8.

 We cannot be silent concerning the useless desire for glory which a certain bishop correctly called hidden destruction. Once it has shown itself, there is perhaps nothing more hostile to love. Servility creeps up on whatever bishop this deadly plague gets hold of and infects; it attacks his most noble part, the soul. It captures him with its poisonous flatteries and constantly besieges him. It drives the wretch to the point that he no longer seeks the glory of God but only his own, increasing enormously that distorted and excessive self-esteem by which each of us is greatly deceived. Even the Lord Jesus denied that He sought this.[²⁷] Detraction and lying follow flattery as destructive attendants and ministers, so that nothing is left safe and sound for the eminent and virtuous men in the company of the bishop. For this reason, Solomon in his wisdom warns that it is better to be seized by wisdom than deceived by the flattery of fools.[²⁸] He also says: "Turn your back on the mouth that misleads; keep your distance from lips that deceive."[²⁹] Bishops should always keep this in mind: "When a ruler listens to false reports, all his ministers will be scoundrels."[³⁰] We must stop being envious of glory.[³¹] Thus, glory will be the downfall of those who think earthly things are important.[³²] Let us look higher-let us look upon that heavenly home of eternal glory. Let us not think that our true, solid, and serious glory comes from the lips of men.[³³] We have all sinned, and we all need the glory of God. Having died to our sins,[³⁴] we should not glory in ourselves. The Father should be glorified in the Son,[³⁵] so that we might be filled with the fruit of justice through Jesus Christ for the glory of God,[³⁶] to whom alone belong all glory, majesty, authority, and power.[³⁷]