The Church's Desolation
# 501 in the Good old songs book

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8s and 7s.
Well may thy servants mourn, my God,
The churches' desolation;
The state of Zion calls aloud,
For grief and lamentations.
Once she was all alive to Thee,
And thousands were converted,
But now a sad reverse we see,
 her glory is departed.

Her pastors love to live at ease--
they covet wealth and honor;
And while they seek such things as these,
They bring reproach upon her.
Such worthless objects they pursue,
Warmly and undiverted;
The church they lead, and ruin, too--
Her glory is departed

Her private members walk no more
As Jesus Christ has taught them;
Riches and fashion they adore--
With these the world has bought them,
The Christian name they still retain,
Absurdly and false-hearted,
And while they in the church remain,
Her glory is departed.

And has religion left the church,
Without a trace behind her?
Where shall I go? Where shall I search,
That I once more may find her?
Adieu, ye proud, ye light, ye gay,
I'll seek the broken-hearted.
Who weep when they of Zion say,
Her glory is departed.

Some few, like good Elijah, stand,
While thousands have revolted;
In earnest for the heavenly land,
They never yet have halted.
With such religion doth remain,
For they are not perverted;
O, may they all through them regain
The glory that's departed.