White — Latin Writings of St. FatricJi. 



273 



54. Behold, I call God for a record tipon my soid that I lie not, nor 

 would I write to you that there may be an occasion for flattering 

 ivords or covetousness, nor that I hope for honour from any of you. 

 Sufficient is the honour which is not yet seen, but is believed on in 

 the heart. And faithful is He that promised, never does He lie. 



55. But I see that already in this present world I am exalted ahove 

 measure by the Lord. And I was not worthy nor such an one as that 

 He should grant this to me ; since I know of a surety that poverty 

 and affliction become me better than riches and delights. But Christ, 

 too, the Lord, was poor for our sakes : I indeed am wretched and 

 unfortunate, though I should wish for wealth, now I have it not, nor 

 do I judge mine oxen self, for daily I expect either slaughter or to 

 be defrauded, or be reduced to slavery, or an unfair attack of some 

 kind. But none of these things move me, on account of the promises of 

 heaven, because I have cast myself into the hands of God Almighty, 

 for He rules everywhere, as saith the prophet : Cast thy care upon God, 

 and He shall sustain thee. 



56. Behold, now I commit the keeping of my soul to my most faithful 

 God, /or whom I am an ambassador in my ignoble state, only because He 

 accepteth no man's person, and chose me for this duty that I should be 

 a minister, one of His least. 



57. Whence then shall I render unto Him for all His henefits towards 

 me ? But what shall I say, or what shall I promise to my Lord? For 

 I see nought exce]3t what He Himself has given to me ; but He trieth 

 the hearts and reins. Because enough, and more than enough, do I 

 desire, and was ready, that He should grant me to drinh of His cup, 

 as He permitted to others also who love Him. 



58. "NYherefore let it not happen to me from my God that I should 

 ever part with His people which He 'purchased in the ends of the 

 earth. 1 pray God to give me perseverance, and to deign that I 

 render myself to Him as a faithful witness until my passing hence 

 for the sake of my God. 



59. And if I ever imitated anything good for the sake of my God 

 whom I love, I pray Him to grant to me that I may shed my blood 

 with those strangers and captives for His name's sake, even though I 

 should lack burial itself, or that in most wretched fashion my corpse 

 be divided limb by limb to dogs and wild beasts, or that the fowls of 

 the air eat it. Most surely I deem that if this should happen to 



