“Was there ever a more detestable conspiracy? Prophets and teachers of the church whose task is to instruct –mere fiddlers, playing sweet songs which tickle the ears of their audience but which achieve nothing! Meantime the flatterers are lavish in their praise: ‘Ah! An outstanding teacher! An excellent man! What more could we ask for?’ So while some crave compliments and others tell them what they want to hear, our Lord Jesus Christ gives the lie to all such notions: Woe to you when men speak well of you.”
–John Calvin, Sermons on the Beatitudes, trans. by Robert White (Carlisle, PA.: Banner of Truth, 1562/2006), p. 81.
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