:1: Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

The Clock of Life

In a post Mon Sep 10, 2007 on the Texas Fasola listserve, Mike Hinton quoted a poem by Barney Lee. Mr. Lee is an uncle of Sacred Harper David Lee.

The Clock of Life, by Barney Lee of Hoboken, GA

The clock of life is wound but once
And no man has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop
At late or early hour

Now is the only time you own
Live, love, work with a will
Place no faith in tomorrow
The clock may then be still

Does God Decree Sin?

Thoughts on Does God Decree Sin? by Nathan White. 25 April 2007