Chapter IV. Of blessed Francis' fervour: and of the infirmity of his eyes

97. During this same period his body began to be oppressed with various sicknesses, more grievous than before: for he suffered frequent infirmities, being one who during many years past had perfectly chastised his body and brought it into subjection. For, for the space of eighteen years, then fulfilled, his flesh had had little or no rest, travelling through many and very extensive regions that the ready, devoted, fervent spirit which dwelt within might scatter everywhere the seeds of God's word. He filled all the earth with Christ's Gospel, so that often in one day he would make the circuit of four or five villages or even towns preaching to every one the Gospel of the Kingdom of God: and, edifying his hearers not less by his example than by his words, he had made a tongue of his whole body. For in him the flesh was so much in concord with the spirit and so obedient to it that whilst the spirit was striving to compass all sanctity, the flesh not only did not resist but was forward to anticipate according as it is written, "My soul hath thirsted for Thee, in what manifold wise my flesh also! "For persistence in subjection had made it voluntary; and it was by the daily bending down of himself that he had attained so high a position in virtue: for custom often becomes nature. 98. But since as according to Nature's laws and the manner of man's condition, the outward man must needs perish from day to day (though the inward be renewed) that most precious vessel wherein was hidden a heavenly treasure, began on all sides to be shattered and to suffer the loss of all its strength. But forasmuch as "when a man is completed then he shall begin, and when he shall end then he shall work," 1 amid the weakness of the flesh, his spirit became even more active than before. So earnestly was his affection set on the salvation of souls, and such was his thirst for his neighbour's advantage, that though he could no longer walk he went round the country riding on an ass. The brethren¹ often warned him with the most urgent entreaties that he should in some sort restore his sick and greatly enfeebled body by the aid of physicians. But he, with that noble spirit of his fixed on heaven, and longing only to be dissolved and to be with Christ, altogether refused to do it. Then, for that he had not yet fulfilled those sufferings of Christ which were still lacking in his flesh, even though he bore Christ's stigmata in his body, there came upon him a grievous infirmity of the eyes, according as God multiplied His mercy on him. And as that infirmity increased from day to day and seemed daily to be aggravated by neglect, at length, brother Elias, whom he had chosen for himself in place of a mother, and had made the father of the other brethren, urged him not to shrink from medicine, but to receive it in the name of the Son of God by whom it had been created, even as it is written: "The Most High hath created medicine out of the earth, and the wise man will not shrink from it". Then the holy father acquiesced, and humbly complied with the words of his admonisher.