“A just man indeed was this man [St. Patrick]; with purity of nature like the patriarchs; a true pilgrim, like Abraham; gentle and forgiving, like Moses; a praiseworthy Psalmist, like David; an emulator of wisdom, like Solomon; a chosen vessel for proclaiming truth, like the Apostle Paul; a man full of grace and the knowledge of the Holy Ghost, like the beloved John; a fair flower-garden to children of grace; a fruitful vine-branch; a sparkling fire, with force and warmth of heat to the sons of life, for instituting and illustrating charity; a lion in strength and power, a dove in gentleness and humility; a serpent in wisdom, and cunning to do good; gentle, humble, merciful to the sons of life — dark, ungentle towards the sons of death; a servant of labour and service of Christ; a king in dignity and power for binding and loosening, for liberating and convicting, for killing and giving life.”  St. Evin, Tripartite, pg. 500