Scripture Verse

Strive to enter in at the strait gate. Luke 13:24

Introduction

Words: John H. Bram­mall, writ­ten for the Wes­ley­an Sun­day School Un­ion, 1870, and first print­ed in the Un­ion’s Whit­sun­tide fly-sheet of that year. In 1879, it was gi­ven ano­ny­mous­ly in the Me­tho­dist Sun­day School Hymn Book, num­ber 283.

Music: St. Ger­trude Ar­thur S. Sul­li­van, 1871 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Bram­mall (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900)

Lyrics

Onward, child­ren, on­ward!
Leave the paths of sin;
Hasten to the strait gate,
Strive to enter in;
None can knock un­heed­ed,
None can strive in vain,
For the Sav­ior’s wel­come
All that seek ob­tain.

Refrain

Onward, child­ren, on­ward!
Is the call to­day;
Come with rea­dy foot­steps,
And that call obey.

Onward, child­ren, on­ward!
In the nar­row way.
Christ your Lord shall lead you
Safely day by day;
And with such a lead­er
What have you to fear?
Satan may op­pose you,
But your king is near.

Refrain

Onward, ever on­ward!
Till you join the throng
Who in dazz­ling rai­ment
Sing the tri­umph song,
And to heav’n­ly music
Cry with one ac­cord,
Holy! Ho­ly! Ho­ly!
Is our so­ver­eign Lord.

Refrain