lieve, through the
indwelling of His Spirit, which worketh within me unto this day more
and more. But God knows, if it were man who spoke this to me, I would
perhaps be silent for the love of Christ.
Therefore I give unceasing thanks to my God, who preserved me faithful
in the day of my temptation, so that I can to-day offer him sacrifice
confidently--the living sacrifice of my soul to Christ my Lord, who
preserved me from all my troubles, so that I may say to Him: "Who am I,
O Lord! or what is my calling, that divine grace should have so wrought
with me, so that to-day I can so rejoice amongst the nations, and
magnify Thy name, wherever I am, not only in prosperity, but also in
adversity?" and I ought to receive equally whatever happens to me,
whether good or evil, giving God thanks in all things, who hath shown
me that I should, undoubtingly, without ceasing, believe in Him who
hath heard me though I am ignorant, and that I should undertake, in
those days, so holy and wonderful a work, and imitate those of whom our
Lord predicted of old that they should preach His Gospel to all nations
for a testimony before the end of the world; which has been
accomplished, as we have seen. Behold, we are witnesses that the
Gospel has been preached to the limits of human habitation.]
But it is too long to detail my labors particularly, or even partially.
I will briefly say how the good God often delivered me from slavery and
from twelve dangers by which my soul was threatened, besides many
snares, and what in words I cannot express, and with which I will not
trouble my readers. But God knows all things, even before they come to
pass [as he does me, a poor creature. Therefore the divine voice very
often admonished me to consider whence came this wisdom, which was not
in me, who neither knew God nor the number of my days. Whence did I
obtain afterwards the great and salutary gift to know or love God, and
to leave my country and my relations, although many gifts were offered
to me with sorrow and tears. And I offended many of my seniors then
against my will. But, guided by God, I yielded in no way to them--not
to me, but to God be the glory, who conquered in me, and resisted them
all; so that I came to the Irish people to preach the Gospel, and bear
with the injuries of the unbelieving, and listen to the reproach of
being a stranger, and endure many persecutions, even to chains, and to
give up my freedom for the benefit of oth
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