78 The Church's one foundation

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 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. 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!