The Church's One Foundation

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
And with his blood he bought her and for her life he died.

Elect from every nation and 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 guard sustain and cherish is with her to the end
Though there be those that hate her and false sons in her pale
Against a 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
Til with the vision glorious, her longing eyes are blest,
And the great church victorious, shall be the church at rest.

Yet we 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 may dwell on high with thee.