What Poor Despisèd Company

What poor des­pis­èd com­pa­ny

Of tra­vel­ers are these

That walk in yon­der nar­row way

Along that rug­ged maze?

Ah

these are of a roy­al line

All child­ren of a king;

Heirs of im­mor­tal crowns di­vine

And lo! for joy they sing.

Why do they then ap­pear so mean

And why so much des­pis­èd?

Because of their rich robes un­seen

The world is not ap­pris­èd.

But some of them seem poor dis­tressed

And lack­ing dai­ly bread;

Ah

they’re of bound­less wealth pos­sessed

With hid­den man­na fed.

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.

Why must they shun the plea­sant path

That world­lings love so well?

Because that is the road to death

The op­en road to hell.

What

is there then no oth­er road

To Sa­lem’s hap­py ground?

Christ is the on­ly way to God

None oth­er can be found.