The Church's One Foundation

We sang a song Sunday morning from the good old Baptist Hymnal that I have never heard before. And I was floored.

"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.

-Samuel J. Stone, 1839-1900