Strive to enter in at the strait gate.
Luke 13:24
Words: Albina L. Bean, in Songs of Grace and Glory, edited by William Sherwin & Silas J. Vail (New York: Horace Waters & Son, 1874), number 48.
Music: William F. Sherwin (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Bean (head-and-shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels), would you ?
O brother, strive! thy crown is not yet won;
Strive! for the night is coming on apace!
The day will soon be gone,
Soon will be closed the race—
O brother, strive!
Refrain
Strive, strive, strive,
Strive for the narrow way,
Strive, strive, strive;
Strive for eternal day.
Strive! for a cloud of witnesses surround,
Each step is marked, of victory or defeat;
Then leave no vantage ground
For Satan’s wary feet—
O brother, strive!
Refrain
Strive! tho’ thy way be darkened, rough and steep,
Thy Father’s hand shall guide thee thro’ the night;
Thy faltering footsteps keep,
Make all thy darkness light;
O brother, strive!
Refrain
Strive! for the world ne’er offered prize like this,
A crown whose glory ages shall not dim!
God holds for thee such bliss,
Live thou for Him, for Him!
O brother, strive!
Refrain