Songs

The Church's one foundation

		
398
				7.6.7.6.D.

1	The Church's one foundation
	Is Jesus Christ her Lord;
	She is His new creation
	By water and the Word:
	From heav'n He came and sought her
	To be His holy Bride;
	With His own blood He bought her,
	And for her life He died. 

2	Elect from every nation,
	Yet one o'er all the earth,
	Her charter of salvation,
	One Lord, one faith, one birth;
	One holy Name she blesses,
	Partakes one holy food,
	And to one hope she presses,
	With every grace endued.

3	Though with a scornful wonder
	Men see her sore opprest,
	By schism rent asunder,
	By heresies distrest;
	Yet saints their watch are keeping,
	Their cry goes up, “How long?”
	And soon the night of weeping
	Shall be the morn of song.

4	'Mid toil and tribulation,
	And tumult of her war,
	She waits the consummation
	Of peace for evermore;
	Till, with the vision glorious,
	Her longing eyes are blest,
	And the great Church victorious
	Shall be the Church at rest. 

5	Yet she on earth hath union
	With God the Three in One,
	And mystic sweet communion
	With those whose rest is won:
	O happy ones and holy!
	Lord, give us grace that we,
	Like them, the meek and lowly,
	In love may dwell with Thee.