322.  Heirs With Christ

1
What poor, despised company
Of travelers are those,
Who walk in yonder narrow way,
Beset by many foes?

2
Ah, they are of a royal line,
All children of a King,
Heirs of eternal life divine,
And lo! for joy they sing!

3
Why do they, then, appear so mean?
And why so much despised?
Because, of their rich robes, unseen,
The World is not apprized.

4
But why keep they that narrow road,
That rugged, thorny maze?
Ah, that’s the way their Leader trod;
They love and keep his ways.