8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;



Ver. 8. By honour and dishonour, &c.] It is written on heaven doors (said that martyr), "Do well and hear ill." A bad report is the ordinary reward of very well doing; which made Luther wax proud even of his reproach. Superbus fio, said he, quod video nomen pessimum mihi crescere. Jerome also writeth to Augustine, Quod signum maioris gloriae est, omnes haeretici me detestantur, This is my glory, that none of the heretics can give me a good word or look. It was a divine saying of Seneca, No man sets better rate upon virtue than he that loseth a good name to keep a good conscience. Qui boni viri famam perdidit ne conscientiam perderet.



As deceivers] Aspersed for such, as Christ was, Mat_27:63. And Lucian blasphemously termeth him åóêïëïðéóìåíïí óïöéóôçí , the crucified cozener (deceiver).