[Verse 1]
D D/F#
The church's one foundation
G Asus A
Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
D D/F#
She is His new creation
G Asus A
By water and the Word.
Em D/F#
From heaven He came and sought her
G Asus A
To be His holy bride;
D D/F#
With His own blood He bought her,
G A D
And for her life He died.
[Verse 2]
D D/F#
Elect from every nation,
G Asus A
Yet one over all the earth;
D D/F#
Her charter of salvation,
G Asus A
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
Em D/F#
One holy Name she blesses,
G Asus A
Partakes one holy food,
D D/F#
And to one hope she presses,
G A D
With every grace endued.
[Verse 3]
D D/F#
Though with a scornful wonder
G Asus A
Men see her sore oppressed,
D D/F#
By schisms rent asunder,
G Asus A
By heresies distressed,
Em D/F#
Yet saints their watch are keeping;
G Asus A
Their cry goes up, "How long?"
D D/F#
And soon the night of weeping
G A D
Shall be the morn of song.
[Verse 4]
D D/F#
The church shall never perish,
G Asus A
Her dear Lord to defend
D D/F#
To guide, sustain and cherish,
G Asus A
Is with her to the end
Em D/F#
Though there be those that hate her,
G Asus A
And false sons in her pale
D D/F#
Against a foe or traitor,
G A D
She ever shall prevail
[Verse 5]
D D/F#
Mid toil and tribulation,
G Asus A
And tumult of her war,
D D/F#
She waits the consummation
G Asus A
Of peace forevermore;
Em D/F#
'Til, with the vision glorious,
G Asus A
Her longing eyes are blessed,
D D/F#
And the great church victorious
G A D
Shall be the church at rest.
[Verse 6]
D D/F#
Yet she on earth hath union
G Asus A
With God the Three in One,
D D/F#
And mystic sweet communion
G Asus A
With those whose rest is won.
Em D/F#
O happy ones and holy!
G Asus A
Lord, give us grace that we
D D/F#
Like them, the meek and lowly,
G A D
On high may dwell with Thee.