# Are There Few That Shall Be Saved? explained — Olney Hymns

> Chapter companion for Olney Hymns by John Newton.

## What happens

The poem warns that while many pursue the broad road to destruction, few find the narrow way to God through Christ. It emphasizes that relying on the crowd is no guarantee of salvation, citing Noah's ark as proof that only a small remnant is saved. The poem urges sinners to obey the gospel call and flee to Christ for safety before the storm of judgment arrives.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Vanity of Worldly Things

The poem contrasts the broad, popular way of sin with the narrow, difficult way to God, showing that worldly approval is no guarantee of salvation.

### Faith and Trust in Christ

Believers enter through Christ, the living gate, and safety is found only in Him, not in numbers or human reasoning.

## Character check-ins

### Jesus Christ

The living gate through which believers enter; the only way to salvation.

### The Narrator

The voice of the poem, warning of the dangers of the broad road and urging sinners to flee to Christ.

### The Lord

Addressed in the final stanza, asked to open sinners' eyes and make them flee to Him for safety.

### Noah

Mentioned in the context of the ark, where few were saved while many drowned.

## Key lines

> Destruction’s dangerous road What multitudes pursue, While that which leads the soul to God Is known or sought by few.

Many people are on the path to ruin, but only a few seek the way that leads to God.

_The opening stanza sets the contrast between the broad and narrow ways._

> But numbers are no mark That men will right be found; A few were saved in Noah’s ark, For many millions drown’d.

Being in the majority does not mean you are right; in Noah's time, only a few were saved while many perished.

_The poem uses the flood narrative to argue that God's salvation is not by majority vote._

> Obey the gospel call, And enter while you may, The flock of Christ is always small, And none are safe but they.

Respond to the gospel invitation now, because Christ's flock is small and only those in it are safe.

_The urgency of the gospel call is emphasized, with safety found only in Christ's flock._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters/77-are-there-few-that-shall-be-saved
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters