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Hymns and Tunes 1876 108

Windham

1BROAD is the road that leads to death,
And thousands walk together there ;
But wisdom shows a narrow path,
With here and there a traveler.

2Deny thyself and take thy cross,
Is the Redeemer's great command ;
Nature must count her gold but dross,
If she would gain that heavenly land.

3The fearful soul that tires and faints,
And walks the ways of God no more,
Is but esteemed almost with saints,
And makes his own destruction sure.

4Lord, let not all my hopes be vain ;
Create my heart entirely new ;
Let thy my soul be born again—
Oh ! guide me all life's journey through.

Also sung to
Windham (Hymns and Tunes 1886 #361)

Public Domain

The verse

Meter
8.8.8.8
Foot
iambic (da-DUM) · 72% of beats fit
Rhyme
ABCD
Scan every line

/ stressed · ˘ unstressed · ? not in the dictionary

Verse 1

BROAD is the road that leads to death,/˘˘/˘/˘/8A
And thousands walk together there ;˘/˘/˘/˘/8B
But wisdom shows a narrow path,˘/˘/˘/˘/8C
With here and there a traveler.˘/˘/˘/˘˘8D

Verse 2

Deny thyself and take thy cross,˘///˘///8A
Is the Redeemer's great command ;˘˘???/˘/8B
Nature must count her gold but dross,/˘//˘/˘/8A
If she would gain that heavenly land.˘˘˘/˘/˘˘/9B

Verse 3

The fearful soul that tires and faints,˘/˘/˘/˘˘/9A
And walks the ways of God no more,˘/˘/˘/˘/8B
Is but esteemed almost with saints,˘˘˘///˘/8C
And makes his own destruction sure.˘/˘/˘/˘/8D

Verse 4

Lord, let not all my hopes be vain ;//˘/˘/˘/8A
Create my heart entirely new ;˘/˘/˘/˘˘/9B
Let thy my soul be born again—//˘/˘/˘/8C
Oh ! guide me all life's journey through.˘/˘///˘/8B

Counted by machine from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. It cannot hear emphasis or a poet’s licence, so treat it as a place to start reading, not the last word.