The writings of Patrick (2)

Although I am a most imperfect man
in many ways, please try to understand
my motives, and to know what sort of man
I am, especially you who take your stand
with me, or are my kin. I know the cost
of lying. As the Lord has said, “You must
destroy the liar,” and again, “The tongue
that lies destroys the soul.” And then among
His teachings in the Gospel: “The idle word
that people speak, they shall before the Lord
give an account for it.” And so I know
that I must be in greatest dread, in so
much fear and trembling, should I herein lie,
that when I stand before the Lord on high
I shall incur His wrath. For on that day
no man can hide himself or sneak away
from His all-searching eye; and every one
of us must justify what we have done
here in the flesh before His holy face,
and He will not forget and not erase
the smallest sin. And so I know that I
must speak the truth herein, and must not lie.

Indeed, for some time I have had in mind
to state my case, but feared, lest you should find
my lack of education reason to
condemn me. Unlike many others, who
absorbed in full both Scripture and the ways
of men throughout their lives, and spent their days
perfecting language and its use in their
own native tongue, I must with greatest care –
but not, alas, with skill – my words translate
from Irish, which has been my tongue of late,
into that language which I have not used
since youth. So if I seem at times confused
or ungrammatical, then you will know
my erudition and why I was so
delayed in making my defense. For I
am not unmindful, as it says, “For by
his language is the wise man known,” as will
sound judgment, knowledge, and all truth be. Still,
excuses, be they ever true, will not
persuade, especially if we take the lot
of them together with the vanity
of my presumption, as old age to me
has come, of thinking that I might achieve
more than I could when I was young. I grieve
when I recall it was my sins that cut
my education short, for I was put
into the bonds of slavery, as I said,
because of my rebellious ways. Instead
of keeping books and lectures, I was made
to shepherd in a foreign land, afraid,
alone, and far from home. But who believes
me, even as I say again how thieves
from Ireland took me captive when I was
a beardless boy, before I knew the laws
of God and men? And so I am ashamed
today, and fearful I will be defamed
for laying bare my lack of learning. For
I lack the fluency to say it more
concisely or expressively, although
my spirit longs to do so. Yet I know
that I will try with all my soul and heart
to state my burden, though I lack the art
you might expect. And if I did possess
the verbal skills with which most men are blessed
who hold this post, yet I would not refrain
from speaking, thankful for all that I have gained
from God. And if perhaps I seem to some
to vaunt myself, yet it is given from
the mouth of God: “The stammering tongue will learn
to speak of peace.” 

                                  How much more ought we yearn
for this, since it is written, “we to you
are letters of salvation, even to
the end of earth.” And though my language flow
uneasily, all blocked and turgid, know
that “it is written on your hearts not by
mere ink, but by the Spirit of God on high.”
For even rustic backwardness has been
created by the One Who made all men.

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.