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506. The church's one foundation

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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
men see her sore opprest,
by schisms 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,
on high may dwell with thee.

Text Information
First Line: The church's one foundation
Author: Samuel John Stone (1832-1900)
Meter: 76 76 D
Language: English
Publication Date: 2013
Scripture: ; ;
Topic: Church: Universal; Communion of Saints; Holy Communion (7 more...)
Tune Information
Name: AURELIA
Composer: Samuel Wesley (1766-1837)
Meter: 76 76 D
Key: E♭ Major



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Audio recording: Piano Harmony (auto-generated)
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