The Confession

The caUing of Patrick iato Ireland — Several contradictions — After a second captivity, by means of an inward voice, in a Vision at night, he is invited into Ireland — He triumphs over all the temptations, anxieties, oontradiotioDS, and injuries, that were presented before him — He pardons those who were the cause (rf them, and gives thanks to God, who made himself manifest to him.

" After a few years, I was again made captive by the Gentiles, and remained with them only for one night. I received an answer from God, intimating to me, “ For the space of two months you shall abide with them,” and so it came to pass ; for on the sixtieth night, the Lord dehvered me out of their hands. After a few years, I came into Britain again, to visit my parents, who received me as their child, and earnestly besought me, after all the sufferings I had endured, no longer to separate myself from them. There I saw by night, in a vision, a man coming to me as if from Ireland, whose name was Victri.. cius, and who brought a great number of letters, and gave one of them to me. The commencement of the letter, as I read it, runs thus — “ The voice of the Irish and whilst I was reading the commencement of the letter, I imagined at the moment that I heard the voices of many, who were near the wood Focluti, which is beside the Western Ocean. After this manner they cried out, as if with one voice : “ Oh ! holy youth, we entreat you to come, and still to walk amongst us.” And I was exceedingly afflicted in my heart, and could read no more, but quickly awoke. 'Thanks be to God, that, after many years, the Lord has vouchsafed to hear their earnest cry.

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And on another night — God knows, for I know not — I heard within me, or beside me, some persons singing in the spirit the most beautiful words, and I knew not who they were, nor could I understand what I heard, until, at the end of their prayer, they thus spoke :{a) “ He who gave his life for you.” And again I awoke, and again I heard one praying within me, and it was within my inward man, and prayed fervently, with groaning. In the mean time I was stupified, and wondered and considered who this could be who was praying within me. But at the end of his prayer he said he was a spirit; and I remembered the word of the Apostle, sayiug,(/5) “ The spirit helpeth the weakness of om prayer. For what we ought to pray for, we know not, but the spirit himself asketh for us,’’ with unspeakable groanings, which I cannot express in words. And again, " The Lord is our advocate, and he asks for us.” And when I was tempted by some of my elders, who came to me on account of my sins, to urge me against my laborious episcopacy ; and I was violently tempted on that day, so that I might have fallen then, and for ever. But the Lord had mercy on his stranger convert for his name’s sake, and favorably came to my aid in this tribulation, so that I escaped from the same without blame, and without reproach. I beseech the Ijord, that he lay not the occasion of this sin to their charge ; for after the space of thirty years, they discovered against me that word, which I confessed before I was ordained deacon, on account of the anxiety of my sorrowing mind, I confessed to my dearest friend what I had done: one day in my boyhood, nay, in one hour — for as yet I had no understanding — I know not, God knows it, if I was

(a) Ecclus. xxix. 19. (i) Rom. viii. 26.

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then fifteen years of age, though I did not believe in one God from my infancy ; but remained in death and unbelief ; until I was severely punished and, verily, I was humbled by hunger and nakedness, and daily proceeded, though not willingly, towards Ireland, until I nearly fainted away. But all this turned out well for me,(«) because I was hereby amended by the Lord ; and He so fitted me, that to-day I became what formerly I thought I never should be, so that T had a concern and a zeal for the salvation of others, when I had none for my own. Wherefore, upon the day in which I was reproved by my above-mentioned censors, I saw that night, in a vision, before my face, a writing that was without honor, and in the mean time I heard an answer from the Lord, saying to me : “We have imperfectly seen the face of Kim who was marked out to us, and whose name was discovered.’’ Nor did he say, “ You have imperfectly seen,” but, “ We have imperfectly seen,” as if he there joined himself to another ; hke when he said,(3yi “ He who touches you, touches the apple of my eye.” Wherefore I give thanks to him who has comforted me in all things, so as not to interfere with the journey I had resolved upon, nor with my purpose ; which I had learned from my Lord, but rather I felt within me an uncommon strength, and my faith was approved before God and men ; whence I boldly assert, that my conscience offers me no reproach. I have God for my witness that I have spoken the truth in those things I related ; but I grieved the more for my friend, to whom I trusted my soul, that we should have deserved to hear such an answer ; and I found out from some of my brethren, before such prohibition, that I was not there, nor was I in Britain,

(a) Rom. viii. 28. (6) 6 Zach. ii. 8.

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nor was I the occasion that he, in my absence, should have defended me ; for he said with his own lips, “ You are to be raised to the dignity of the episcopacy, of which I was not worthy.’’ But how came it ^erwards, that in the presence of all, both good and bad, he should publicly accuse me of that which formerly and freely he had joyfully indulged me with ?

“ But the Lord is greater than all. I say enough ; but, however, I ought not to conceal the gift of God, whidi he bestowed on me in the land of my captivity, because at that time I earnestly sought him, and found him, and he preserved me from all my iniquities, because of his spirit that dwelleth in me(a), who has worked within me even to the present day ; for the Lord well knew that if I heard these things from man, I would, perhaps, have concealed them, on account of the charity of Christ. Therefore, I give unceasing thanks to my Grod, who preserved me faithful in the day of temptation ; so that daily, with confidence, I offer sacrifice to him, and consecrate my soul a living victim to my Lord, who preserved me in all my trials so that I can say to him, “ Who am I, O Lord, or what is my dessert, that you should have showered such graces on me ? This day will 1 extol and magnify thy name wherever I may be, and this not only in prosperity, but adversity, so that whatever may ^fal me, whether good or evil, I shall endure it with equanimity, always giving thanks to God, who gave me the grace to believe him faithful without measure ; so that I, in these latter days, should now dare to attempt this pious and wonderful work, and to imitate those whom our Lord had formerly foretold, would become the preachers of his Gospel, for a testimony to all nations, before the con-

(a) Rom. viii. 1 1.

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summation of the world ; which, as we have seen it, so it came to pass ; for behold we are witnesses to the preaching of his Gospel in those places where no one farther off existed.