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The Conversion of St. Paul.

O God, how wondrous are Thy ways, our vain conceits transcending all, converting by Thy heavenly rays the dread and persecuting Saul! O ever Gracious, ever Kind, Who unto deepest darkness brought light to strike persecutors blind, though to repentance finally wrought! Thou in the darkness gavest light, that all the world at last might see! So blessed Paul received sight, Thy Gentile light at last to be; to rise and wash away his sin, in Thy baptismal cleansing wave, and through the Gospel life begin to teach, to lead, to write, to save, Through all the world to preach Thy will, through all the world to form and place Thy Church, Thy orders to fulfil, and e’er to minister Thy grace: O God, we humbly Thee beseech that we all now assembled here, or Jew, or Gentile, all and each, may always worship in Thy fear. That great conversion holding still both now and e’er in thankful thought, in meekness striving to fulfil the doctrine blessed Paul hath taught, loving and praising Thy great name, rejoicing in Thy holy word: we thank Thee ever for the same, through Jesus Christ, our dearest Lord.

1 O God, how wondrous are Thy ways,
our vain conceits transcending all,
converting by Thy heavenly rays
the dread and persecuting Saul!
O ever Gracious, ever Kind,
Who unto deepest darkness brought
light to strike persecutors blind,
though to repentance finally wrought!
2 Thou in the darkness gavest light,
that all the world at last might see!
So blessed Paul received sight,
Thy Gentile light at last to be;
to rise and wash away his sin,
in Thy baptismal cleansing wave,
and through the Gospel life begin
to teach, to lead, to write, to save,
3 Through all the world to preach Thy will,
through all the world to form and place
Thy Church, Thy orders to fulfil,
and e’er to minister Thy grace:
O God, we humbly Thee beseech
that we all now assembled here,
or Jew, or Gentile, all and each,
may always worship in Thy fear.
4 That great conversion holding still
both now and e’er in thankful thought,
in meekness striving to fulfil
the doctrine blessed Paul hath taught,
loving and praising Thy great name,
rejoicing in Thy holy word:
we thank Thee ever for the same,
through Jesus Christ, our dearest Lord.

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Text attr. Eliza Humphreys,
ad. Arlie Coles
Tune Sagina
Thomas Campbell (1825)

The Conversion of St. Paul.

O God, who, through the preaching of the blessed Apostle Saint Paul, hast caused the light of thy Gospel to shine throughout the world; grant, we beseech thee, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may shew forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same, by following the holy doctrine which he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.