Testo The church's one foundation Chris Rice

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 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

Though with a scornful wonder
We 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

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