SONGS FROM
GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
of DANVILLE

Written by Pastor Don Fortner

INDEX FOR PAGE TWO

PAGE TWO

(27) THIS NEW YEAR Don Fortner Don Fortner (Tune: Crown Him With Many Crowns #62 SMD) Father, before Your throne We come with joy and fear, To make Your grace and glory known, And thus begin this year. What favors we have known! What mercies we now share! What boundless goodness You have shown To open this new year! Indulgent mercy spares The lost among us here; Oh, may Your mighty grace appear To save them in this year! Our many sins forgive; Our souls with Your grace cheer; And teach us each for You to live, Our Lord throughout this year. Teach us to do your will, Whatever may appear; Though tried and tempted, keep us still By grace throughout the year. Confirm our hearts in grace, In faith and godly fear; And let Christ be our joy and peace Through all the coming year!

(28) PRAISE THE LORD, THE KING OF HEAVEN Don Fortner (Tune: Jesus Calls Us #374 87.87) Praise the Lord, the King of heaven! Praise Him for the gift of faith; Praise Him sinners now forgiven, Saved by grace from sin and death. Praise the Father for election! He chose you to be His own! Sov'reign in predestination, God placed you among his sons! Praise the Son for His atonement! He redeemed you with His blood, By His just and righteous payment Cancelled all your debt to God! Praise the blessed Holy Spirit For regenerating grace! By His grace, not by your merit, You are saved and kept in grace! Praise the triune God of glory! Praise the mighty Three-in-One! Praise the Lord for He is worthy, Father, Spirit, and the Son!

(29) GOD HAS EXERCISED HIS GRACE! Don Fortner (Tune: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus #49 87.87.D) Chosen sinners, bought by Jesus, And by God the Spirit called, With the saints of God now numbered, Have been rescued from the fall! Praise, all praise to God our Savior, For the work which He has wrought, For the gift of full salvation Now to chosen sinners brought! Heaven has been set rejoicing While we have been here convened, Over the returning sinners, Numbered now with the redeemed! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! God has exercised His grace! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! God, our God shall have all praise!

(30) REST! REST! O BLESSED REST! Don Fortner (Tune: This Is My Father's World #39 SMD) Rest! Rest! O blessed rest! How sweet to rest in Christ! By faith in Him we have entered Into a blessed rest. Refrain: O weary soul, would you Find rest, sweet rest today? Come, trust your soul on Jesus Christ, Upon His merits lay. Conscience is now at rest, Freed from the guilt of sin; The precious blood of Christ has purged, Has purged away our sin! Trusting the providence Of our great sov'reign God We rest, for He has said that He Will do His people good. When we by death shall pass Into eternity, We shall obtain a perfect rest For we with Christ shall be!

(31) COME, GUILTY SOULS, TO CHRIST Don Fortner (Tune: Blest Be The Tie #187 SM) Come, guillty souls, to Christ, Whose stripes can heal your wounds! Come, weary sinners, come and rest; In Christ free grace abounds! There is forgiveness, yes, Forgiveness full and free, (For all who sin and guilt confess), Through Christ our Surety! Christ Jesus, God's dear Son, Who drank the cup of wrath, Has promised He will cast out none Who come to Him by faith. If you believe you are Chosen, redeemed, and called! Your faith is evidence you are A living child of God!

(32) O WRETCHED MAN I AM Don Fortner (Tune: This Is My Father's World #39 SMD) The dreadful plague of sin Within my heart is felt! In thought and deed I am unclean, Though pardoned of all guilt. O wretched man I am! My sin mars all I do! When I have done the best I can I nothing good can do. When good I would perform, My sin is present still; Corruption rises like a storm And blasts the good I will. If peace I seek and love, Envy and pride appear. I want to be like Christ I love, But never shall be here. While in this world I'll fight This warfare in my breast, Until my Savior ends the fight And brings me home to rest. The strife will not be long! My hope is not in vain! God will complete what He's begun; In heav'n with Christ I'll reign

(33) MERCY'S GATE IS STANDING OPEN Don Fortner (Tune: Brethren, We Have Met To Worship #15 87.87.D) Mercy's gate is standing open By the purpose of our God: He, Who found a way to ransom Sinners by His Son's own blood, Offers sinners free salvation Through the blood of Christ, His Son; But His grace He more than offers, Else no sinner e'er could come. Jesus Christ (Almighty Savior!) Has the work completely done; By His blood's infinite merits, He redeemed God's chosen ones! As a Forerunner in heaven He has claimed the throne of God, In the name of chosen sinners, Whom He purchased with His blood. Now He sends His Holy Spirit To regenerate and call: By effectual, sov'reign power He will fetch them, one and all. If you now will heed God's offer, If you do on Christ believe, You are chosen! Christ redeemed you! By the Spirit you now live!

(34) GOD KNOWS ALL THINGS ETERNALLY Don Fortner (Tune: When I Survey #118 LM) God knows all things eternally, And fully He knows you and me; No thought can be withheld from Him Before whom all things are open. We dare not try to hide from Him Our inmost thought and secret sin; But we confess our sin to God And trust His Son's atoning blood. My soul, take comfort in this thought - God knows His own, so dearly bought; He knows our needs, and pains, and fears, And (Bless His name!) for us He cares. Omniscient God, we bow before Your throne of grace and we adore Your knowledge and Your wise decrees, And joy that you do as you please!

(35) HOW SWEET TO BOW AND WAIT Don Fortner (Tune: O FOR A THOUSAND TONGUES #46 CM) How sweet to bow and wait before The throne of my dear Lord; Surrender to His providence, And wait to hear His word. Sickness and health, sorrow and joy, He wisely measures out: Faithful and true, He does me good; His love I cannot doubt! My Father knows just what I need To make me trust Him more, To draw my heart to Christ in love, And seek His will the more. I lay myself before Your throne, My God, Your will be done! Order my steps and guide my heart To magnify Your Son. O Holy Spirit, as I wait, Descend upon my soul, Inscribe upon my heart Your will, And make my spirit whole.

(36) CHRIST JESUS, ADVOCATE WITH GOD Don Fortner (Tune: Faith of Our Fathers #183 88.88.88) Christ Jesus, Advocate with God, My only trust is in Your blood. None can remove my guilt and blame, But You, great sin-atoning Lamb! The merits of Your death impart, Speak peace to this poor sinner's heart. Dear Savior, hear my humble prayer, Come drive away my doubts and fears. Dear Prince of Peace, with peace return, Great Comforter of all that mourn! Declare my many sins forgiv'n, And guide me safely on to heav'n. Oh, keep me Savior, day by day, Walking the strait and narrow way, Denying all self-righteousness, Trusting Your blood and righteousness. I have no hope but God's free grace In You, "The LORD MY RIGHTEOUSNESS!"

(37) THE TRIUNE GOD ALONE WE PRAISE Don Fortner (Tune: Faith Of Our Fathers #183 88.88.88) Praise God the Father and the Son, And God the Spirit, Three in One! The triune God forever praise For all the wonders of His grace; Chosen, redeemed, and called by grace, The triune God alone we praise. Without condition, without cause, When we were altogether lost, God sent His Spirit to reclaim Sinners whom Jesus had redeemed. With grateful hearts we now confess, We're saved by God's almighty grace! We boast not of our own "free-will", Our joy is our God's sov'reign will. This world is ruled by God alone, For His glory, to save His own! Of Him, and through Him, and to Him, Are all things to praise Him. Amen!

(38) CONTRITION FOUND AT THE CROSS Don Fortner (Tune: America the Beautiful #531 CMD) No sacrifice does God require, No offering from me; The sacrifice which He requires Is true humility. The sacrifices of God are A broken spirit, and A broken and a contrite heart He never will condemn. "The Lord is nigh unto them that Are of a broken heart;" He saves the contrite spirit and From such will not depart. My God, my haughty heart now break By Your almighty grace! Contrition is not natural To Adam's fallen race. Pour out Your Spirit, God of grace, And cause this wretch to see Your Son for sinners crucified Upon the cursed tree. O break my heart! O weep my soul! Before the Crucified! Contrition and humility Is faith in Him who died!

(39) LORD JESUS, SAVIOR OF THE LOST Don Fortner (Tune: O For A Thousand Tongues #46 CM) Lord Jesus, Savior of the lost, My only hiding place, I fall before Your sov'reign throne And seek Your saving grace. Guilty, pursued by justice, Lord, Helpless to You I fly; An outcast wretch, undone I am; Save me, or else I die! Forgive my sins, renew my soul, O wash me in Your blood; Your Spirit send and make me whole; Restore me to my God! My life, my soul, my all I give To You, my rightful Lord; Receive me now, salvation grant, According to Your Word. Eternal life! Eternal life! The gift of grace divine I can, I will, I do believe - Eternal life is mine! And when I stand before Your throne On that great judgment day, Your blood and righteousness alone Shall be this sinner's plea!

(40) SAVIOR, ATTEND OUR GATHERING HERE Don Fortner (Tune: Sweet Hour of Prayer #361 LMD) Savior, attend our gath'ring here; Graciously, in our midst appear; Open our ears that we may hear Your Word in faith, with godly fear. Inspire our hearts with holy zeal To seek and do our Father's will. Stretch forth Your arm and gather in Your own elect yet lost in sin

(41) CHRIST THE EVERLASTING FATHER Don Fortner (Tune: Majestic Sweetness #52 CM) As God, our Savior is the Son Within the Trinity, But Christ the Man the Father is Of all eternity. "The Everlasting Father" is Our great Redeemer's name, Head of the chosen family Which gladly bears His name. From everlasting Christ provides All of His children's needs; His family is well supplied By all His gracious deeds. We look to You, Lord Jesus Christ, For life and righteousness; Our Everlasting Father, we Trust Your wise providence.

(42) SAVIOR, YOUR SIN-ATONING BLOOD Don Fortner (Tune: When I Can Read My Title Clear #497 CM) God loved the world of His elect With love surpassing thought. Christ ransomed them and paid their debt, And their salvation bought. God's justice never can condemn One for whom Christ was slain. Else His own Son must suffer shame, Whose blood was shed in vain! We frustrate not the grace of God By such blaspheming thoughts, Who know the power of Christ's blood, In whom salvation's wrought. Savior, Your sin-atoning blood, Effectual, cannot fail. But for the ransomed, (Loved of God!), It must and shall prevail!

(43) AS WE BEGIN THIS YEAR Don Fortner (Tune: This Is My Father's World #39 SMD) With joy, our God, we've come To sing Your praises here, To hear Your Word, and worship You, As we begin this year. With grateful hearts we come, For Your mercies we share, In hope of mercies yet unseen, To open this new year. Our hearts to serve Your cause, Father, by grace prepare. Let us Your lovingkindness know To keep us through the year. Prepare us for Your will; And keep our hearts from fear; Help us to trust Your providence Throughout the coming year. Forgive our sins, we pray, And fill our hearts with cheer. Oh, may our precious Savior be Our song through all the year. Perhaps our Lord will come To call us home this year! With such expectant, blessed hope, With joy, we start this year!

(44) PRAISE GOD, ETERNAL, SOVEREIGN GOD! Don Fortner (Tune: The Doxology CM) Praise God, eternal, sov'reign God! Praise God the Father for His love. Praise God the Son for His shed blood. Praise God the Spirit, heav'nly Dove. To God, the triune God, we trace Each blessing of His matchless grace. Before Your throne we take our place, With humbled hearts, to sing Your praise. Chosen by God the Father's love, Redeemed by God the Son's shed blood, By God the Holy Spirit called, Saved by free grace, we praise our God!

(45) WE'RE HERE TO MAGNIFY GOD'S GRACE Don Fortner (Tune: There is a Fountain #222 CM) We're chosen by electing grace In Jesus Christ our Head. Before all worlds, "They shall be mine," Our God, the Father said. We're freely justified by grace Through Jesus' precious blood, Forgiven of our countless sins, And reconciled to God. We're sanctified by God's free grace In Jesus Christ our Lord, By God the Spirit born again, We are now saints of God. We're here to magnify God's grace, So infinite and free. The Father, Son, and Spirit praise In triune majesty!

(46) FROM SIN AND DEATH I'M FREE! Don Fortner (Tune: O For A Thousand Tongues #46 CM) I long pursued the path of sin, As if under a spell. A rebel, hating God, unclean, Madly, I ran to hell! But God, who rich in mercy is, (For His great love to me!), Saved me by His almighty grace. From sin and death I'm free! He gave me faith in Jesus Christ, Who lived and died for me, Imputes to me His righteousness, And by His grace keeps me. Indwelt by His Spirit, I am A new creature today. My crimes, my guilt, and all my blame My Savior washed away! To God alone I give all praise. "Salvation's of the Lord!" I ask for grace to spend my days Spreading this wondrous word.

(47) THERE IS AN HOUR KNOWN TO GOD Don Fortner (Tune: From Every Stormy Wind That Blows #355 LM) There is an hour known to God When all His sheep, redeemed by blood, Shall by almighty grace be called And brought into the Shepherd’s fold. In league with hell, at war with God, They run along destruction’s road, Give vent to every lust unclean, And stray as far as lost sheep can. But grace pursues the wand’ring sheep And everywhere protects their feet. Glory to God, they shall not rove Beyond His everlasting love! They will not come. They will not bow. They will not heed the gospel call. But still God’s purpose moves along. His “shalls” and “wills” He will have done. He brings His chosen to the place, At the hour ordained for peace Not to propose, but save by grace, And works the wonders of His grace. The heart that would not bow will melt When God’s almighty touch is felt. The will, like clay, the Potter molds, And bring His sheep into His fold!

(48) O HOLY SPIRIT, WE CONFESS Don Fortner (Tune: The Doxology LM) O Holy Spirit, we confess The operations of Your grace. Your power brings all mercy down From God the Father and the Son. Wakened to see our wretched state, And made by grace our sins to hate, Your inward workings made us know Our danger and our refuge too. You sprinkled us with Jesus’ blood, Blood of our sin-atoning God, Our terror and our guilt removed, And showed us our Redeemer’s love. By sov’reign grace and pow’r within, You broke the chains of reigning sin. We ask for grace each day anew. Our horrid lusts, great God, subdue! Blest is the man chosen by God. Blest are the souls redeemed by blood. How blest we are who have been called By Your effectual, saving call!

(49) THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS HE Don Fortner (Tune: When I Survey #118 LM) The Lord our Righteousness is He Who died upon the cursed tree. His perfect life and His life’s blood Give us acceptance with our God. His sin-atoning blood has made Atonement for His chosen seed. Christ, by His death, has paid the debt Incurred by sin for God’s elect. As God in mercy did impute Our sins to Christ our Substitute, So now the God of truth and grace Imputes to us Christ’s righteousness. By blood forgiven of all sin, God’s justice now declares us clean And by imputed righteousness, In Christ, worthy of His embrace!

(50) GRACE GIVES US A SWEET COMMUNION Don Fortner (Tune: Brethren, We Have Met To Worship #15 87.87.D) May the grace of God, our Father, And His love, so rich and free, Like a mighty, boundless river, Flood our souls from day to day. Refrain: Grace alone keeps us in union With each other and our Lord. Grace gives us a sweet communion With each other and our Lord. May the merits of our Savior's Precious blood and righteousness Give assurance of God's favor And His never changing grace. Holy Spirit, give us comfort, Give us faith, and give us peace. Guide, preserve, defend, protect us, By the power of Your grace.