Twentieth Day
Vain-glory in good works. —Matt. vi. 1-4.
AFTER having brought Christian justice to the point we have just seen-even so far as to give us God's own perfection for our model — our Lord remembers that man, always inclined to vanity, would like to draw glory from the external practices of such great holiness; and this thought gives rise to the following precept :- -Take heed that you do not your justice before men to be seen by them.' He does not forbid our practising Christian justice on all occasions that we may edify our neighbour; on the contrary, He has already said, 'So let your light shine before men that . . . they may glorify your Father Who is in Heaven'[1] in your good works:-but, 'take care not to do them in order to be seen of men, or you will lose your reward.' That is, if you act
- ↑ Matt. v. 16.
