I am reminded that struggles for the church to be reminded of her identity, and purpose in the world are not new. Each generation must be reminded of God’s saving mercies, and the unity that defines us as the Body of Christ in the world and the Bride of Christ as we are called home. Samuel Stone was confronting a church leader who did not believe in several foundational doctrines of faith. This hymn was written in the 1860’s and almost 160 years later the heresies and doubts have changed, but truth has not. I love this hymn it is scriptural and has stood the test of time because it has proclaimed the timeless truth of God. Let me share the words with you now, and let it serve as a reminder of the timeless truth of God.
“The Church’s One Foundation”
by Samuel J. Stone, 1839-1900
- 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. - 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 that hate her.
False sons within her pale,
Against both foe and 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,
Til with the vision glorious
Her longing eyes are blest
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest.
The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #473
Text: Eph. 2:20
Author: Samuel J. Stone, 1866, cento
Composer: Samuel S. Wesley, 1864
Tune: “Aurelia”