A very remarkable incident, related in the “Book of Armagh” and quoted in Todd’s “Life of Patrick,” which bears internal evidence of high antiquity, and now evidently written at a time when paganism was not yet extinct in the country, illustrates the way in which Patrick set before the Celtic mind the faith which he proclaimed. One morning he and his attendants repaired to a fountain called Clebach at Cruachan, now Rath-croghan, an ancient residence of the kings of Connaught. Thither came the two daughters of King Laogharie, and on seeing the strangers supposed them to be Duine Sidhe fairies, “men of the hills,” and said to them, “Who are ye?” And Patrick said unto them, “It were better for you to confess to our true God, than to inquire concerning our race.” ‘The first Virgin said,— “Who is God? “And where is God? “And of what nature is God? “And where is his dwelling place? “Has your God sons and daughters, gold and silver? “Is He everliving? “Is He beautiful? “Is He in Heaven or in earth? “In the sea? “In rivers? “In mountainous places? “In valleys? “Declare unto us the knowledge of Him? “How shall He be seen? “How is He to be loved? “How is He to be found? “Is it in youth? “Is it in old age that He is to be found?” ‘But St. Patrick, full of the Holy Ghost, answered and said,— “Our God is the God of all men. “The God of heaven and earth, of the sea and rivers. “The God of the sun, the moon, and all stars. “The God of the high mountains and of the lowly valleys. “The God who is above heaven, and in heaven, and under heaven. “He hath an habitation in the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all that are therein. “He inspireth all things. “He quickeneth all things. “He is over all things. “He sustaineth all things. “He giveth light to the light of the sun. “And he hath made springs in a dry ground. “And dry islands in the sea. “And hath appointed the stars to serve the greater lights. “He hath a Son co-eternal and co-equal with Himself. “The Son is not younger than the Father. “Nor is the Father older than the Son. “And the Holy Ghost breatheth in them. “The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are not divided. “But I desire to unite you to the Heavenly King, inasmuch as you are the daughters of an earthly king—to believe.” ‘And the Virgins said, as with one mouth and one heart,— “Teach us most diligently how we may see Him face to face, and whatever thou shalt say unto us we will do.” ‘And Patrick said,— “Believe ye that by baptism ye put off the sin of your father and your mother?” ‘They answered, “We believe.” “Believe ye in repentance after sin?” “We believe.” “Believe ye in life after death? Believe ye in the resurrection at the Day of Judgment?” “We believe.” “Believe ye the unity of the Church?” “We believe.”