God, whom in my
insignificance I serve as his messenger. For since with Him there is no
respect of persons, and since He has chosen me for this calling, that I
as one of the least of His people, should serve Him, what shall I render
unto the Lord for all his benefits? What shall I say or promise unto my
Lord? For I can do nothing, unless He himself give it me! But He trieth
the hearts and reins, and He knoweth how greatly I long that He may give
me to drink of the cup of His sufferings, as He has granted to others who
love Him. I pray God that He may give me perseverance, and enable me to
bear a faithful witness until my departure. And if I have striven after
anything good for my God's sake, whom I love, I beseech Him that I, with
those my new converts who have fallen into captivity, may shed my blood
for his Name's sake, even though I should never be buried, even though my
body should be torn in pieces by wild beasts. I believe firmly that if
this should befall me, I should gain my body as well as my soul; for
undoubtedly, in that day, we shall arise and shine like the sun, that is,
in the glory of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who is the Son of the living
God, as joint heirs with Christ, renewed in His image; for by Him,
through Him, and with Him shall we reign. That sun which we see, rises
daily for us by God's command; but it will never reign, and its
brightness will not last for ever. All those also who worship it will
(unhappy ones!) draw down punishment on themselves. But we pray in faith
to Christ, the _true Sun_, that will never set, and he also who doeth His
will shall never set, but shall live for ever, as Christ lives for ever,
and reigns with God, the Almighty Father, and the Holy Spirit, from
everlasting to everlasting."

Patrick would gladly, after the absence and labours of many years, have
once more visited his relations and his old friends in his native Britain
and in Gaul, but he sacrificed his inclination to the higher calling. "I
would gladly," he says, "have journeyed to my fatherland and my parents,
and also once more have visited my brethren in Gaul, that I might have
seen again the countenances of the saints of my Lord; God knows I longed
for it much, but I am restrained by the Spirit, who witnesseth to me,
that if I do this, He will hold me guilty, and I fear lest the work I
have commenced should fall to the ground."

TABLE

_Shewing the Deaths, at different Ages, in the Soci