al name of the Island of Saints. And these lived according to
the rule of Saint Patrick, with a contempt of the world, a desire of
heaven, a holy mortification of the flesh, and an abandonment of all
pleasure; equalling the Egyptian monks in their merit and in their
number, so that with their conversation and example they edified far
distant countries. And in the days of Saint Patrick, and for many ages
of his successors, no one was advanced unto the episcopal degree or the
cure of souls, unless by the revelation of the divine Spirit or by some
other evident sign he was proved worthy thereof.

CHAPTER CLXXV.

_The different States of Hibernia are in a Heavenly Vision shown unto
the Saint._

And the man of God anxiously desired and earnestly prayed that he might
be certified of the present and the future state of Hibernia, to the
end that he might be assured of the faith, or of the value that his
labors bore in the sight of God. Then the Lord heard the desire of his
heart, and manifested the same unto him by an evident revelation; for
while he was engaged in prayer, and the heart of his mind was opened,
he beheld the whole island as it were a flaming fire ascending unto
heaven; and he heard the angel of God saying unto him: "Such at this
time is Hibernia in the sight of the Lord." And after a little space
he beheld in all parts of the island even as mountains of fire
stretching unto the skies. And again after a little space he beheld as
it were candles burning, and after a while darkness intervened; and
then he beheld fainter lights, and at length he beheld coals lying
hidden here and there, as reduced unto ashes, yet still burning. And
the angel added: "What thou seest here shown, such shall be the people
of Hibernia." Then the saint, exceedingly weeping, often repeated the
words of the Psalmist, saying: "Whether will God turn himself away for
ever, and will he be no more entreated? Shall his mercy come to an end
from generation to generation? Shall God forget to be merciful, and
shut up his mercy in his displeasure?" And the angel said, "Look
toward the northern side, and on the right hand of a height shalt thou
behold the darkness dispersed from the face of the light which
thenceforth will arise." Then the saint raised his eyes, and behold,
he at first saw a small light arising in Ulydia, the which a long time
contended with the darkness, and at length dispersed it, and illumined
with its rays the