1
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.
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.
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.
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
’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.
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.
4
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,
In love may dwell with Thee.
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,
In love may dwell with Thee.
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Abilene, KS, United States
For years this beloved hymn was associated in my mind with those moving away from the orthodox Lutheran faith, belief and practice. Because of that I could not sing this song without breaking down and crying. And that is why they should have another verse in there:
The church will never perish, her dear Lord to defend
To guide, sustain and cherish, He's with her to the end
Though there be those that hate her,
False sons within her pale
Against both foe and TRAITOR the church shall e're prevail,
I am getting better and can usually sing it now without too much trouble -- Thank God
Enfield
I love this hymn so much that sometimes I sing the first verse over and over again.
London, United Kingdom
Just found this excellent web site as I searched for the words 'and mystic sweet communion, with those whose rest is won' It is my daughter's birthday on Saturday. Her rest was won 18 months ago. This hymn lifted my spirit 'O happy ones and holy! Lord give us grace that we, Like them the meek and lowly, In love may dwell with Thee.'
Boise, Idaho, United States
Our hearts are deeply troubled by the loss of hymns being sung in worship. We grew up in church and loved singing with fellow worshipers in four part harmony. Everyone sang and the message of those hymns brought people into a spirit of quiet worship. Now it is loud, and you couldn't hear others singing just the performers on stage who people clap for. It tries our patience and makes us want to walk out the door.
Croydon
I have been sick on Bed for over 11 days. Waking this this Hymn came to me. I have always Loved it. The words are a Blessing remind us that God is always with us in all situation.
South Africa
Vivian Akosua Twum could not have said it better. I love this hymn. It's always a blessing to listen to it and meditate on the words.
Tema, Greater Accra, Ghana
The words in this hymn is so powerful that you can use it to pray. I personal been touched by this words : - From heav’n He came and sought me.To be His holy Bride; With His own blood He bought me, And for my life He died.
Her longing eyes are blest, And the great Church victorious Shall be the Church at rest.
Hymns are not something that you just have to sing or listen, it has a lot of meaning and deep understanding if you are not descendent by the spirit it will be difficult for you.
When am down or sad I like singing hymns to revive my soul.
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.
Mukono, Uganda
This is a great hymn whose theological value spans the life of the Church of Christ. As an ecumenist, I stand in deep appreciation for its meaning for the church in a highly pluralistic world where it is called to bear common witness to Christ.
CO, United States
Outstanding hymn with powerful comforting lyrics and beautiful music.
Fortunately this version keeps the original first words of verse 2 as "Elect of" vs. "She is from", which revision greatly and sadly waters down the truth of its theological power.
See also the new book "From Heaven He Came and Sought Her" edited by the Gibson brothers.
Monterey, CA, United States
This song is such an inspirational summation of the beliefs and doctrine of the Christian church, and how I miss it! Our church, The Church of the Nazarene, no longer plays these wonderful old hymns, instead plays long sets of praise choruses that teach nothing of doctrine or belief. Worship is fine, essential, but without knowing what or why you are worshipping it is empty and an exercise in giddy hand-waving and empty ecstasy, metaphorically like building a house with no foundation.