[drstevej]

And Can it Be? -- Charles Wesley

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night.
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray:
I woke -- the dungeon flamed with light!
My chains fell off, my heart was free
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

 

No condemnation now I dread
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head
And clothed in righteousness divine
Bold I approach the 'ternal throne
And claim the crown thru Christ my own.
 

[drstevej]

GRPL: Songs of Grace Ping

[Gamecock]

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below,
Shall be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun

[Jean Chauvin]

How Vast the Benefits Divine

How vast the benefits divine which we in Christ possess!
We are redeemed from sin and shame and called to holiness.
'Tis not for works that we have done, These all to Him we owe,
But He of His electing love Salvation doth bestow.

To Thee, O Lord, alone is due All glory and renown;
Aught to ourselves we dare not take, or rob Thee of Thy crown.
Thou wast Thyself our Surety In God's redemption plan,
In Thee His grace was given us, Long ere the world began.

Safe in the arms of sovereign love We ever shall remain;
Nor shall the rage of earth or hell Make Thy sure counsel vain.
Not one of all the chosen race but shall to heaven attain,
Here they will share abounding grace, And there with Jesus reign.

Words by Augustus M. Toplady, 1774
Revised, Dewey Westra, 1931
Tune: Seraph C.M.D.

[AZhardliner]

Regarding Christ's Church:

How sweet and awful is the place
With Christ within the doors,
While everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores.

While all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast,
Each of us cry, with thankful tongues,
"Lord, why was I a guest?

"Why was I made to hear thy voice,
And enter while there's room,
When thousands make a wretched choice,
And rather starve than come?"

'Twas the same love that spread the feast
That sweetly drew us in;
Else we had still refused to taste,
And perished in our sin.

Pity the nations, O our God,
Constrain the earth to come;
Send thy victorious Word abroad,
And bring the strangers home.

We long to see thy churches full,
That all the chosen race
May, with one voice and heart and soul,
Sing thy redeeming grace.

Words by Isaac Watts
Old Trinity Hymnal #271, Tune St. Columba
New Trinity Hymnal #469

May we be daily gripped by Grace!

[xzins]

You are wrong about Charles Wesley. The song is about prevenient grace. Charles' ordo salutis was the right order: (prevenient grace) belief regeneration salvation justification.

I've posted other songs of his to demonstrate that his and his brother, John's, thelogy was identical, but I'll allow you to misinterpret again one of history's greatest, most prolific Arminian songwriters. (Besides, it's neat your starting out your list of songs with a Wesley/Arminian writer. There's a poetic justice to this.)

I like you.

Otherwise, you'd need your asbestos suit. :>)

[BibChr]

And Can It Be, ALL of it, is probably my favorite. It sings better than Wesley taught. It is a soaring tribute to the sovereign saving grace of God to dead, helpless, totally depraved sinners.

Dan

[FormerLib]

By the way, I do want to thank you for using the term "Arminians" in either the title or close enough to the top to be seen in the preview.

[xzins]

Written one year later.

Let Us Plead for Faith Alone

Words: Charles Wesley, 1740 (Eph. 2:8-10)
Music: Foundery Collection, 1742

---

Listen to the Music

1.
Let us plead for faith alone,
faith which by our works is shown;
God it is who justifies,
only faith the grace applies.

2.
Active faith that lives within,
conquers hell and death and sin,
hallows whom it first made whole,
forms the Savior in the soul.

3.
Let us for this faith contend,
sure salvation is the end;
heaven already is begun,
everlasting life is won.

4.
Only let us persevere
till we see our Lord appear,
never from the Rock remove,
saved by faith which works by love.

[xzins]

This one is clearly about prevenient grace and the ordo is also clearly seen.

Spirit of Faith, Come Down

Words: Charles Wesley, 1746
Music: Sacred Harp (Mason), 1840

---

Listen to the Music

1.
Spirit of faith, come down,
reveal the things of God,
and make to us the Godhead known,
and witness with the blood.
'Tis thine the blood to apply
and give us eyes to see,
who did for every sinner die
hath surely died for me.

2.
No one can truly say
that Jesus is the Lord,
unless thou take the veil away
and breathe the living Word.
Then, only then, we feel
our interest in his blood,
and cry with joy unspeakable,
"Thou art my Lord, my God!"

3.
O that the world might know
the all atoning Lamb!
Spirit of faith, descend and show
the virtue of his name;
the grace which all may find,
the saving power, impart,
and testify to humankind,
and speak in every heart.

4.
Inspire the living faith
(which whosoe'er receive,
the witness in themselves they have
and consciously believe),
the faith that conquers all,
and doth the mountain move,
and saves whoe'er on Jesus call,
and perfects them in love.

[rwfromkansas]

This thread is providential. I have had it with the icky praise and worship songs (there are some praise and worship I like, for the record....and that really can movement) played during the SUnday evening chapel here. I am trying to find a list of great songs with a lot of depth, so this is cool.

Here is one song I located that is very strongly Calvinist...:)

This appears to be a Chinese hymn....

Father, Long Before Creation

1. Father, long before creation
Thou hadst chosen us in love,
And that love so deep, so moving,
Draws us close to Christ above.
Still it keeps us, still it keeps us
Firmly fixed in Christ alone.

2. Though the world may change its fashion,
Yet our God is e'er the same;
His compassion and His covenant
Through all ages will remain.
God's own children,
God's own children
Must forever praise His name.

3. God's compassion is my story,
Is my boasting all the day;
Mercy free and never failing
Moves my will, directs my way.
God so loved us,
God so loved us
That His only Son He gave.

4. Loving Father now before Thee
We will ever praise Thy love,
And our songs will sound unceasing
'Til we reach our home above,
Giving glory,
giving glory
To our God and to the

TAG: Giving glory,
giving glory
To our God and to the Lamb.


Another:

Always Thou Lovedst Me

1. I sought the Lord, and afterward
I knew
He moved my soul to seek Him,
seeking me.
It was not I that found
O Savior true;
No, I was found of Thee.

Chorus: I find, I walk, I love,
but oh, the whole
Of love is but my answer,
Lord, to Thee!
For Thou wert long beforehand
with my soul
Always Thou lovest me.

2. Thou didst reach forth Thy hand
and mine enfold;
I walked and sank not on
the storm vexed sea
'Twas not so much that I on
Thee took hold,
As Thou, dear Lord, on me.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

THE DAY THOU GAVEST
by John Ellerton, 1870

The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended;
the darkness falls at Thy behest;
to Thee our morning hymns
ascended;
Thy praise shall hallow now our rest.

We thank Thee that Thy church, unsleeping
while earth rolls onward into light,
through all the world her watch is keeping,
and rests not now by day or night.

As o'er each continent and island
the dawn leads on another day,
the voice of prayer is never silent,
nor die the strains of praise away.

So be it, Lord; Thy throne shall never,
like earth's proud empires, pass away.
Thy kingdom stands, and grows forever,
till all Thy creatures own Thy sway.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

While not necessarily a hymn of grace, I've always loved this:

http://www.ibiblio.org/jimmy/folkden/Peace.ram

[lockeliberty]

I was blinded by the devil,
Born already ruined,
Stone-cold dead
As I stepped out of the womb.
By His grace I have been touched,
By His word I have been healed,
By His hand I've been delivered,
By His spirit I've been sealed.

I've been saved
By the blood of the lamb,
Saved
By the blood of the lamb,
Saved,
Saved,
And I'm so glad.
Yes, I'm so glad,
I'm so glad,
So glad,
I want to thank You, Lord,
I just want to thank You, Lord,
Thank You, Lord.

By His truth I can be upright,
By His strength I do endure,
By His power I've been lifted,
In His love I am secure.
He bought me with a price,
Freed me from the pit,
Full of emptiness and wrath
And the fire that burns in it.

I've been saved
By the blood of the lamb,
Saved
By the blood of the lamb,
Saved,
Saved,
And I'm so glad.
Yes, I'm so glad,
I'm so glad,
So glad,
I want to thank You, Lord,
I just want to thank You, Lord,
Thank You, Lord.

Nobody to rescue me,
Nobody would dare,
I was going down for the last time,
But by His mercy I've been spared.
Not by works,
But by faith in Him who called,
For so long I've been hindered,
For so long I've been stalled.

I've been saved
By the blood of the lamb,
Saved
By the blood of the lamb,
Saved,
Saved,
And I'm so glad.
Yes, I'm so glad, I'm so glad,
So glad, I want to thank You, Lord,
I just want to thank You, Lord,
Thank You, Lord.

-Bob Dylan

[CCWoody]

No thread would be complete without this song of Grace:

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.


Woody.

Grant us the ability to do what You command, and command what You desire.

[RnMomof7]

Has anyone chosen this one ?

Another favorite of mine.

Rock of Ages
Augustus M. Toplady, 1776

Rock of A-ges, cleft for me,
   Let me hide my-self in Thee;
Let the wa-ter and the blood,
   From Thy riv-en side which flowed,
Be of sin the dou-ble cure,
   Cleanse me from its guilt and power.

Not the la-bors of my hands
   Can ful-fil Thy law's de-mands;
Could my zeal no res-pite know,
   Could my tears for-ev-er flow,
All for sin could not a-tone;
   Thou must save, and Thou a-lone.

No-thing in my hand I bring,
   Sim-ply to Thy cross I cling;
Na-ked, come to Thee for dress;
   Help-less, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the Foun-tain fly;
   Wash me, Sav-ior, or I die.

While I draw this fleet-ing breath,
   When mine eye-lids close in death,
When I soar to worlds un-known,
   See Thee on Thy judg-ment throne,
Rock of A-ges, cleft for me,
   Let me hide my-self in Thee.

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/r/o/rockages.htm
 

[Dahlseide]

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.

E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave;
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.

Lord, I believe Thou hast prepared, unworthy though I be,
For me a blood bought free reward, a golden harp for me!
’Tis strung and tuned for endless years, and formed by power divine,
To sound in God the Father’s ears no other name but Thine.

There is a Fountain Filled With Blood

Copied from:
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/f/tfountfb.htm

Many hyms may be & are equal to this one; but none are better.

[Jerry_M]

My Lord, I Did Not Choose You
#289 in the 1991 Baptist Hymnal

My Lord, I did not choose you,
for that could never be;
my heart would still refuse you
had you not chosen me.
You took the sin that stained me,
you cleansed me, made me new;
for you, Lord, had ordained me
that I should live in you.

Unless your grace had called me
and taught my opening mind,
the world would have enthralled me,
to heavenly glories blind.
My heart knows none above you;
for you I long, I thirst,
and know that, if I love you,
Lord, you have loved me first.

[CARepubGal]

My inclusion from the OPC Trinity Hymnal:

Whate'er my God Ordains is Right

Whate'er my God ordains is right: Holy his will abideth; I will be still whate'er he doth; And follow where he guideth: He is my God: though dark my road, He holds me that I shall not fall: Wherefore to him I leave it all.

Whate'er my God ordains is right: He never will deceive me; He leads me by the proper path; I know he will not leave me: I take, content, what he hath sent; His hand can turn my griefs away, And patiently I wait his day.

Whate'er my God ordains is right: Though now this cup, in drinking, May bitter seem to my faint heart, I take it, all unshrinking: My God is true; each morn anew Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart, And pain and sorrow shall depart.

[drstevej]

I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew
He moved my soul to seek him, seeking me;
It was not I that found, O Saviour true,
No, I was found of thee.

Thou didst reach forth thy hand and mine enfold;
I walked and sank not on the storm-vexed sea,
`Twas not so much that I on thee took hold,
As thou, dear Lord on me.

I find, I walk, I love, but, O the whole
Of love is but my answer, Lord to thee;
For thou wert long before-hand with my soul,
Always thou lovedst me.