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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 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。〃
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； despised 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 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。〃 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。
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 eyes and in the eyes of all men； who otherwise
could not have kept himself from this great vice of vain honor
and fame； if he had remained constant in his great gifts and
virtues； so God must ward off this sin by means of other grievous
sins； that His Name alone may be honored； and thus one sin
becomes the other's medicine； because of our perverse wickedness；
which not only does the evil； but also misuses all that is good。
Now see how much a man has to do； if he would do good works；
which always are at hand in great number； and with which he is
surrounded on all sides； but； alas！ because of his blindness； he
passes them by and seeks and runs after others of his own
devising and pleasure； against which no man can sufficiently
speak and no man can sufficiently guard。 With this all the
prophets had to contend； and for this reason they were all slain；
only because they rejected such self…devised works and preached
only God's commandments； as one of them says； Jeremiah vii： 〃Thus
saith the God of Israel unto you： Take your burnt offerings unto
all your sacrifices and eat your burnt…offerings and your flesh
yourselves； for concerning these things I have commanded you
nothing； but this thing commanded I you： Obey My voice （that is；
not what seems right and good to you； but what I bid you）； and
walk in the way that I have commanded you。〃 And Deuteronomy xii：
〃Thou shalt not do whatsoever is right in thine own eyes； but
what thy God has commanded thee。〃
These and numberless like passages of Scripture are spoken to
tear man not only from sins； but also from the works which seem
to men to be good and right； and to turn men； with a single mind；
to the simple meaning of God's commandment only； that they shall
diligently observe this only and always； as it is written； Exodus
xiii： 〃These commandments shall be for a sign unto thee upon
thine hand； and for a memorial between thine eyes。〃 And Psalm i：
〃A godly man meditates in God's Law day and night。〃 For we have
more than enough and too much to do； if we are to satisfy only
God's commandments。 He has given us such commandments that if we
understand them aright； we dare not for a moment be idle； and
might easily forget all other works。 But the evil spirit； who
never rests； when he cannot lead us to the left into evil works；
fights on our right through self…devised works that seem good；
but against which God has commanded； Deuteronomy xxviii； and
Joshua xxiii； 〃Ye shall not go aside from My commandments to the
right hand or to the left。〃
XXV。 The third work of this Commandment is to call upon God's
Name in every need。 For this God regards as keeping His Name holy
and greatly honoring it； if we name and call upon it in adversity
and need。 And this is really why He sends us so much trouble；
suffering； adversity and even death； and lets us live in many
wicked； sinful affections； that He may thereby urge man and give
him much reason to run to Him； to cry aloud to Him； to call upon
His holy Name； and thus to fulfil this work of the Second
Commandment； as He says in Psalm 1： 〃Call upon Me in the day of
trouble； I will deliver thee； and thou shalt glorify Me； for I
desire the sacrifice of praise。〃 And this is the way whereby thou
canst come unto salvation； for through such works man perceives
and learns what God's Name is； how powerful it is to help all who
call upon it； and whereby confidence and faith grow mightily； and
these are the fulfilling of the first and highest Commandment。
This is the experience of David； Psalm liv： 〃Thou hast delivered
me out of all trouble； therefore will I praise Thy Name and
confess that it is lovely and sweet。〃 And Psalm xci says；
〃Because he hath set his hope upon Me； therefore will I deliver
him： I will help him； because he hath known My Name。〃
Lo！ what man is there on earth； who would not all his life long
have enough to do with this work？ For who lives an hour without
trials？ I will not mention the trials of adversity； which are
innumerable。 For this is the most dangerous trial of all； when
there is no trial and every thing is and goes well； for then a
man is tempted to forget God； to become too bold and to misuse
the times of prosperity。 Yea； here he has ten times more need to
call upon God's Name than when in adversity。 Since it is written；
Psalm xci； 〃A thousand shall fall on the left hand and ten
thousand on the right hand。〃