![]() ![]() Observe then that He said not simply, Do not before men, but added, to be seen of them. For if a poor man come before us in the presence of any one, how shall we be able to give him alms in secret? If we lead him aside, it must be seen that we shall give him. Or if this may be, how can they be so done that we should not know of it. But how can it be that we should not do our alms before men. It is our heart we must watch, for it is an invisible serpent that we have to guard against, which secretly enters in and seduces but if the heart be pure into which the enemy has succeeded in entering in, the righteous man soon feels that he is prompted by a strange spirit but if his heart were full of wickednesses, he does not readily perceive the suggestion of the Devil, and therefore He first taught us, Be not angry, Lust not, for that he who is under the yoke of these evils cannot attend to his own heart. And therefore he enjoins this to be more carefully avoided, Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men. Observe how He has begun as it were describing some beast hard to be discerned, and ready to steal upon him who is not greatly on his guard against it it enters in secretly, and carries off insensibly all those things that are within. For though it is easy for any not to wish for praise when it is denied him, it is difficult not to be pleased with it when it is offered.ĬHRYSOSTOM. 318.) How great strength the love of human glory has, none feels, but he who has proclaimed war against it. The servants of the Devil are tormented by all kinds of vices but it is the desire of empty glory that torments the servants of the Lord more than the servants of the Devil.ĪUGUSTINE. For when any thing truly glorious is done, there ostentation has its readiest occasion so the Lord first shuts out all intention of seeking glory as He knows that this is of all fleshly vices the most dangerous to man. ![]() xix.) Yet be it known that the desire of fame is near a kin to virtue. Therefore the Lord now forbids these two things, glory and wealth, to the attention of believers.ĬHRYSOSTOM. 28:1.) And in the same place it is added of earthly wealth, The Lord shall make thee abound in all good things. Concerning the first is that spoken in Deuteronomy, The Lord shall make thee higher than all the nations who dwell on the face of the earth. human glory, and abundance of earthly goods, both of which seem to be promised in the Law. All earthly things are reduced to two main heads, viz. (non occ.) Christ having now fulfilled the Law in respect of commandments, begins to fulfil it in respect of promises, that we may do God’s commandments for heavenly wages, not for the earthly which the Law held out. Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in Heaven. ![]()
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