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 holy food
And to one hope she presses
With every grace endued
Tho' 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
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Alternate verses:
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 who hate her
And false sons in her pale
Against or foe or traitor
She ever shall prevail
Yet she on earth hath union
With God the Three in One
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won
With all her songs 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
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