Good Works And Glory

Sic luceat lex vestra coram hominibus, ut videant vestra bona opera, et glorificent Patrem vestrum qui in coelis est. Ac si patenter dicat: sic luceat ut praescribo, sic utique ut doceo. Doceo autem non sub modio eam ponere, sed super candelabrum: et causam expono, ut qui in domo sunt omnibus luceat lux vestra, et videntes vestra bona opera, glorificent non vos, sed Patrem vestrum, qui est in coelis: opera enim requiro ut videantur, et ut confirmetur vestra doctrina. Neque tamen aliubi finis ponendus est operis, nisi ut per ea glorificetur Deus Pater, qui vobis lumen verum infudit, et per Spiritus sancti gratiam operandi virtutem dedit. Alioquin cassus labor et vana praesumptio, si non vita doctoris et linguae officium, ad gloriam et laudem Dei devotissime referatur. Sanctus Paschasius Radbertus Corbeiensis, Expositio In Evangelium Matthaei, Liber III Chap V Source: Migne PL 120.235d

'So let your light shine before men, that they see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven...' 1 As if He openly says: So let light shine as I prescribe, and likewise as I teach. For I teach that it must not be hid under a bushel, but be placed on a lamp stand, and I give the reason, that your light might shine on all those in the house, who seeing your good works glorify not you, but your Father, who is in heaven. I require that works be seen and confirm your teaching. For the value of a work is not weighed in any way but by the glory it gives to the Father, who shall infuse you with true light, and shall give you by the grace of the Holy Spirit virtue in your works. Else it is an empty labour and a vain presumption, if the life of the teacher and the service of the tongue does not most devotely direct to the glory and praise of God. Saint Paschasius Radbertus, Commentary On The Gospel of Saint Matthew, Book 3 Chap 5 1 Mt 5.16