Thus saith the LORD to Ephesus

The words

1. 1

   Stanza 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. 2

   Stanza 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. 3

   Stanza 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. 4

   Stanza 4. Recall to mind the happy daysWhen thou wast filled with joy and praise;Repent, thy former works renew,Then I’ll restore thy comforts too.

5. 5

   Stanza 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. 6

   Stanza 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.”

Olney Hymns (1779), Book 1, Hymn 136. John Newton. Public domain. CCEL transcription with modernized spelling. www.praylock.com/olney-hymns/1-136