[2] It was written to counteract what Gadsby believed to be Arminian and legalistic tendencies in some of Isaac Watts' Psalms and Hymns.
2 He is my Refuge in each deep distress; The Lord my strength & glorious righteousness; Through floods and flames he leads me safely on, And daily makes his sovereign goodness known.
4 O that my soul could love and praise him more, His beauties trace, his majesty adore; Live near his heart, upon his bosom lean; Obey his voice, and all his will esteem.
1 ELECTION is a truth divine, As absolute as free; Works ne'er can make the blessing mine; 'Tis God's own wise decree.
5 Nor law, nor death, nor hell, nor sin, Can alter his decree; The elect eternal life shall win, And all God's glory see.
The hymn book was never widely used in churches outside the United Kingdom, but there is some renewed interest in it among Reformed Baptists as devotional poetry.