What poor despised company

1 What poor despised company
Of travelers are these,
That walk in yonder narrow way,
Along that rugged maze?

2 Ah these are of a royal line,
All children of a king;
Heirs of immortal crowns divine,
And lo! for joy they sing.

3 Why do they then appear so mean,
And why so much despised?
Because of their rich robes unseen,
The world is not apprised.

4 But some of them seem poor distressed,
And lacking daily bread;
Ah they're of boundless wealth possessed,
With hidden manna fed.

5 But why keep they that narrow road,
That rugged thorny maze?
Why, that's the way their leader trod,
They love and keep his ways.

6 Why must they shun the pleasant path,
That worldlings love so well?
Because that is the road to death,
The open road to hell.

7 What, is there then no other road,
To Salem's happy ground?
Christ is the only way to God,
None other can be found.

Divine Hymns, or Spiritual Songs: for the use of religious assemblies and private Christians 1800