from heaven he came and sought her
to be his only bride
with his own love he bought her
and for her life he died



There were seven verses in the first version [of this hymn]; the five verse edition first appeared in Hymns Ancient and Modern (1868), and an expanded ten verse edition was written in 1885 for processional use in Salisbury Cathedral. There are several biblical references in the hymn, principally 1 Corinthians 3:11 "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ". Another reference is to Ephesians 5:25 "...just as Christ loved the church, and gave himself up for her" in verse 1, lines 7-8