The Good Old Way.

“...Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein...” Jeremiah 6:16

This hymn is by John Kent, in which he writes of following in “the good old way.” It reminds me of Sacred Harp songs with related messages, “Let nothing cause you to delay, But hasten on the good old way” and “Broad is the road that leads to death.” In the Durand-Lester Hymn and Tune Book it is set to Duane Street. The hymn can be sung to other Long Meter tunes as well.

1. The good old way that leads to God, 

Which saints in every age have trod, 

Was Christ alone, they saw his day, 

And him pursued, the good old way. 

2. When Adam sunk his unborn race 

In ruin, guilt, and deep disgrace, 

The promise, with celestial ray, 

To Jesus points, the good old way. 

3. Th’ apostles all proclaimed him thus, 

Jesus the Lord, or God with us, 

Who did by death our ransom pay, 

The truth, the life, the good old way. 

4. ’Tis true, there’s one exceeding broad, 

Cast up by men, a dangerous road, 

Where thousands to destruction stray, 

Who never found this good old way. 

5. Cheer up, believer, courage take; 

Why should thy heart with sorrow break? 

Eternal joys shall soon repay, 

The sorrows of the good old way. 

6. Should foes and fears on every hand, 

Thick as the leaves in autumn stand, 

Still forward press, the day is yours; 

The good old way the crown secures.

 “The good old way” is hymn 357 in Gilbert Beebe’s The Baptist Hymn Book, and probably first appeared in Kent’s own Original Gospel Hymns and Poems, with nine stanzas. Kent’s stanzas three, five, and six are not in The Baptist Hymn Book, but appear below.

3. Prophets, in strains exalted high,

From Enoch down to Malachi,

Sung of his righteousness and blood.

The Good Old Way cast up by God.

5. If trav’llers ask, to Zion bound,

Is this the way to Canaan's ground?

Yea, tell them ’tis the Good Old Road,

There’s none beside cast up by God.

6. Way-faring men shall walk therein,

And life eternal surely win;

Yea, fools, in spite of every foe.

The Good Old Way shall safely go.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.