Chapter LIII. How he Answered Humbly and Truly to a Certain Doctor of the Order of Preachers who Questioned him Concerning the Words of Scripture

But while he was abiding at Siena, there came to him a certain doctor of divinity of the Order of Preachers, a man both humble and right spiritual. When he had discussed with blessed Francis for some time together the words of the Lord, the said master asked of him concerning that word of Ezekiel: // thou speakest not to warn the wicked from his wicked ways, his blood will I require at thine hand. For he said, "I know many, how ever, good Father, that be in mortal sin, to whom I do not speak to warn them of their impiety, will their souls therefore be required at my hands? "To whom blessed Francis humbly said that he was a simpleton, and that therefore he should rather be taught of him than answer concerning the meaning of Scripture. Then that humble master added, "Brother, though I have heard an exposition of this text from sundry wise men, yet would I willingly learn your understanding of it." There fore blessed Francis said, "If the text is to be understood generally, I take it thus, that the servant of God should so burn and shine forth by life and holiness in himself, that by the light of his example and by the speech of his holy conversation he should reprove all the impious. Thus, say I, his splendour and the odour of his fame will announce to all their iniquities;" And so that doctor, going away much edified, said to the fellows of the blessed Father, "My brethren, the theology of this man, founded on purity and contemplation, is a flying eagle, while our science crawls on its belly on the earth."