This week, a hymn of unity and communion is our topic of conversation. Samuel J. Stone published this hymn in response to some doctrinal controversy as part of a compendium of songs on the Apostles' Creed called Lyra Fidelium (the lyre of the faithful), linked below. The Church's One Foundation is a meditation on the ninth article of the Apostles' Creed: "...[I believe] in the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints..." The lyrics describe a Church battered by schisms, heresies, and spiritual warfare, yet held securely by Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus Christ is worshiped abundantly in this song: He is referred to as the Foundation, the Husband, the Creator, the Redeemer, the Defender, the Guide, the Sustainer, and The Lord of the Church.
Manley's version (with his permission) is appended to the end of this episode as it is not available online.
Stone's original lyrics in Lyra Fidelium (with cross-references): http://lyra-fidelium.faithweb.com/9lyra-thechurch.html
Songs sampled in this episode:
(1) The Church's One Foundation by Christ Church Bellingham https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKRmncbUMps
(2) The Church's One Foundation by Indelible Grace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j44-l71jTFI
(3) The Church's One Foundation by Chris Manley and Nathan Partain
(4) The Church's One Foundation by Reawaken Hymns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2ScAzkpqbs
Lyrics:
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.
She is 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.
The Church shall never perish!
Her dear Lord to defend,
To guide, sustain, and cherish,
Is with her to the end:
Though there be those who hate her,
And false sons in her pale,
Against a foe or traitor
She ever shall prevail.
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!
'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,
With all her sons and daughters
Who, by the Master's Hand
Led through the deathly waters,
Repose in Eden-land.
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we
Like them, the meek and lowly,
On high may dwell with Thee:
There, past the border mountains,
Where in sweet vales the Bride
With Thee by living fountains
For ever shall abide!
