ST. PAUL IN PRISON

O comrade bold, of toil and pain!

Thy trial how severe,

When sever'd first by prisoner's chain

From thy loved labour-sphere!

Say, did impatience first impel

The heaven-sent bond to break?

Or, couldst thou bear its hindrance well,

Loitering for JESU's sake?

O might we know! for sore we feel

The languor of delay,

When sickness lets our fainter zeal,

Or foes block up our way.

LORD! Who Thy thousand years dost wait

To work the thousandth part

Of Thy vast plan, for us create

With zeal, a patient heart.