Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.
Ver. 21. Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person] q.d. This leave you must give me, or at least wise I must take it, since my life lieth upon it to be impartial and plain dealing, laying the blame where it lights, and sparing the pains of pleasing and parasitical poems of oratorical and rhetorical insinuations. Nihil loquar ad gratiam, &c. I shall know no man after the flesh in this business, nor look on any face. If Job found this fault with his other three friends, Job 13:7, he shall have no cause so to do with me; but, as a right moderator, I will hear arguments speak, and not persons; I will shut out my friend, or my senior, and speak the truth in love. Diem hominis non desideravi, saith Jeremiah, Jeremiah 17:16. And, if I yet please men, I am no more the servant of Christ, Galatians 1:10; See Trapp on " Gal 1:10 "
Neither let me give flattering titles] Praenomen aut cognomen, those that seem to be somewhat, whatsoever they be, it shall make no matter to me; God accepteth no man's person, Galatians 2:6. I shall call a spade a spade, tell every one their own without circumlocution, and not soothe or smooth up any man (though never so great) in his sinful practices. Semper Augustus is a title still given to the German emperors. But Sigismund, once emperor, when a fellow flattered him above measure, and extolled him to the skies, gave the flatterer a good box on the ear, and when he asked, Why smite you me? he answered, Why clawest thou me?