y were offended with me because I did so. But
I, for the hope of immortality, guarded myself cautiously in all
things, so that they could not find me unfaithful, even in the smallest
matter, so that unbelievers could not defame or detract from my
ministry in the least.

But when it happened that I baptized so many thousand men, did I expect
even half a "screpall" from them? Tell me, and I will return it to
you. Or when the Lord ordained clergy through my humility and
ministry, did I confer the grace gratuitously? If I asked of any of
them even the value of my shoe, tell me, and I will repay you more. I
rather spent for you as far as I was able; and among you and everywhere
for you I endured many perils in distant places, where none had been
further or had ever come to baptize, or ordain the clergy, or confirm
the people. By the grace of the Lord I labored freely and diligently
in all things for your salvation. At this time also I used to give
rewards to kings, whose sons I hired, who travelled with me, and who
understood nothing but [to protect] me and my companions. And on one
day they wished to kill me; but the time had not come yet; but they put
me in irons, and carried off all we possessed. But on the fourteenth
day the Lord released me from their power, and what was ours was
restored to us through God and through the friends we had before
secured.

You know how much I expended on the judges in the districts which I
visited most frequently. For I think I paid them not less than the
hire of fifteen men, that you might have the benefit of my presence,
and that I might always enjoy you in the Lord. I do not regret it, nor
is it sufficient for me. I still spend, and will still spend, for your
souls.] Behold, I call God to witness on my soul that I do not lie,
neither that you may have occasion, nor that I hope for honor from any
of you; sufficient for me is the honor of truth. But I see that now in
the present world I am greatly exalted by the Lord; and I was not
worthy nor fit to be thus exalted, for I know that poverty and calamity
are more suitable for me than riches and luxury. But even Christ the
Lord was poor for us.

Truly, I, a poor and miserable creature, even if I wished for wealth,
have it not; neither do I judge myself, because I daily expect either
death, or treachery, or slavery, or an occasion of some kind or
another. [But I fear none of these things, relying on the heavenly
promise; f