266 Proceedi}ujs of the Roijal Irish Academtj. 



25. And another time I saw Him praying within me, and I was as it 

 were within my body ; and I heard [Him praying] over me, that is over 

 the inner man, and there He was praying mightily with groanings. And 

 meanwhile I was astonied, and was marvelling and thinking who it 

 could be that was praying within me ; but at the end of the prayer 

 He spoke to the effect that He was the Spirit ; and so I awoke, and I 

 remembered how the apostle saith : The Spirit helpeth the infirmities 

 of our prayer, for ice know not what ive shoidd pray for as ive ought ; 

 hut the Spirit Simself maheth intercession for us with groanings which 

 cannot he uttered, which cannot he expressed in words. And again, 

 TJie Lord our advocate maheth intercession for us. 



26. And when I was tempted by not a few of my elders, who 

 came and [ui'gedj my sins against my laborious episcopate — certainly 

 on that day / was sore thrust at that I might fall here and in 

 eternity. Eut the Lord graciously spared the stranger and sojourner, 

 for Sis name's sale, and He helped me exceedingly when I was thus 

 trampled on, so that I did not fall badly into disgrace and reproach. 

 I pray God that it be not reckoned to them as sin. 



27. After the lapse of thirty years they found occasion, and that 

 against a word that I had confessed before I was a deacon. On account 

 of anxiety, with sorrowful mind I disclosed to my dearest friend what 

 I had done in my youth one day, nay, in one hour, because I was not 

 yet able to prevail. I cannot tell, God hnoweth, if I was then fifteen 

 years old ; and I did not believe in the living God, nor had I since my 

 infancy ; but I remained in death and in unbelief until I had been 

 chastened exceedingly, and humbled in truth by hunger and nakedness,, 

 and that daily. 



28. Contrariwise, I did not proceed to Ireland of my own accord 

 until I was nearly luorn out. But this was rather well for me, because 

 in this way I was corrected by the Lord. And He fitted me, so that I 

 should to-day be something which was once far from me, that I should 

 care for and be busy about the salvation of others, whereas then I did 

 not even think about myself. 



29. And so on that day on which I was disallowed by the persons 

 whom I have mentioned above, on that night I saw in the night visions. 

 There was a writing void of honour opposite my face. And meanwhile I 

 heard the answer of God saying to me: " AYe have seen with pain 

 the face of him who is designated by name stripped [of its due title] " 



