My poem of the week this week is this great hymn. Even those who know it (a shrinking number among my students) often have seen all the verses. The hymn provides a helpful meditation on the church, her struggles and her solid Hope.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Church\u2019s One Foundation\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n The Church\u2019s one foundation Elect from every nation, The Church shall never perish! Though with a scornful wonder \u2019Mid toil and tribulation, Yet she on earth hath union O happy ones and holy! Words:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Sam\u00aduel J. Stone,\u00a0Lyra Fi\u00addel\u00adi\u00adum; Twelve Hymns of the Twelve Ar\u00adti\u00adcles of the Apos\u00adtle\u2019s Creed<\/em>\u00a0(Lon\u00addon: Messrs. Park\u00ader and Co., 1866).<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My poem of the week this week is this great hymn. Even those who know it (a shrinking number among my students) often have seen all the verses. The hymn provides a helpful meditation on the church, her struggles and her solid Hope. \u201cThe Church\u2019s One Foundation\u201d The Church\u2019s one foundation Is Jesus Christ her …<\/p>\n
\nIs Jesus Christ her Lord,
\nShe is His new creation
\nBy water and the Word.
\nFrom heaven He came and sought her
\nTo be His holy bride;
\nWith His own blood He bought her
\nAnd for her life He died.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nYet one o\u2019er all the earth;
\nHer charter of salvation,
\nOne Lord, one faith, one birth;
\nOne holy Name she blesses,
\nPartakes one holy food,
\nAnd to one hope she presses,
\nWith every grace endued.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nHer dear Lord to defend,
\nTo guide, sustain, and cherish,
\nIs with her to the end:
\nThough there be those who hate her,
\nAnd false sons in her pale,
\nAgainst both foe or traitor
\nShe ever shall prevail.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nMen see her sore oppressed,
\nBy schisms rent asunder,
\nBy heresies distressed:
\nYet saints their watch are keeping,
\nTheir cry goes up, \u201cHow long?\u201d
\nAnd soon the night of weeping
\nShall be the morn of song!<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nAnd tumult of her war,
\nShe waits the consummation
\nOf peace forevermore;
\nTill, with the vision glorious,
\nHer longing eyes are blest,
\nAnd the great Church victorious
\nShall be the Church at rest.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWith God the Three in One,
\nAnd mystic sweet communion
\nWith those whose rest is won,
\nWith all her sons and daughters
\nWho, by the Master\u2019s hand
\nLed through the deathly waters,
\nRepose in Eden land.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nLord, give us grace that we
\nLike them, the meek and lowly,
\nOn high may dwell with Thee:
\nThere, past the border mountains,
\nWhere in sweet vales the Bride
\nWith Thee by living fountains
\nForever shall abide!<\/strong><\/p>\n