This hymn was chosen by Jane, who has already told her husband that should she meet with untimely death, this is a piece she wants played at her funeral along with Handel’s I Know that My Redeemer Liveth. Jane has good taste in music, doesn’t she?
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 heav’n he came and sought her to be his holy bride;
With his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.
She is from ev’ry 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 ev’ry 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 that hate her, and false sons in her pale,
Against or 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 for evermore;
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 the 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!
—-Words by Samuel Stone; music by Samuel Wesley (Listen.)
Other hymns, worship songs, etc. posted today:
Have you posted a hymn this Sunday and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by emailing me at the address in the sidebar and I’ll add your post to the list. If you’d like to see your favorite hymn featured as a Reader’s Choice hymn, go here and leave a comment. Just tell me your favorite hymn and a little bit about why you like it and I’ll feature your hymn when your turn comes. But you’d better do it soon, because we’re coming to an end of the list of the already suggested favorite hymns!