Scripture Verse

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

Introduction

portrait
William F. Sherwin
(1826–1888)

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 & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

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