Sovereign Grace O’er Sin Abounding
Words: John Kent. Music: Sandra McCracken. ©2001 Same Old Dress Music (ASCAP). CCLI Song #4301154

Sovereign grace o’er sin abounding!
Ransomed souls, the tidings swell;
‘Tis a deep that knows no sounding;
Who its breadth or length can tell?
On its glories,
May my soul forever dwell.

What from Christ that soul can sever,
Bound by everlasting bands?
Once in Him, in Him forever;
Thus the eternal covenant stands.
None shall take Thee
From the Strength of Israel’s hands.

Heirs of God, joint-heirs with Jesus,
Long ere time its race begun;
To His name eternal praises;
O what wonders love has done!
One with Jesus,
By eternal union one

On such love, my soul, still ponder,
Love so great, so rich, so free;
Say, while lost in holy wonder,
Why, O Lord, such love to me?
Hallelujah! Grace shall reign
Hallelujah! Grace shall reign
Hallelujah! Grace shall reign eternally

Scripture References
Deut 32:10; Rom 8:17

Notes
Read a memoir of John Kent’s life.

Quotes from John Kent’s deathbed:
“We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, to give an account of the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or bad. That portion has cut me to the heart; while at the same time it has been my hope. If I am to stand by myself to yield an account, I am lost—lost for ever! But I know it is the judgment-seat of Christ; he is my surety, and has paid all demands. I shall be tried there by a covenant of grace, and not a covenant of works. Blessed be God for his great salvation.”

“The best obedience of my hands
Dare not appear before Thy throne;
But faith can answer Thy demands,
By pleading what my Lord hath done.”

(Singing William Cowper’s hymn, There Is A Fountain):
“Til all the ransomed church of God be saved to sin no more”

Final words:
“I am accepted—accepted.”

On his deathbed, John Kent confessed that he had often been tempted to suicide and self-destruction, but had found the best defense from these attacks and the sweetest balm for every wound was Hebrews 2:18: Because Jesus himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Related Material
Other hymn arrangements by Sandra McCracken

John Kent, Jr:
“The melody of the heart is the best melody, and singing with the spirit and with the understanding, the sweetest employ.”

Satisfied
Words: Clara T. Williams, 1875. Music: Karl Digerness, 1997. ©2003 Urban Glory Music

All my lifelong I have panted
For a drink from some cool spring,
That I hoped would quench the burning
Of the thirst I felt within

CHORUS:
Hallelujah! He has found me
The one my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies all my longings,
Through His blood I now am saved.

Feeding on the filth around me
Til my strength was almost gone,
Longed my soul for something better,
Only still to hunger on.
(Repeat Chorus)

Poor I was, and sought for riches
Something that would satisfy
But the dust I gathered round me
Only mocked my soul’s sad cry.
(Repeat Chorus)

Well of water ever springing,
Bread of life so rich and free,
Untold wealth that never faileth,
My Redeemer is to me.
(Repeat Chorus)

Scripture References
Psalm 107:9; Jn 4:10; Jn 15:16; Matt 6:33; 1Jn 1:7; Jn 4:10; Jn 6:35; Rom 8:17; Isaiah 55:1-7

Sands of Time
Words: Anne Cousin (Based on Samuel Rutherford’s Letters), 1857. Chorus by Cameron Gray, 2005. Music: Traditional Folk Tune, Arranged by Phillip Palmertree. ©2001 Phillip Palmertree Music.

The sands of time are sinking
The dawn of heaven breaks
The summer morn I’ve sighed for
The fair, sweet morn awakes.
Dark, dark had been the midnight
But dayspring is at hand
And glory, glory dwelleth
In Emmanuel’s land.

O Christ, He is the fountain,
The deep, sweet well of love!
The streams on earth I’ve tasted
More deep I’ll drink above:
There to an ocean fullness
His mercy doth expand,
And glory, glory dwelleth
In Emmanuel’s land.

CHORUS:
Oh—Emmanuel!
Oh—Emmanuel!
Oh—Emmanuel!
All my hope and peace
All my hope and peace

O I am my Beloved’s
And my Beloved is mine!
He brings a poor vile sinner
Into His house of wine
I stand upon His merit,
I know no other stand,
Not e’en where glory dwelleth
In Emmanuel’s land
(Chorus)

The Bride eyes not her garment,
But her dear Bridegroom’s face,
I will not gaze at glory,
but on my King of grace;
Not at the crown He giveth,
But on His pierced hand;
The Lamb is all the glory
In Emmanuel’s land
(Chorus)

Scripture References
Song of Solomon 2:16; 1 Pet 2:24; Isa 61:10; 2 Pet 3:13; Rom 4:5

Notes
Other hymns by Anne Cousin
Some of Samuel Rutherford’s Letters

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Rejoice, the Lord is King
Words & Music: Charles Wesley, 1744; Music: Darwall’s 148th, 1770.

Rejoice, the Lord is King!
Your Lord and King adore;
Rejoice, give thanks and sing,
And triumph evermore;

CHORUS:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

The Lord Our Savior, reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When He had purged our stains
He took His seat above;
(Repeat Chorus)

His kingdom cannot fail,
He rules o’er earth and Heav’n,
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus giv’n;
(Repeat Chorus)

Rejoice in glorious hope!
Jesus the Judge shall come,
And take His servants up
To their eternal home.
(Repeat Chorus)

Scripture References:
Ps 31:1-2; Ps 145:1-3,13; 1 Cor 15:24-28,57-58; 2 Cor 2:14; Rom 8:31; 1 Pet 3:22; Matt 26:28; Col 3:1; Isa 66:1; Eph 1:22; Rev 1:18; Titus 2:13-14; 2 Tim 4:1; Jn 5:22; 1 Thes 4:16-18

Psalm 130
Words: Martin Luther, 1523. Music: Christopher Miner ©1997 Christopher Miner Music

From the depths of woe I raise to Thee
The voice of lamentation;
Lord, turn a gracious ear to me
And hear my supplication;
If Thou iniquities dost mark,
Our secret sins and misdeeds dark,
O who shall stand before Thee?

To wash away the crimson stain,
Grace, grace alone availeth;
Our works, alas! Are all in vain;
In much the best life faileth;
No man can glory in Thy sight,
All must alike confess Thy might,
And live alone by mercy

Therefore my trust is in the Lord,
And not in mine own merit;
On Him my soul shall rest, His word
Upholds my fainting spirit;
His promised mercy is my fort,
My comfort and my sweet support;
I wait for it with patience

Though great our sins and sore our woes
His grace much more aboundeth;
His helping love no limit knows,
Our utmost need it soundeth.
Our Shepherd good and true is He,
Who will at last His Israel free
From all their sin and sorrow
I wait for it with patience

Scripture References:
Psa 130:1-8

Pearly Gates
Words: Fredrick A. Blom, 1917; translated from Swedish by Nathaniel Carlson, circa 1935. Music: Clint Wells and Brian T. Murphy. ©2004 Red Mountain Music.

Love divine, so great and wondrous,
Deep and mighty, pure sublime!
Coming from Your heart, O Jesus,
Just the same through tests of time.

CHORUS:
You the pearly gates will open,
So that I may enter in;
For You purchased my redemption
And forgave me all my sin.

Like a dove when hunted, frightened,
As a wounded fawn was I;
Brokenhearted, yet You healed me,
You will heed the sinner’s cry.
(Repeat Chorus)

Love divine, so great and wondrous,
All my sins You then forgave!
I will sing Your praise forever,
For Your blood, Your power to save.
(Repeat Chorus)

In life’s eventide, at twilight,
At Your door I’ll knock and wait;
By Your precious love, O Jesus
I shall enter Heaven’s gate.
(Repeat Chorus)

Scripture References
John 10:9-11; 1 Cor 2:9; Rev 5:9; Ps 74; Ps 28; Ps 32:5; Ps 65:3; Col 2:13; Ps 118:19; Isa 51:11; Matt 7:13; Heb 10:19-25

Notes
Fredrick Arvid Blom was born on May 21, 1867, near Enkoping, Sweden. He came to the United States in the 1890’s and became an officer in the Salvation Army, in Chicago. Later Blom studied at North Park College and Seminary and then pastored Mission Covenant (now Evangelical Covenant) churches until 1915. Through various circumstances, Mr Blom fell into deep sin and eventually spent time in prison. He explained, “I drifted from God… and became embittered with myself, the world, and no the least with ministers who look on me with suspicion…” Sometime later, Blom was restored in his fellowship with God at a Salvation Army meeting and once again resumed a pastorate at a Swedish Congregational Church in Titusville, PA, until returning to Sweden in 1921. There he pastored several churches until his death on May 24, 1927, at Uddevalla, Sweden.

It is generally believed that Fredrick Blom wrote the text for these verses either in prison or shortly after his spiritual restoration.
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