| W. Garrett Horder, comp. The Poets’ Bible: New Testament. 1895. | | | | The Witness of St. Paul | | Thomas Toke Lynch (1818–1871) |
| | | THE APOSTLE spake of judgment just, | |
| And certain unto men as death; | |
| Prince Felix felt as if the thrust | |
| Of deadly arrows stayed his breath: | |
| “I’ll hear thee at convenient time,” | 5 |
| He said, his terror to dissemble; | |
| But when can guilt conveniently | |
| Invite the truth that makes it tremble? | |
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| Of Jesus risen, O, news so glad, | |
| The light of life to nations dead, | 10 |
| The Apostle spake: “Paul, thou art mad,” | |
| With a loud voice Prince Festus said: | |
| What, will the prince outspeak the voice | |
| That pierced to Lazarus in his grave, | |
| And stilled the clamouring winds for those | 15 |
| Who said, “We perish; Jesus, save?” | |
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| “Believest thou,” the Apostle cried, | |
| “O King Agrippa, yea, thou dost, | |
| The ancient word?” The king replied, | |
| “Almost in Christ thou mak’st me trust.” | 20 |
| “O, were ye all and wholly his,” | |
| Said Paul, his fervour shook his chain. | |
| “Not bound as I, but with me free; | |
| ‘Almost’ is altogether vain.” | | | | |
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