Adventist Pioneer Library

The Christian — Comfort and Encouragement

Is not the way to heavenly gain

  • No. 699
  • Words Henry F. Lyte.
  • 4 stanzas
  • Words only in the original
1

Is not the way to heavenly gainThrough earthly grief and loss?Rest must be won by toil and pain,—The crown repays the cross.

2

In tears and trials thou must sowTo reap in joy and love;We cannot find our home below,And hope for one above.

3

As woods, when shaken by the breeze,Take deeper, firmer root;As winter's frost but makes the treesAbound in summer fruit;

4

So every heaven-sent pang and throeThat Christian firmness tries,But nerves us for our work below,And forms us for the skies.

About this hymn

As printed Words only. As printed: hymn number «699» (large) at the foot of the left column of p. 228, below hymn 698, with the reference line «201, 395, 183.» in italics beside it (sing to the tune of hymn 201, 395 or 183); four stanzas numbered «1»–«4» (written «1.»–«4.» here, as in the other deliveries of this book), with «Henry F. Lyte.» in italics after stanza 4. The first word «Is» is set in ordinary type (no small capitals visible). Lines 2 and 4 of each stanza are indented in the print. The print sets a thin space before «?» and «;» («loss ?», «love ;», «root ;», «fruit ;»); it is closed up here, and the apostrophe («winter's») is written straight. No meter is printed (the text is C. M., 8.6.8.6, like the referenced tunes). Spelling, punctuation and capitals are the print's.

Source
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book (Battle Creek: Review & Herald, 1886/1888)
Where
The Christian — Comfort and Encouragement · No. 699 · printed page 228
Checked
lyrics verified (fork reading; parent check pending) · 2026-10-02