726. THE CHURCH’S FOUNDATIONS
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.
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 holyS food
And to one hope she presses
With every grace endued.
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.