The Church's One Foundation

Words: Samuel J. Stone, 1866

Music:   "Aurellia",  Samuel S. Wesley, 1864
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 1.  The church's one foundation 
        is Jesus Christ her Lord,
     She is His new creation
        by water and the Word.
     From heaven 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 
        we 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.

 4.  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 blessed,
     And the great church victorious 
        shall be the church at rest.

 5.  Yet she on earth hath union 
        with God and Christ His son,
     And there is 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, 
        may one day reign with Thee. 


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Page last modified on: 07/29/2004