Chapter XXV.
“For, if it is
worthy of admiration that the flames did not touch that Egyptian of
whom you have spoken, Martin also not infrequently proved his power
over fire. If you remind us that the savagery of wild beasts was
conquered by, and yielded to, the anchorites, Martin, for his part, was
accustomed to keep in check both the fury of wild beasts and the poison
of serpents. But, if you bring forward for comparison him who cured
those possessed of unclean spirits, by the authority of his word, or
even through the instrumentality of threads from his dress, there are
many proofs that Martin was not, even in this respect, inferior. Nay,
should you have recourse to him, who, covered with his own hair instead
of a garment, was thought to be visited by angels, with Martin angels
were wont to hold daily discourse. Moreover, he bore so unconquerable a
spirit against vanity and boastfulness, that no one more determinedly
disdained these vices, and that, although he often, while absent, cured
those who were filled with unclean spirits, and issued his commands not
only to courtiers or prefects, but also to kings themselves. This was
indeed a very small thing amid his other virtues, but I should wish you
to believe that no one ever contended more earnestly than he did
against not only vanity, but also the causes and the occasions of
vanity. I shall also mention what is indeed a small point, but should
not be passed over, because it is to the credit of a man who, being
possessed of the highest power, manifested such a pious desire to show
his regard for the blessed Martin. I remember, then, that Vincentius
the prefect, an illustrious man, and one of the most eminent in all
Gaul for every kind of virtue, when he had occasion to be in the
vicinity of Tours, often begged of Martin that he would allow him to
stay with him in the monastery. In making this request, he brought
forward the example of Saint Ambrose, the bishop, who was generally
spoken of at that time as being in the habit of entertaining both
consuls and prefects. But Martin, with deeper judgment, refused so to
act, lest by so doing some vanity and inflation of spirit might steal
upon him. You, therefore, must acknowledge that there existed in Martin
the virtues of all those men whom you have mentioned, but there were
not found in all of them the virtues by which Martin was
distinguished.”
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