_Saint Patrick Continueth his Preaching Three Days._
And Saint Patrick preached to many people gathered together from divers
parts unto a place in Hibernia called Fionnabhair, which, being
interpreted, is the White Field. And for three continual days and
nights he read and explained to them in their order the four holy books
of the evangelists; and all who heard him accounted that not more time
had passed than the space but of one day--so happily were they
deceived, so profitably were they delighted, by the words of grace
which proceeded out of his mouth. O profitable, delightful deception!
whereby falsehood is excluded and truth induced; whereby the time is
beguiled, and the night is stolen away, and one day is made to appear
as three days. Nor let the reader admire for that I call it a
deception when the prophet exclaimeth unto his Creator, "O Lord! Thou
hast deceived me," and when the Apostle Paul sayeth unto certain of his
disciples, "Being crafty, I deceived you with guile." Kind deception
which saveth souls! Blessed seduction which induces unto God!