though it would not be
good to treat them so all their lives, so that they never learn
to do good in the fear of God: far worse, if they become
accustomed to do good for the sake of praise and honor.

[Sidenote: The Need and the Danger of a Good Name]

XXIII. But this is true, that we must none the less have a good
name and honor, and every one ought so to live that nothing evil
can be said of him, and that he give offence to no one, as St.
Paul says, Romans xii: "We are to be zealous to do good, not only
before God, but also before all men." [Rom. 12:17] And II.
Corinthians iv: "We walk so honestly that no man knows anything
against us." [2 Cor. 4:2] But there must be great diligence and
care, lest such honor and good name puff up the heart, and the
heart find pleasure in them. Here the saying of Solomon holds:
"As the fire in the furnace proveth the gold, so man is proved by
the mouth of him that praises him." [Prov. 27:21] Few and most
spiritual men must they be, who, when honored and praised, remain
indifferent and unchanged, so that they do not care for it, nor
feel pride and pleasure in it, but remain entirely free, ascribe
all their honor and fame to God, offering it to Him alone, and
using it only to the glory of God, to the edification of their
neighbors, and in no way to their own benefit or advantage; so
that a man trust not in his own honor, nor exalt himself above
the most incapable, demised man on earth, but acknowledge himself
a servant of God, Who has given him the honor in order that with
it he may serve God and his neighbor, just as if He had commanded
him to distribute some _gulden_[17] to the poor for His sake. So
He says, Matthew v: "Your light shall shine before men, so that
they may see your good works and glorify your Father Who is in
heaven." [Matt. 5:16] He does not say, "they shall praise you,"
but "your works shall only serve them to edification, that
through them they may praise God in you and in themselves." This
is the correct use of God's Name and honor, when God is thereby
praised through the edification of others. And if men want to
praise us and not God in us, we are not to endure it, but with
all our powers forbid it and flee from it as from the most
grievous sin and robbery of divine honor.

[Sidenote: The Profitableness of Dishonor]

XXIV. Hence it comes that God frequently permits a man to fall
into or remain in grievous sin, in order that he may be put to
shame in his own