God of the seas! thy thund'ring voice

Author: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >

God of the seas, Thy thundering voice. I. Watts. [God's Dominion over the Sea.] No. 70, Book ii., of his Hymns & Sacred Songs, 1707, in 9 stanzas of 4 lines, and entitled "God's Dominion over the Sea." In this form its use is very limited. A more popular form was given in the American Prayer Book Collection, 1826, No. 118, in 3 stanza beginning, "God of the sea, Thine awful voice." It is an alteration of stanzas i., iii. and vi., and is found in several American collections.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)