“Consider this, that the root of hypocrisy and of atheism is in our nature, whereby naturally we do these three things: we love, fear, and trust in men more than in God, and therefore do make men the judges of our actions. First, for love, are we not grieved when we ourselves or our friends are dishonored, and on the contrary, when we ourselves or our friends are praised, are we not glad and rejoice? But when God is dishonored, who is grieved? Or whose heart does leap for joy when God is glorified? Which argues plainly that our affection of love is more inclined towards ourselves and to our friends than unto God. Second, for fear; are not most men more afraid when they offend a mortal man like themselves than when they offend the ever-living God? Third, for trust and confidence in time of affliction, most men are more comforted if some friend promises them help than they are by all the promises of God Himself in His Word. But men will say that they love and fear and trust in God above all. This indeed is the ordinary profession of ignorant people, but the truth is that by nature we refuse God to be our Judge and our Approver, and appeal unto men; and therefore we must labor to see and feel and to bewail this hypocrisy, and to be endued with the contrary grace whereby we may simply and sincerely seek to be approved of God in all our actions.”
William Perkins, The Works of William Perkins (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage, 2014), 1:398.