SONGS FROM
GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
of DANVILLE

Written by Pastor Don Fortner

INDEX FOR PAGE ONE

PAGE ONE

(2) THE GOOD SHEPHERD AND HIS SHEEP Don Fortner (Tune: Sweet Hour of Prayer #361 LMD) 1. Christ Jesus is our Shepherd good, Who bought His chosen sheep with blood. So dearly bought, the sheep He chose The Good Shepherd shall never lose. Eternal life to them He gives. Secure within His hands they live. They cannot perish, no, not one, Since Christ and His Father are one. 2. Who are those sheep? Might I be one Of those for whom His blood atoned? Oh, can it be, did Jesus die To save a wretch so vile as I? Your Word declares (I know it’s true.), The sheep when called, Lord, follow You. Hearing the mighty Shepherd’s voice, Compelled by grace, I make my choice. 3. Though fallen, filthy, lost, undone, I look to You, Savior, alone, A helpless sheep, without one plea, Except the Shepherd died for me! Thus the Good Shepherd owns His sheep, And gives assurance He will keep In life, and faith, and grace each one Who by His grace trusts Him alone.

(3) KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD Don Fortner (Tune: Stand Up And Bless The Lord #33 SM) Chosen by God’s free grace, Redeemed by Jesus blood, Believers all are kept in grace, Kept by the pow’r of God. Not one can e’er be lost. We rest upon God’s Word. (Shall Satan cheat the Holy Ghost?) We glory in the Lord! Our weaknesses and sin Shall not undo God’s work. God will not cease what He began, Or break His faithful Word! Saved by God’s sov’reign grace, And kept by His great pow’r, We’ll reach at last His holy place, And live for evermore!

(4) SAVIOR, MAKE YOUR GREATNESS KNOWN Don Fortner (Tune: Jesus Calls Us #374 87.87) Sinners redeemed by Jesus’ blood We are gathered in His name, Gathered here to praise our Savior And to hear His Word proclaimed. As You promised, Savior, visit Us in grace and power now. As Your servant preaches to us, Gracious Spirit, teach him how. Comfort, Lord, the broken-hearted And give strength to all the faint, Save the lost and raise the fallen, Edify Your chosen saints. Add Your blessings to our efforts, Lift our hearts up to Your throne, As we pray, and sing, and listen, Savior, make Your glory known.

(5) GROWING IN GRACE John Newton (Tune: From Every Stormy Wind That Blows #355 LM) I asked the Lord that I might grow In faith, and love, and every grace; Might more of His salvation know, And seek more earnestly His face. `Twas He Who taught me thus to pray, And He, I trust, has answered prayer; But it has been in such a way As almost drove me to despair. I hoped that in some favored hour, At once He’d answer my request; And, by His love’s constraining power, Subdue my sins and give me rest. Instead of this, He made me feel The hidden evils of my heart, And let the angry powers of hell Assault my soul in every part. Yea, more, with His own hand He seemed Intent to aggravate my woe; Crossed all the fair designs I schemed, Blasted my gourds, and laid me low. “Lord, why is this?” I trembling cried; “Wilt Thou pursue Thy worm to death?” “`Tis in this way,” the Lord replied, “I answer prayer for grace and faith. “These inward trials I employ, From self and pride to set thee free; And break thy schemes of earthly joy, That thou mayest seek thine all in Me.”

(6) GOD TO THE END WILL CARRY ON Don Fortner (Tune: Jesus, and Shall It Ever Be? #400 LM) 1. Did God from everlasting move To-ward me in eternal love? That love, unchangeable, the same Remains, whate’er my state or frame. 2. Has grace upon this sinner shone? Then grace will bring me safely home. God to the end will carry on The work which in me He begun. 3. Did Jesus die, my Substitute? He will not leave me destitute Of any grace or blessedness Or fail to bring me into bliss. 4. If I am by God’s Spirit born, I shall into His Kingdom come. `Midst all my sins, and guilt, and woe The Spirit will not let me go. 5. My soul through countless changes goes. God’s love no variation knows! My God will perfectly perform His work in me, a sinful worm. 6. My soul into Christ’s arms I cast And trust I shall be saved at last. Saved by God’s free and sov’reign grace Through Jesus’ blood and righteousness!

(7) SPIRIT OF GOD, COME DOWN Don Fortner (Tune: Blest Be The Tie #187 SM) 1. Spirit of God, come down. Reveal the things of Christ. Make Him and His salvation known. Teach us in Him to trust. 2. Oh, make each heart confess That Jesus is the Lord. Us sinners break us in humbleness By Your grace through the Word. 3. Your servant help this hour To preach Your Word aright. His every word anoint with pow’r As shafts of heavenly light. 4. Let us both know and feel Our interest in Christ’s blood And cry, with joy unspeakable, “My Savior and my God!” 5. Give witness by your Word Of the atoning Lamb; Apply to each that precious blood, We pray, in Jesus’ name.

(8) YOUR LOVE, AMAZING, MAKES ME BLUSH Don Fortner (Tune: When I Can Read My Title Clear #497 CM) What wondrous love could move Your heart, My Lord, to bear my sin, When You foreknew that I would be So hard and cold within? Your love, (Amazing!), makes me blush With shame and broken heart, That You, my God, have bled and died, With me upon Your heart. A sinful wretch, I’m loved of God! What wondrous grace is this? Now to that love and boundless grace All blessedness I trace. Gladly, I bow before Your throne And heartily confess – I am a sinful wretch undone, Without Your sovereign grace. This I confess to all the world, In this poor, earthly state; And hope, by this confession bold, To enter heaven’s gate.

(9) COME, O BLESSED, LOVING SAVIOR Don Fortner (Tune: Brethren, We Have Met To Worship #15 87.87D) 1. Come, O blessed, loving Savior, Come! We're gathered in Your name. Teach us by Your grace to adore Your eternal, matchless name. Give us, blessed Savior, give us, One more glimpse of Your dear face! From all carnal care relieve us. Fill us with Your grace and peace. 2. Let the message of redemption All our doubts and fears dispel. Give assurance of exemption From tormenting sin and hell. Take each wounded heart and heal it, In us make Your glory shine! Tell each soul called by Your Spirit, "I am yours, and you are Mine!" 3. Plunged into that cleansing fountain Your atonement made for sin, Freed from sin and vain delusion, Let us feel Your grace within. Come, Lord Jesus, come, refresh us, Come, revive our hearts with grace! May we ever be ambitious Your name to extol and praise!

(10) HOW SWEET, HOW PRECIOUS IS THE NAME! Don Fortner (Tune: The Doxology LM) How sweet, how precious is the name Of Jesus Christ, our Lord, the Lamb, The name that suits the sinner's case, Bursting with righteousness and grace! His name is Wonderful indeed, The name which needy sinners plead - Jesus, the Savior, suits us well! He saves from sin, and death, and hell! Immanuel! We bless Your name! (Incarnate God, yet God, the same!) Eternal Father! Prince of Peace! God in the flesh, our Hiding Place! Our Savior is the Lord of Hosts. Of His almighty pow'r we boast. All that our helpless souls can need, We find in our exalted Head! Poor, needy sinners in distress, We look to Christ for life and grace. Naked, we come to Him for dress, Who is THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS!

(11) WE HAVE NOT COME TO SINAI’S BROW Don Fortner (Tune: Majestic Sweetness #52 CM) We have not come to Sinai’s brow, Where God with thunder spoke The dreadful curses of the law, Midst tempest, fire, and smoke. To Zion’s fairer hill we’ve come, The City of our God. Though sinners, here we are welcome Through Jesus’ precious blood. With chosen angels, clothed in light, And spirits of the just, We’re gathered here to worship Christ, The mighty God we trust. Constrained, compelled by God’s free grace, Effectually we’re taught, Living by grace, to live for Christ, For by His blood we’re bought! Yet, painfully, we must confess – “Our noblest deeds are sin!” Still, Sinai’s law cannot molest, For Jesus’ blood says, “Clean!” In Zion’s hill the guilty rest And endless sabbath keep. Leaning upon our Savior’s breast, As safely folded sheep.

(12) FREE GRACE! FREE GRACE! FREE GRACE! Don Fortner (TUNE: Higher Ground #308 LMD) “Free grace! Free grace! Free grace,” I sing, And to the God of grace I bring All praise for grace that saves my soul. Free grace in Christ I must extol. Free grace, in God’s electing love, Chose me an heir to heav’n above. Free grace inscribed my worthless name In heaven’s book with Christ the Lamb. Free grace brought Christ down to the earth, A Sacrifice of matchless worth! My Substitute, He lived and died; And through His blood I’m justified! Free grace in God the Holy Ghost Sought me when I was dead and lost. ‘Twas grace omnipotent and free That gave eternal life to me. Free grace preserves and keeps me still. My Father shall not change His will. No pow’r can break the Spirit’s seal, Or make Christ’s blood atonement fail. Free grace alone can dry my tears And take away my guilty fears. Free grace keeps Christ before my eyes And gives a joy that never dies. Free grace shall death itself defeat And bring me to my Savior’s feet. Then, while all hell is looking on, I’ll shout, “Free grace,” before His throne! A trophy of free grace alone, To wond’ring worlds it shall be shown In me what His free grace has done, When God has made me like His Son!

(13) GIVE THANKS! GIVE THANKS! GIVE THANKS! Don Fortner (Tune: Blest be the Tie # SM) Give thanks! Give thanks! Give thanks! Give thanks to God and praise. Give thanks to God the Father and Extol Him for His grace. Give thanks! Give thanks! Give thanks! Give thanks to God the Son. Give thanks to Christ Who lived and died, God’s sin-atoning Son. Give thanks! Give thanks! Give thanks! To God the Spirit give. Give thanks to Him for grace and pow’r Which caused us to believe. Thanksgiving to our God, The mighty Three-in-One! We thank You for Your goodness that’s Revealed in all You’ve done.

(14) COME, TO THE ROCK OF AGES FLEE Don Fortner (Tune: My Faith has Found a Resting Place #228 CMD) Come, to the Rock of Ages flee. My soul, take refuge there. Find in the Christ of Calvary A cure for every care. When overwhelmed with emptiness And carnal, earthly care, In Christ, my Savior's, fullness is Enough my soul to cheer. When guilt lies heavy on my soul, Then to the Rock I flee. When Satan's accusations roll, Christ is enough for me! Christ is the Rock higher than I, My only Refuge He. When floods of sin and troubles rise, Then to the Rock I flee. When I, at last, go to my grave And cross the stormy sea, Fix me upon the Rock, unmoved, Since Jesus died for me. Come, to the Rock of Ages flee. My soul, take refuge there. Find in the Christ of Calvary A cure for every care.

(15) KEEP CHRIST IN VIEW Don Fortner (Tune: I Heard The Voice of Jesus Say #225 CMD) 1. Sinners redeemed by Jesus’ blood And called by grace divine, Walk worthy of the Lord your God And let your light now shine. Refrain: Keep Christ, your living Head in view In all you say and do. Walk worthy of your Lord, and do All things with Him in view. 2. The Son of God has made us free; And we are free indeed! Free from the law, in Christ, we’re free, God’s chosen, royal seed. 3. Let none of such a heav’nly birth Their dignity abase. Live not as worldlings of the earth, But trophies of free grace. 4. Your grace and strength in us renew. Blest Savior, fill our view! Help us, in all we say and do, Dear Christ, to honor You!

(16) GOD TO THE END WILL CARRY ON Don Fortner (Tune: Jesus, and Shall It Ever Be? #400 LM) 1. Did God from everlasting move To-ward me in eternal love? That love, unchangeable, the same Remains, whate’er my state or frame. 2. Has grace upon this sinner shone? Then grace will bring me safely home. God to the end will carry on The work which in me He begun. 3. Did Jesus die, my Substitute? He will not leave me destitute Of any grace or blessedness Or fail to bring me into bliss. 4. If I am by God’s Spirit born, I shall into His Kingdom come. `Midst all my sins, and guilt, and woe The Spirit will not let me go. 5. My soul through countless changes goes. God’s love no variation knows! My God will perfectly perform His work in me, a sinful worm. 6. My soul into Christ’s arms I cast And trust I shall be saved at last. Saved by God’s free and sov’reign grace Through Jesus’ blood and righteousness!

(17) ARISE, MY SOUL, BE GONE ALL FEARS Don Fortner (Tune: O For A Thousand Tongues #46 CM) Arise, my soul, be gone all fears, I am a child of God! Lean hard upon His mighty arm. He is the faithful Lord. Though troubles overwhelm my soul And break my heart with pain, My God is my Defender still - He will my cause maintain! The way is rough, the tempter strong, And I am weak and frail; But Jesus is my Refuge, and His strength will never fail. Though earthly joys all flee away And sorrows multiply, Yet, Christ the Lord my Portion is - He will my needs supply! The Spirit is my Comforter, The Seal of covenant grace. He seals to me the love of God And floods my soul with grace. With such a God, and Savior, and With such a Comforter, "Arise, my soul," I say, "Arise, Arise, be of good cheer!"

(18) WE ARE THE SONS OF GOD Don Fortner (Tune: The Sons Of God Goes Forth To War #412 CMD) When Adam in the garden sinned And Broke his Maker’s law, He died and we all died in him - We’re ruined by the fall! But Christ, the Second Adam, came At God’s appointed time, To save a chosen multitude By His own grace Divine. Christ lived in perfect righteousness And shed His precious blood; Through His obedience and blood, We’re justified by God! The Holy Spirit now applies Christ’s sin atoning blood, And by His mighty, sovereign grace He gives us faith in God! Not by the works which we have done But by God’s sov’reign grace, In Christ we’re saved, forever saved! Our God shall have our praise! The Father’s free, electing love, The Son’s redeeming blood, And by the Spirit’s mighty call, We are the sons of God!

(19) MY GOD, YOUR WAYS OF GRACE TO ME Don Fortner (TUNE: O for a thousand tongues CM) My God, Your ways of grace to me Have overwhelmed my heart; When I was full of enmity, All grace was in Your heart! Preserved in Christ, You kept me safe, Though I ran fast to hell; And to the pit I should have gone, But You do all things well! In love so great and mercy free, By blood You ransomed me; You sacrificed Your darling Son From sin to set me free! Your purposed grace, You never changed, (My God, I thank You now!) You sent Your Spirit, and to Christ You made this sinner bow. Lord, who am I, a worthless dog, Before Your holiness, That You should love and bless me so, To save me by Your grace? A monument of sovereign grace, A sinner saved by blood, Astounded by Your grace to me, I praise You, O my God!

(20) REIGN ON, GREAT, MIGHTY, SOV’REIGN GOD Don Fortner (Tune: My Faith Has Found A Resting Place #228 CMD) 1. Great God! To worship You we’ve come, With reverent faith we pray May God, the mighty Three-in-One His sovereign scepter sway. Let grace triumphant o’er us reign, And Christ exalted be; May sinners now be born again, And Your salvation see. 2. Father, make mercy, truth, and peace Fill each believing soul, And by the power of Your grace Our raging lusts control! May mutual love and harmony Among Your saints abide, Teach us to love and set us free From enmity and pride. 3. Reign on, great, mighty, sov’reign God, And make Your wonders known, Till every sinner bought by blood Is made to trust Your Son! Let Christ our Savior, God the Son, In Saving power reign, Till God’s elect arrive at home, Never to part again!

(21) PRAISE THE LORD! HE NEVER CHANGES! Don Fortner (Tune: Come Thou Fount #17 87.87D) 1. Praise the Lord! He never changes! Come, extol His worthy name! Yesterday, today, forever Behold, God remains the same! Satan led his great rebellion; And our father Adam fell. Yet our God remains unshaken, And unaltered is His will! 2. Praise the Lord! He never changes! Come, extol His worthy name! Yesterday, today, forever Behold, God remains the same! Though God’s Son assumed our nature, He is still unchanged, our God! Christ alone could make atonement, For this Man is truly God! 3. Praise the Lord! He never changes! Come, extol His worthy name! Yesterday, today, forever Behold, God remains the same! Though His chosen, ransomed people Could not,would not seek His face, God’s purpose, unchanged, abides; and He’ll save all the chosen race! 4. Praise the Lord! He never changes! Come, extol His worthy name! Yesterday, today, forever Behold, God remains the same! Therefore we, the sons of Jacob, Though we’re weak and full of shame, Are secure and have assurance. God, unchanged, remains the same!

(22) BLEST ARE WE, THE SONS OF GOD! Don Fortner (Tune: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing #93 77.77D) Blest are we, the sons of God, Blest by our unchanging God! Blest eternally in Christ! Blest with everlasting life! Freely loved in Christ His Son, Ere God made the blazing sun. Chosen by our Father’s grace, Heav’n shall be our resting place. Blest are we, the sons of God, Blest by our unchanging God! Lift your heart to heaven high, “Father! Abba, Father!” cry. Though we rightly blush with shame, We among the just are named! We stand just before our God, Bought with Jesus’ precious blood! Robed in perfect righteousness, Called by grace, we now have peace. Blest are we, the sons of God, Blest by our unchanging God! We have fellowship with God Through the Mediator’s blood. By the Holy Spirit sealed, We shall o’er our foes prevail! Ransomed from death, hell, the grave, Life eternal we shall have! One with God, in Jesus one, Glory is in us begun! Blest are we, the sons of God, Blest by our unchanging God! Guide us, Father, by Your hand, Into heaven’s better land. There our weary souls we’ll rest On our mighty Savior’s breast! Finish, Lord, what You began. (Then we shall be free from sin!) “Heirs of God, joint-heirs with Christ!” Blest, we are forever blest! Blest are we, the sons of God, Blest by our unchanging God!

(23) THE GOSPEL IS OUR LAW Don Fortner (Tune: Brethren, We Have Met To worship #15 87.87D) The Gospel is the law of Christ, (Life and liberty it brings!) Teaching helpless sinners to rest `Neath their mighty Savior’s wings We no longer work for favor, But rest on Christ Jesus’ deeds. Trusting our almighty Savior, We are now from Moses freed! Jesus’ yoke is mild and easy, Never chafing, never hard. Ransomed sinners strive to please Him, Not for fear nor for reward, But because we love our Savior And delight to call Him Lord, Seeking in all things and ever Full compliance with His Word. He who loved us and redeemed us, By His Spirit, set us free! Now His love and grace constrain us His most willing slaves to be. We will not be brought in bondage With the legal, working crowd; For we’ve tasted and found gracious Christ our God. To Him we bow.

(24) PRAISE THE LORD! HE NEVER CHANGES! Don Fortner (Tune: Come Thou Fount #17 87.87D) 1. Praise the Lord! He never changes! Come, extol His worthy name! Yesterday, today, forever Behold, God remains the same! Satan led his great rebellion; And our father Adam fell. Yet our God remains unshaken, And unaltered is His will! 2. Praise the Lord! He never changes! Come, extol His worthy name! Yesterday, today, forever Behold, God remains the same! Though God's Son assumed our nature, He is still unchanged, our God! Christ alone could make atonement, For this Man is truly God! 3. Praise the Lord! He never changes! Come, extol His worthy name! Yesterday, today, forever Behold, God remains the same! Though His chosen, ransomed people Could not, would not seek His face, God's purpose, unchanged, abides; and He'll save all the chosen race! 4. Praise the Lord! He never changes! Come, extol His worthy name! Yesterday, today, forever Behold, God remains the same! Therefore we, the sons of Jacob, Though we're weak and full of shame, Are secure and have assurance. God, unchanged, remains the same!