Scripture Verse

The gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 7:13–14

Introduction

Words & Mu­sic: Ira D. San­key, in Gos­pel Hymns No. 5 (Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio, & New York: John Church and Big­low & Main, 1887) (🔊 pdf nwc). Some hym­nals give the au­thor as Ri­an A. Dykes or Ri­an J. Ster­ling, two of San­key’s pseu­do­nyms.

portrait
Ira D. Sankey (1840–1908)

Lyrics

O brother, life’s jour­ney be­gin­ning,
With courage and firm­ness arise!
Look well to the course thou art choos­ing;
Be earnest, be watchful, and wise!
Remember—two paths are before thee,
And both thy attention invite;
But one leadeth on to de­struct­ion,
The other to joy and de­light.

Refrain

God help you to fol­low His ban­ner,
And serve Him wher­ev­er you go;
And when you are tempt­ed, my bro­ther,
God give you the grace to say No!

O brother, yield not to the tempt­er,
No matter what others may do;
Stand firm in the strength of the Mas­ter,
Be loyal, be faith­ful, and true!
Each trial will make you the strong­er,
If you, in the name of the Lord,
Fight manfully under your lead­er,
Obeying the voice of His Word.

Refrain

O brother, the Sav­ior is call­ing!
Beware of the dan­ger of sin;
Resist not the voice of the Spi­rit,
That whispers so gent­ly with­in.
God calls you to en­ter His ser­vice—
To live for Him here, day by day;
And share by and by in the glo­ry
That ne­ver shall van­ish away.

Refrain