Christian religion

What great matter is it if a mans good name be hurt, as long as neither his person nor his goods are touched?

First, those gifts that God hath bestowed upon him or others are not so esteemed as is meet, and as they should be, whereby glory falleth from God which is the author and giver of them. Secondly, his endeavours and labours are not so profitable to men as otherwise they might be, if his good name remained whole and untouched. Thirdly, it is discomfortable to himself to have an evil name, as a good name is comfortable.¹ And therefore a man ought to labour to get a good name, and when he ⟨p. 112⟩[…] ⟨p. 113⟩[…] ⟨p. 114⟩hath gotten it to keep it, and therefore to labour for righteousness,² which preserveth a good name. And that not in some things, but in all; for that as one fly corrupteth the whole box of ointment, so one vice doth deface a mans estimation.

First, those gifts that God hath bestowed vpon him or others are not so esteemed as is meet, and as they should bee, wherby glory falleth from God which is the author and giuer of them. Secondly, his endeuors and labours are not so profitable to men as otherwise they might bee, if his good name remained whole and vntouched. Thirdly, it is discomfortable to himselfe to haue an euill name, as a good name is comfortable.¹ And therefore a man ought to labour to get a good name, and when hee ⟨p. 112⟩