Celtic Scotland : $b A history of ancient Alban. Volume 2 (of 3), Church and cultureSkene, W. F. (William Forbes)
History
Celtic Scotland : $b A history of ancient Alban. Volume 2 (of 3), Church and culture
Skene, W. F. (William Forbes)
Celts -- Scotland; Civilization, Celtic; Scotland -- Antiquities, Celtic; Scotland -- History -- To 1603
translated hither, and to be deposited in the church with suitable
honour. On his coming to the bishop and laying this request before him
he replies, ‘It was my wish to rest in the body here, where I have
fought my little wrestling, such as it has been, for the Lord, and where
I desire to finish my course, and whence I hope to be raised up by the
merciful Judge to a crown of righteousness. Moreover, I think it would
be more advantageous to you that I should rest here, on account of the
trouble you would have from fugitives and evil-doers, who will probably
fly to my tomb for refuge; for whatsoever I am in myself, I know that
the report will go abroad of me that I am a servant of Christ; and you
would necessarily have very often to intercede with the powerful of the
world, and so to undergo much labour and trouble from the possession of
my body.’ But, on their pressing their request, he says, ‘If you would
really overcome what I had disposed, and should bear my body from this
place, it seems to me that it would be better, in that case, to bury me
inside your church, so that you may visit my tomb whenever you please,
and have it in your power to admit or not to admit those that come
thither.’ The monks thanked him for his permission, knelt down, and then
returned home, from that time forth visiting him frequently. ‘And when,
his sickness continuing, he saw that the time of his dissolution was at
hand, he commanded that he should be carried back to his little cell and
oratory.’ Now it was at the third hour of the day. ‘There we accordingly
carried him,’ says Herefrid, ‘for through his exceeding weakness, he was
unable to walk. But, when we came to the door, we begged him to allow
some one of us to enter along with him and minister to him; for no one
but himself, had for many years, ever entered therein.’ He accordingly
allowed one of the brethren to remain. When Herefrid returned about the
ninth hour of the day, he found him reclining in a corner of his oratory
opposite the altar; and when he pressed him ‘to leave some words which
might be considered as a bequest and as a last farewell to the brethren,
he began to speak a few words—but they were powerful—concerning peace
and humility, and cautioning us against those persons that chose rather
to wrestle against such things than take delight therein. “Keep peace,”
he said, “one with another, and heavenly charity; and, when necessity
demands of you to hold counsel as to your state, take great care that
you be of one mind in your conclusions; and, moreover, maintain mutual
concord with other servants of Christ, and despise not the household of
the faith who come to you seeking hospitality, but be careful to receive
such persons, to entertain them, and to send them away with friendly
kindness; and do not think you are better than other followers of the
same faith and conversation.” But, with the spirit characteristic of one
who had just emerged from an ecclesiastical controversy, he adds,—“But
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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