name, self-approval and honor-seeking. And this
sin is more grievous before God than murder and adultery; but its
wickedness is not so clearly seen as that of murder, because of its
subtilty, for it is not accomplished in the coarse flesh, but in the
spirit.

XXII. Some think it is good for young people that they be enticed by
reputation and honor, and again by shame of and dishonor, and so be
induced to do good. For there are many who do the good and leave the
evil undone out of fear of shame and love of honor, and so do what they
would otherwise by no means do or leave undone. These I leave to their
opinion. But at present we are seeking how true good works are to be
done, and they who are inclined to do them surely do not need to be
driven by the fear of shame and the love of honor; they have, and are
to have a higher and far nobler incentive, namely, God's commandment,
God's fear, God's approval, and their faith and love toward God. They
who have not, or regard not this motive, and let shame and honor drive
them, these also have their reward, as the Lord says, Matthew vi; and
as the motive, so is also the work and the reward: none of them is
good, except only in the eyes of the world.

Now I hold that a young person could be more easily trained and incited
by God's fear and commandments than by any other means. Yet where
these do not help, we must endure that they do the good and leave the
evil for the sake of shame and of honor, just as we must also endure
wicked men or the imperfect, of whom we spoke above; nor can we do more
than tell them that their works are not satisfactory and right before
God, and so leave them until they learn to do right for the sake of
God's commandments also. Just as young children are induced to pray,
fast, learn, etc., by gifts and promises of the parents, even 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.

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." And II. Corinthians iv: "We walk so honestly that no
man knows anything against us." But there must be great diligence and
care, lest