O what a narrow, narrow path

O what a narrow, narrow path

Author: J. Hart (1759)
Published in 7 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Oh what a narrow, narrow path
Is that which leads to life!
Some talk of works, and some of faith,
With warmth, and zeal, and strife.

2 But after all that’s said or done,
Let men think what they will,
The strength of every tempted son
Consists in standing still.

3 [“Stand still,” says one, “that’s easy sure;
’Tis what I always do.”
Deluded soul, be not secure;
This is not meant to you.

4 Not driven by fear, nor drawn by love,
Nor yet by duty led;
Lie still you do, and never move;
For who can move that’s dead?

5 But for a living soul to stand,
By thousand dangers scared,
And feel destruction close at hand,
O this indeed is hard!

6 To shun this danger, others run
To hide they know not where;
Or though they fight, no victory’s won;
They only beat the air.]

7 He that believes, the Scripture says,
Shall not confusedly haste.
Thus danger threats both him that stays
And him that runs too fast.

8 [Haste grasps at all, but nothing keeps;
Sloth is a dangerous state;
And he that flees, and he that sleeps,
Cannot be said to wait.]

9 Lord, let thy Spirit prompt us when
To go, and when to stay;
Attract us with the cords of men,
And we shall not delay.

10 Give power and will, and then command,
And we will follow thee;
And when we’re frightened, bid us stand
And thy salvation see.

Source: A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #783

Author: J. Hart

Hart, Joseph, was born in London in 1712. His early life is involved in obscurity. His education was fairly good; and from the testimony of his brother-in-law, and successor in the ministry in Jewin Street, the Rev. John Hughes, "his civil calling was" for some time "that of a teacher of the learned languages." His early life, according to his own Experience which he prefaced to his Hymns, was a curious mixture of loose conduct, serious conviction of sin, and endeavours after amendment of life, and not until Whitsuntide, 1757, did he realize a permanent change, which was brought about mainly through his attending divine service at the Moravian Chapel, in Fetter Lane, London, and hearing a sermon on Rev. iii. 10. During the next two years ma… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: O what a narrow, narrow path
Author: J. Hart (1759)
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 7 of 7)
Text

A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #783

Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians. 9th ed. #d137

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Hymns and Spiritual Songs (New ed.) #150

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Hymns for the use of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, by the Authority of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania #369

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Hymns, etc. #30

Old School Sonnets, or a Selection of Choice Hymns #d194

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The Baptist Hymn Book #660

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