Chapter CI. Of the hiding of virtues

139. In such wise had that man abjured all glory that savoured not of Christ: in such wise had he laid an eternal anathema on men's applause.¹ He knew that the reward of fame lessens the secret [reward] of the conscience and that it is far more harmful to make a wrong use of virtues than to be without them. He knew that it is as great a virtue to guard what one has got, as it is to get it. Alas! more of our deeds are occasioned by vanity than by charity, and the world's applause has greater weight than the love of Christ. We do not judge the feelings, we do not "try the spirits," and when vainglory has urged us to some action we fancy it has been produced by charity. Moreover if we have done but a little good, we cannot bear the weight of it, but rid ourselves of all that while we are alive and lose the shore at last. We patiently endure not to be good, we may not bear not to be seen, not to be believed: and so we live wholly in the praise of men, for that we are naught but men.