The Conversion of St. Paul

Seek we signs by which to place
Far from doubt the power of grace?
To the sinner's soul to prove
The constraining might of love?
Show how hearts, the most self-will'd,
May by God be changed and still'd?
'The conversion of St, Paul/
Rightly used, will prove it all!

Greater difference cannot be,
Than in Saul and Paul we see;
He — who Christ and Christ's abhorr'd —
Lowly breathes — ' Who art thou, Lord?'
He — who calmly stood and own'd
Those who holy Stephen stoned —
'Trembling and astonish'd ' too,
Sighs, ' what wilt Thou have me do?

Grace his soul with blessings reaches;
He, who persecuted, preaches;
He, who with the bigot's rod
Chasten'd once the Church of God,
Takes up now th' insulted Cross,
Counts as naught its shame and loss,
And, before he lays it down,
Shall have won a martyr's crown!

Such God's glorious power of old!
And the story still is told
Every year, that brings again
This high festival to men,
These 'glad tidings' to proclaim,
'Jesus Christ' is still 'the same,'
Still the same, He changes never,
'Yesterday, to-day,' ' for ever.'

That, which humbled to the knee,
The proud-hearted Pharisee —
That, which pardoned all the wrong,
He had done to Christ so long —
That, which with its soft control
Sooth'd to love his stubborn soul —
Still remains, it changes never!
'Yesterday, to-day,' ' for ever!'

Blessed Saviour! thus may we
Lean on, hope in, trust to Thee;
Converts to Thy gentle love,
Thus may we obedient prove!
In the power of its might,
'Length, and breadth, and depth, and height/
Realizing, one and all,
'The conversion of St. Paul.'