The Church’s One Foundation

CThe church’s one foundGation
Is JFesus GChrist her CLord
She is His new crFeation by dwater and the GWord
From Cheaven He came and sought her
To C7be His holy bFride
With CHis own blood He bGought her
And Ffor her Glife He Cdied

She is 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

The Church shall never perish
Her dear Lord to defend
To guide sustain and cherish
Is with her to the end
Though there be those who hate her
And false sons in her pale
Against both foe or traitor
She ever shall prevail

Though with a scornful wonder
Men see her sore oppressed
By schisms rent asunder by heresies distressed
Yet saints their watch are keeping
Their cry goes up how long
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the morn of song

‘Mid toil and tribulation
And tumult of her war
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore
Till with the vision glorious
Her longing eyes are blest
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest

Yet she on earth hath union
With God the Three in One
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won
With all her sons and daughters
Who by the Master’s hand
Led through the deathly waters
Repose in Eden land

O happy ones and holy
Lord give us grace that we
Like them the meek and lowly
On high may dwell with Thee
There past the border mountains
Where in sweet vales the Bride
With Thee by living fountains
Forever shall abide