Hymnal: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs
Date: 1853
Compiler: Alexander Campbell
Publisher/Printer: A Campbell
First Line: What poor despised company
Topic: The Christian's Hope Rank Honors and Future Glory
Writer: <no first name given> <no last name given>
Composer:
Meter: CM
Tune:
Hymn Number: Song 314
Page Number: 382, click to see hymnal pages
LyicsWhat poor, despised company
Of travellers are these,
Who walk in yonder narrow way,
Along the rugged maze?
Ah! these are of a royal line,
All children of a King;
Heirs of immortal crowns divine,
And, lo! for joy they sing.
Why do they, then, appear so mean,
And why so much despis'd?-
Because of their rich robes unseen
The world is not appriz'd.
But some of them seem poor, distress'd,
And lacking daily bread-
Ah! they're of boundless wealth possess'd,
With hidden manna fed!
But why keep they the narrow road,
That rugged thorny maze?
Why, that's the way their leader trod;
They love and keep his ways.
Why must they shun that pleasant path
That worldlings love so well?
Because that is the way to death;
The open road to hell.
What! is there then no other road
To Salem's happy ground?
Christ is the only way to God;
None other can be found.
Then let us in this way rejoice,
And in the truth abound,
Till Jesus with his angels comes,
And Michael's trump shall sound.
Then we shall mount on wings of love,
And meet in realms on high,
And saints and angels join in praise
Through all eternity.