Sardis

“Write to Sardis,” saith the Lord,
“And write what he declares,

“Write to Sardis,” saith the Lord,
“And write what he declares,
He whose Spirit, and whose word,
Upholds the seven stars:
All thy works and ways I search,
Find thy zeal and love decayed;
Thou art called a living church,
But thou art cold and dead.

“Watch, remember, seek, and strive,
Exert thy former pains;
Let thy timely care revive,
And strengthen what remains;
Cleanse thine heart, thy works amend,
Former times to mind recall,
Lest my sudden stroke descend,
And smite thee once for all.

“Yet I number now in thee
A few that are upright;
These my Father’s face shall see,
And walk with me in white.
When in judgment I appear,
They for mine shall be confessed;
Let my faithful servants hear,
And woe be to the rest!”

Rev. 3:1-6

William Cowper