Destruction’s dangerous road
Book 3, Hymn 77 · John Newton · Public-domain words
Destruction’s dangerous road
Book 3, Hymn 77 · John Newton
The words
- 1
Stanza 1. Destruction’s dangerous roadWhat multitudes pursue!While that which leads the soul to God,Is known or sought by few.
- 2
Stanza 2. Believers enter inBy CHRIST, the living gate;But they who will not leave their sin,Complain it is too strait.
- 3
Stanza 3. If self must be denied,And sin forsaken quite;They rather choose the way that’s wide,And strive to think it right.
- 4
Stanza 4. Encompassed by a throng,On numbers they depend;So many surely can’t be wrong,And miss a happy end.
- 5
Stanza 5. But numbers are no markThat men will right be foundA few were saved in Noah’s ark,For many millions drowned.
- 6
Stanza 6. Obey the gospel call,And enter while you may;The flock of CHRIST is always small,And none are safe but they.
- 7
Stanza 7. LORD, open sinners’ eyesTheir awful state to seeAnd make them, ere the storm arise,To thee for safety flee.
Olney Hymns (1779), Book 3, Hymn 77. John Newton. Public domain. CCEL transcription with modernized spelling. www.praylock.com/olney-hymns/3-77
About these words
John Newton lived from 1725 to 1807. These historical words are public domain.
This hymn belongs to the complete three-book collection first published in 1779.
The CCEL transcription modernizes spelling and some punctuation. Read this hymn at the source. Checked 23 October 2026.
No sheet music or recordings are included. This web collection is separate from the PrayLock iPhone app.
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