Olney Hymns (1840)/Book 1/Hymn 136

136.
Ephesus.—Rev. ii, 1—7.

1 Thus saith the Lord to Ephesus,
And thus he speaks to some of us,—
"Amidst my churches, lo, I stand,
And hold the pastors in my hand.

2 "Thy works to me are fully known,
Thy patience and thy toil I own;
Thy views of gospel truth are clear,
Nor canst thou other doctrine bear.

3 "Yet I must blame while I approve;
Where is thy first, thy fervent love?
Dost thou forget my love to thee,
That thine is grown so faint to me?

4 "Recall to mind the happy days
When thou wast fill'd with joy and praise;
Repent—thy former works renew—
Then I'll restore thy comforts too.

5 "Return at once, when I reprove,
Lest I thy candlestick remove;
And thou too late thy loss lament:
I warn before I strike—Repent."

6 Hearken to what the Spirit saith,
"To him that overcomes by faith,
The fruit of life's unfading tree
In paradise his food shall be."