Of his Family and captivity, and of this Confession — In his captivity he confesses the Divinity of God, and Faith — He considers how to write this true Confession of himself, (although with some misgivings, on account of his unpolished language,) lest he should be ungrateful to God, by whom he has been so very much exalted.
“ I, Patrick, a most unlearned sinner, the least of all the Faithful, and the most contemptible ‘amongst many, have had for my father, Calphumius, a Deacon, who was the son of Potitus, formerly a Priest, from the town of Benaven Tabernim, near the village of Enon, where I was made captive. I was then about 16 years of age, being ignorant of the true God, I was brought captive into Ireland, with so many thousand men, according as we had deserved; because we had withdrawn from God — did not keep his commandments — and were disobedient to our
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Priests, who advised us for our salvation. The Lord therefore, poured out upon us the wrath of his indignation, and scattered us amongst the Gentiles, even to the uttermost bounds of the earth ; where now my unworthiness seems to abide amongst strangers, and where the Lord hath opened the ears of my incredulous heart, that even latterly, I might remember my sins, and be converted with my whole heart to my Lord, who hath regarded my lowliness, and had compassion on the ignorance of my youth, and preserved me, before I knew him, or could distinguish good from evil ; admonishing and consoling me, as a father does his child. Whence, indeed, I cannot, nor should I conceal, such benefits, and so much grace, which the Lord hath vouchsafed to bestow upon me, in the land of my captivity. For this is our recompense, that after the chastisement and the acknowledgment of God, we confess his wonders before every nation under Heaven. For there neither is, nor was, nor will be, before, or since, any other God, except our unbegotten God, the Father, without beginning, fi“om whom is all beginning. For by him, all things visible, and invisible, were made. By him was begotten his consubstantial Son, who was made man, and who having conquered Death, was assumed by his Father into Heaven. He gave him all power over every name(«), of those that are in Heaven, on Earth, and in HeU, that every tongue might confess that the Lord Jesus Christ, is in the glory of God the Father,, whom we believe, and expect to come, as the future judge of the living and the dead. Who will render to every one according to his works, and pour out abundantly upon us the gifts of the Holy Ghost, and the pledge of Immortality. Making
(a) Philip, ii. 9, 10, 11.
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those who believe and obey him, to become the Sons of God the Father, whom we confess and . adore, as one God, in the Trinity of his Holy Name. For he spoke by the Prophets(a) — “ Thou shalt call upon me in the day of tribulation, and I will deliver thee, and thou wilt glorify me.” And agaim he says — “ It is most glorious to confess and reveal the works of the Lord.^’(^) However, though I am imperfect in many things, I am anxious that my brethren and kinsfolk should be made acquainted with my circumstances, and that they should understand the aspirings of my soul. For I am well aware of the testimony of my Lord, who thus speaks by the Psalmist(c) — “Thou shalt destroy all those who speak a lie.” And again, “The mouth that telleth lies, kiUeth the soul.^’(</) And the same Lord, in the Gospel saith (e) — “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account of it in the day of judgment.” Wherefore, most earnestly, with fear and trembling, I ought to dread this sentence ; on that day, when nobody can conceal or hide himself, but all must, without exception, render an account of our most trivial sins, before the Tribunal of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore, I formerly intended to write, and up to this day, I have hesitated, for I feared I would encounter the reproaches of men. Not being educated as others, who were very learned in the sacred Scriptures, and who have never changed their studious condition from their infancy, but have been always adding, more and more to their advancement. Besides, our words have had to be translated into a different language. Now, one can easily ascertain, from the
(a) Psl. Ixxx. 8 (6) Tob. xii. 7.
(c)P8. V. 7. (d) Wisd. i. 11.
(e) Matt. xii. 36.
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context of my writing, how I have been brought up and instructed in my conversations. For the wise man says(fl!), “By the tongue we discover the sense, and the knowledge, and the doctrine of truth. But defence is profitable if true, especially when one has any thing to presume upon. So that now I desire, in my old age, what I have not attained in my youth ; for my sins have prevented me from experiencing what I had formerly read ; but who will believe me, and if I say, what I have said before, that I was made captive, whilst a youth, nay, almost a beardless boy, before I could understand what I ought to desire or to avoid. Whence this day I blush and very much do dread to discover openly my ignorance, because I cannot explain. with conciseness of language what my feelings dictate, and my mind, and sense and affections demonstrate, and if it be given to me, as to others, I will not be silent for recompense ; and if some should seem to prefer me with mine ignorance and unpolished language, for it is written (^— “The tongues of stammerers shall learn to speak plainly.” How much more ought not we desii'e it, who are the epistle of Christ, to the extremity of the earth, not eloquent(c), but written in yonr hearts, not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God.(<;0 Simplicity is the creation of the Most High, as the spirit of the same living God testifies. Wherefore, I, at first, simple and unlearned, not knowing how to provide for the future, but this I know, without doubt, that before I was humbled, I was like a stone that lieth in the depth of the mire, until he who is Almighty came, and in his mercy lifted me up and raised me on high, and placed me on the sum-