Another Old Hymn & Hardshellism

The following hymn has been in "Primitive Baptist" hymnals ever since their beginning. It was sung even by their forefathers of the of the 18th century for the author, Isaac Watts (1674–1748), published it in his lifetime. Thus, we can know something of the views of those old Baptists who sang it in their assemblies, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries. 

First, let us give the words of the hymn.

1. Broad is the road that leads to death, 

And thousands walk together there; 

But wisdom shows a narrow path, 

With here and there a traveler. 

2. Deny thyself and take thy cross, 

Is the Redeemer's great command: 

Nature must count her gold but dross, 

If she would gain that heav'nly land. 

3. The fearful soul that tires and faints, 

And walks the ways of God no more, 

Is but esteemed almost a saint, 

And makes his own destruction sure. 

4. Lord, let not all my hopes be vain, 

Create my heart entirely new, 

Which hypocrites could ne'er attain, 

Which false apostates never knew.

First, note how the context of the hymn deals with eternal destinies and not with mere temporal salvation or temporal punishment. How do we know this from the words of the hymn? Is it not because it speaks of paths leading to either life or death? And, because it speaks of "gaining that heavenly land." 

And, who is excluded from gaining that heavenly land, of obtaining life eternal? Is it not the soul that does not persevere in faith and allegiance to Christ? Does it not exclude the soul that "tires and faints" and that "walks the ways of God no more"? Does it not exclude the "hypocrites" and "false apostates"? 

Further, how many will be led to eternal life? Few. How many say the Hardshells? Nearly all!

Also, what is required for obtaining that heavenly land and eternal life? It is to "deny thyself" and to "take thy cross," which are evangelical phenomena. It is necessary that one be identified with the minority and walking in the narrow way, which is the Christian way, the way of Christ, the way of holiness. 

My Hardshell brothers who deny the necessity of evangelical faith and repentance for salvation, and of the necessity of perseverance in faith and holiness, do not believe what this hymn teaches but their forefathers who sang this hymn believed what it taught. 

It is written in a minor key because there is a sense of pity and gloom over the fact that so many are lost and so few are saved, and grief over lost sinners. Do our modern Hardshell brothers grieve over the lost condition of their neighbors? 

The song has specific lines where the singers are speaking to those on the broad road. The exhortation to deny oneself and take up the cross is a call to evangelical repentance and conversion and it is addressed to those who are lost and on the broad way, to the unbelievers, hypocrites, and apostates. Do Hardshells so exhort lost sinners? Do they warn them of their destiny while they travel the broad road?

Again, what does the believer in the words of this hymn say about his views of salvation?

Here is good sacred harp singing of it. Many churches in old times would have sung it in sacred harp. Some sang it very slowly. Others, a little faster. I don't like to see it dragged out too much.