After we had sat for a long time in silence
-- for who would dare interrupt one so intent? -- we would then
depart, realizing that he was unwilling to be distracted in the
little time he could gain for the recruiting of his mind, free
from the clamor of other men's business. Perhaps he was fearful
lest, if the author he was studying should express himself
vaguely, some doubtful and attentive hearer would ask him to
expound it or discuss some of the more abstruse questions, so that
he could not get over as much material as he wished, if his time
was occupied with others. And even a truer reason for his reading
to himself might have been the care for preserving his voice,
which was very easily weakened. Whatever his motive was in so
doing, it was doubtless, in such a man, a good one.
4. But actually I could find no opportunity of putting the
questions I desired to that holy oracle of thine in his heart,
unless it was a matter which could be dealt with briefly.
However, those surgings in me required that he should give me his
full leisure so that I might pour them out to him; but I never
found him so. I heard him, indeed, every Lord's Day, "rightly
dividing the word of truth"[154] among the people.
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