The Writings of Patrick (11)

I owe so much, so much to God! He gave
me this great boon: That through me He would save
so many heathen, who would be confirmed
as followers of Christ; that in my term
a clergy should be raised to care for them –
so many thousands of the finest men
of Ireland; and that churches by the scores
of hundreds should be built, where men adore
the Lord of glory; and that thousands should
be taught to read the Scriptures, that the good
and perfect will of God they might discern,
and thus to follow Him in love might learn.
The Lord redeemed this holy people from
the ends of earth, just as He said through some
of the prophetic writings, “All your vain
and empty idols are to you no gain
at all.” Again, “For I have placed you for
a light among the nations ever more,
that you might bring salvation to the ends
of all the earth.” And all of this depends
on Him, and on His mercy, not on me.

So, though discouraged, I resolved to be
about my ministry and wait upon
the Lord to make His faithful promise dawn
on me. For He will never fail in this,
as it is stated in the Gospel, “East
and west shall come and will recline here at
the table” where our father Abram sat
with Isaac and with Jacob. We believe
from every nation men will come and grieve
for their iniquities, and will receive
the Lord. And furthermore do we believe
it is our obligation from the Lord
to diligently fish for men. His Word
is clear: “Come follow Me and I will make
you fish for men.” In this you’ll see I take
Him at His Word: “Behold, I’m sending out
so many fishermen and hunters.” Doubt
it not; it is His Word. From which you see
most certainly, that all who wish to be
His followers are obliged to cast their nets
to catch a multitude of fish and get
a mighty gathering for the Lord. So there
should be sufficient clergy everywhere
to baptize and to preach, because the need
is great among the people. We must heed
the Savior’s Word, Who teaches us to “Go
and make disciples of all nations, so
that they might be baptized into the Name
of Father, Son, and Spirit. Teach the same
to follow all that I have taught, and see,
until the world is ended I will be
with you.” Again He says, “Go into all
the world, and preach to every creature, small
and great; and all who will believe and be
baptized shall know My saving mercy; he,
however, who does not believe, will be
condemned.” And in another passage He
declares, “This Gospel of the Kingdom will
be preached to all through the world until
it testifies to every man, and then
the end will come.” And through the prophet’s pen
the Lord foretells, “And it shall come to pass,
I will pour out My Spirit in the last
days over all mankind. Your daughters and
your sons will prophesy, and I will send
your young men visions and your old men dreams;
and in those days, when all around it seems
that darkness is descending, I will pour
My Holy Spirit out upon all your
own servants, male and female, and they all
will prophesy.” Hosea, you recall,
declared, “A people not My own shall be
My people called, and will obtain from Me
the mercy of the Lord. And it shall be
that in that place where it is said, ‘To Me
you are no people,’ there they shall be called
the children of the living God.” So all
that we have seen in Ireland in these days
has come to pass because of what it says
in Holy Scripture. God is faithful to
His Word, and so this pagan people who
no knowledge of the Savior had before,
but worshiped idols, demons, cults, and more,
have come to be the people of the Lord,
Who rescued them according to His Word.

For more about Patrick and the impact of his ministry, order a copy of The Legacy of Patrick, by T. M. Moore from our online store.