Sardis

I

“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 decay’d;
Thou art call’d a living church,
  But thou art cold and dead.

II

“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.

III

“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 confess’d,
Let my faithful servants hear,
  And woe be to the rest!”