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HYMNS ON THE CHURCH

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HYMNS ON THE CHURCH

HE Church as a Divine institution, the channel through which men are led to and blessed by God, has naturally been the theme which has inspired the Church's singers. John Newton has furnished us one of this type of hymns, a hymn which was originally published in the Olney Hymns under the title of "Zion, or the City of God." It was a hymn of five stanzas, based on Isa. 33:20, 21. The Olney Hymns were published in 1779.

NEWTON'S HYMN ON THE CHURCH OF CHRIST

Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
He, whose word cannot be broken,
Form'd thee for His own abode;
On the Rock of Ages founded,

What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
Thou may'st smile at all thy foes.

See the streams of living waters
Springing from eternal love.
Well supply thy sons and daughters,
And all fear of want remove.

Who can faint while such a river

Ever flows their thirst to assuage?
Grace, which, like the Lord, the Giver,
Never fails from age to age.

Saviour, if of Zion's city

I, through grace, a member am,
Let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in Thy Name,
Fading is the wordling's pleasure,
All his boasted pomp and show;
Solid joys and lasting treasure

None but Zion's children know.

This hymn, which is used in various forms both in England and in this country, has attained great popularity in all English-speaking countries. It ranks among the first hymns in English in every branch of the Protestant Church. It is interesting to note that a portion of this hymn has been translated into Latin and is included in a Latin Hymn book which was published in 1871.

A FESTIVAL PROCESSIONAL

A hymn which has an interesting origin and history is the hymn usually called by its first line, "The Church's One Foundation." It was written by Samuel J. Stone in 1866. The story of its conception in the mind of the writer is that he was impressed by the defence of the Catholic Faith made by Bishop Gray, of Capetown, against the teachings of Bishop Colenso. This fact gives it an historic association which adds interest and meaning to its stanzas, which in the original number

ten.

The hymn as it appeared originally is an elaboration of that portion of the Apostles' Creed which is indicated by the title, "The Holy Catholic Church: The Communion. of Saints. He is the Head of the Body, the Church." This title is given to the hymn in the author's collection

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