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than another； who fasts much； prays much； endows churches； makes
pilgrimages； and burdens himself with great deeds in this place
and in that。 Such a fool opens wide his mouth； looks for great
works to do； and is so blinded that he does not at all notice
this greatest work； and praising God is in his eyes a very small
matter compared with the great idea he has formed of the works
of his own devising； in which he perhaps praises himself more
than God； or takes more pleasure in them than he does in God； and
thus with his good works he storms against the Second Commandment
and its works。 Of all this we have an illustration in the case
of the Pharisee and the Publican in the Gospel。 For the sinner
calls upon God in his sins； and praises Him； and so has hit upon
the two highest Commandments； faith and God's honor。 The
hypocrite misses both and struts about with other good works by
which he praises himself and not God； and puts his trust in
himself more than in God。 Therefore he is justly rejected and the
other chosen。
The reason of all this is that the higher and better the works
are； the less show they make； and that every one thinks they are
easy； because it is evident that no one pretends to praise God's
Name and honor so much as the very men who never do it and with
their show of doing it； while the heart is without faith； cause
the precious work to be despised。 So that the Apostle St。 Paul
dare say boldly； Romans ii； that they blaspheme God's Name who
make their boast of God's Law。 For to name the Name of God and
to write His honor on paper and on the walls is an easy matter；
but genuinely to praise and bless Him in His good deeds and
confidently to call upon Him in all adversities； these are truly
the most rare； highest works； next to faith； so that if we were
to see how few of them there are in Christendom； we might despair
for very sorrow。 And yet there is a constant increase of high；
pretty； shining works of men's devising； or of works which look
like these true works； but at bottom are all without faith and
without faithfulness； in short； there is nothing good back of
them。 Thus also Isaiah xlviii。 rebukes the people of Israel：
〃Hear ye this； ye which are called by the name of Israel； which
swear by the Name of the Lord； and make mention of the God of
Israel neither in truth； nor in righteousness〃； that is； they did
it not in the true faith and confidence； which is the real truth
and righteousness； but trusted in themselves； their works and
powers； and yet called upon God's Name and praised Him； two
things which do not fit together。
XXI。 The first work of this Commandment then is； to praise God
in all His benefits； which are innumerable； so that such praise
and thanksgiving ought also of right never to cease or end。 For
who can praise Him perfectly for the gift of natural life； not
to mention all other temporal and eternal blessings？ And so
through this one part of the Commandment man is overwhelmed with
good and precious works； if he do these in true faith； he has
indeed not lived in vain。 And in this matter none sin so much as
the most resplendent saints； who are pleased with themselves and
like to praise themselves or to hear themselves praised； honored
and glorified before men。
Therefore the second work of this Commandment is； to be on one's
guard； to flee from and to avoid all temporal honor and praise；
and never to seek a name for oneself； or fame and a great
reputation； that every one sing of him and tell of him； which is
an exceedingly dangerous sin； and yet the most common of all；
and； alas！ little regarded。 Every one wants to be of importance
and not to be the least； however small he may be； so deeply is
nature sunk in the evil of its own conceit and in its
self…confidence contrary to these two first Commandments。
Now the world regards this terrible vice as the highest virtue；
and this makes it exceedingly dangerous for those who do not
understand and have not had experience of God's Commandments and
the histories of the Holy Scriptures； to read or hear the heathen
books and histories。 For all heathen books are poisoned through
and through with this striving after praise and honor； in them
men are taught by blind reason that they were not nor could be
men of power and worth； who are not moved by praise and honor；
but those are counted the best； who disregard body and life；
friend and property and everything in the effort to win praise
and honor。 All the holy Fathers have complained of this vice and
with one mind conclude that it is the very last vice to be
overcome。 St。 Augustine says： 〃All other vices are practised in
evil works； only honor and self…satisfaction are practised in and
by means of good works。〃
Therefore if a man had nothing else to do except this second work
of this Commandment； he would yet have to work all his life…time
in order to fight this vice and drive it out； so common； so
subtile； so quick and insidious is it。 Now we all pass by this
good work and exercise ourselves in many other lesser good works；
nay； through other good works we overthrow this and forget it
entirely。 So the holy Name of God； which alone should be honored；
is taken in vain and dishonored through our own cursed 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