Indexes for The Sacred Harp, 2025 Edition
89 The Church’s Desolation
Words: William Arnold, 1844
Music: Arr. J. T. White, 1844. Alto W. M. Cooper, 1902
Meter: 8s & 7s D.
Well may Thy servants mourn, my God,
The Church’s desolation;
The state of Zion calls aloud
For grief and lamentation.
Once she was all alive to Thee,
And thousands were converted;
But now a sad reverse we see:
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 and gay,
I’ll seek the brokenhearted,
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 heav’nly 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.
The Church’s desolation;
The state of Zion calls aloud
For grief and lamentation.
Once she was all alive to Thee,
And thousands were converted;
But now a sad reverse we see:
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 and gay,
I’ll seek the brokenhearted,
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 heav’nly 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.