Sulpitius Visits Martin

For I had long heard of his faith, his life and his virtues, and I burned with desire to know him, so I undertook a journey, a pleasant one for me, in order to see him. At the same time, since my mind was already on fire with the desire to write his life, I gathered my information partly from him, as far as I dared to question him, and partly from those who had lived with him or knew the facts well. It is hardly believable with what humility and kindness he received me at that time. He warmly wished me joy and rejoiced in the Lord that I had thought so highly of him that I had made a journey out of my desire to see him. Unworthy as I was (in fact I hardly dare admit it), he thought fit to admit me to fellowship with him! He even went so far as to bring me water himself to wash my hands, and in the evening he himself washed my feet, and I did not have the courage to resist or oppose him. In fact I felt so overcome by the authority he exercised without knowing it that I thought it would be wrong to do anything but go along with what he arranged. [a]

All his talk with me was on points such as these: that the attractions of this world and the burdens of worldly life must be given up, so that we may be free and unhindered in following the Lord Jesus. He urged on me, as an admirable example in our present times, the conduct of that distinguished man Paulinus, whom I mentioned above. Martin declared that by parting with his great possessions and following Christ, Paulinus had shown himself almost the only man in these times who had fully obeyed the commands of the Gospel. He insisted strongly that this was the man we should take as our model, adding that the present age was fortunate to have such a pattern of faith and virtue. For Paulinus, he said, rich and owning many possessions, had sold them all and given to the poor, as the Lord expressly willed, and so had shown by actual proof that what seemed impossible could be done.

What power and dignity there was in Martin’s words and conversation! How vigorous he was, how practical, how quick and ready in settling questions about Scripture! And because I know that many are unbelieving on this point (for I have indeed met people who did not believe me when I told them such things), I call to witness Jesus and the hope we share as Christians that I never heard from any lips but Martin’s such displays of knowledge and natural gifts, or such examples of good and pure speech. And yet how small all such praise is compared with the virtues he possessed! Still, it is remarkable that in a man who had no claim to be called learned, even this gift of high intelligence was not missing.