The Church has waited long

The Church has waited long

Her absent Lord to see

And still in loneliness she waits

A friendless stranger she.

Age after age has gone

Sun after sun has set

And still in weeds of widowhood

She weeps a mourner yet.

Saint after saint on earth

Has lived

and loved

and died;

And as they left us one by one

We laid them side by side;

We laid them down to sleep

But not in hope forlorn;

We laid them but to ripen there

Till the last glorious morn.

The serpent’s brood increase

The powers of hell grow bold

The conflict thickens

faith is low

And love is waxing cold.

How long

O Lord our God

Holy

and true

and good

Wilt Thou not judge Thy suffering Church

Her sighs

and tears

and blood?

We long to hear Thy voice

To see Thee face to face

To share Thy crown and glory then

As now we share Thy grace.

Should not the loving bride

Her absent bridegroom mourn?

Should she not wear the signs of grief

Until her Lord return?

The whole creation groans

And waits to hear that voice

That shall her beauteousness restore

And make her wastes rejoice.

Come

Lord

and wipe away

The curse

the sin

the stain

And make this blighted world of ours

Thine own fair world again.