法華經義記 1.85

1.85

問者言：「等是先歎，何故先歎其德後歎行耶？」解言：「為二義：一言德據其果、行據因；二者言德據現在為用、行據往日修習。果與現在二義相會，因與往日二義相符，是故先歎其德後歎行也。」

The questioner asks: "Since both are praised beforehand, why praise virtue first and practice afterwards?" The explanation states: "For two meanings: first, virtue is based on the fruit, and practice is based on the cause; second, virtue is based on its function in the present, and practice is based on cultivation in past days. The two meanings of fruit and the present correspond with each other, and the two meanings of cause and past days tally with each other; for this reason, virtue is praised first and practice afterwards."