We’re looking at the old hymn, The Church’s One Foundation. Music written Samuel Sebastian Wesley in 1864, it typifies music styles of that era, written for a piano and organ. Samuel Wesley played organ at a large church in Hereford, England, until he eloped with the Dean’s daughter. Thus ended a promising career there. Verse 2:

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 is indeed universal, of all nations, and its charter demands unity of faith in Jesus the Christ and His virgin birth. All believers become one in Christ, and symbolize that union by taking communion together. Together we share one blessed hope: the second coming of Christ, and share every grace He so richly gives to us.

As the worship style fades, let’s keep the message fresh in our hearts.

Tags: hymns, unity