An Exhortation to Gospel Preachers
The songs we sang at Sovereign Grace Teen Camp glorified God in lyrics and instrumentation. Below is the first poem that can be sung to a common tune.
____
An Exhortation to Gospel Preachers by Daniel Parks
We have gathered in this chapel, having come from far and near;
We are weary from our travel; some good news we long to hear.
So to him who is our preacher we would make this one request:
Prove yourself to be the teacher of the One who'll give us rest.
Chorus
Tell us not of self-salvation through an act of man's free will
It will bring no consolation; having heard we're hungry still
O, we long to see the glory of our God in Jesus' face;
Tell us now that blessed story of His free and sovereign grace.
Tell us how we did inherit Adam's sin, depravity;
Neither virtue, good, nor merit is in our ability.
But the prophets and apostles have declared the blessed word
In the law and in the gospels: "Salvation is of the LORD".
Tell us of the One in heaven Who, before the world began,
purposed that His grace be given to our race of fallen man.
Tell us of predestination: How that God upon His throne
Made a sovereign free election of the souls He calls His own.
Tell us of the Christ Lord Jesus Who has died for God's elect;
His blood ransoms and releases them from sin and its effect.
Everyone for whom He suffered shall be saved and justified,
And at last they shall be ushered into heav'n to be His bride.
Tell us of the Holy Spirit, blessed gift of God to men;
God's elect are without merit, yet by Him are born again.
He will find them undeserving, but He'll cause them to believe,
And will make them persevering 'til the goal they all achieve.
Tune: Nettleton. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing