But the captain
would not, at first, receive the poor unknown youth. Patrick fell on his
knees and prayed. He had not finished his prayer before one of the
ship's company called him back, and offered him a passage. After a
wearisome voyage, in which he experienced, from the grace which guided
him, many a deliverance from great peril, and many a memorable answer to
prayer, he arrived once more amongst his people.
Many years after this, he was again carried off by pirates. But, in
sixteen days, by the special guidance of Providence, he regained his
freedom, and again returned, after many fresh perils and fatigues, to his
people. Great was the joy of his parents to see their son again after so
many perils, and they entreated him thenceforth to remain with them
always. But Patrick felt an irresistible call to carry to the people
amongst whom he had passed the years of his youth, and amongst whom he
had been born again to the heavenly life, the tidings of that salvation
which had been imparted to him by Divine grace, whilst amongst them. As
the apostle Paul was by the Lord called, in a nocturnal vision, to carry
to the people of Macedonia the first tidings of salvation, so there
appeared to Patrick one night, in a vision, a man from Ireland with many
letters.
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