法華論疏 2.140

2.140

云自在說因成就者，有自在說法之德，此德即是說法之因，故言自在說因。問：前第七第八亦有說法義，已是法師。云何至此方始辨耶？答：論主大判二章，故開二門耳。初章非無法師，後段亦有妙法。又前第七第八直明如來言教等，不同外道、二乘，未正明化物。今正明化物，故名法師功德。

Regarding "have accomplished the cause of sovereign preaching": having the virtue of sovereignly preaching the Dharma, this virtue is itself the cause of preaching the Dharma; hence it says "cause of sovereign preaching". Question: Previously, the seventh and eighth also had the sense of preaching the Dharma and were already a Dharma master; why is it distinguished only upon arriving here? Answer: The author of the Treatise made a grand division into two chapters, and so opened two gates. The first chapter was not without a Dharma master, and the latter section also has the wondrous Dharma. Furthermore, the previous seventh and eighth merely explained the Tathāgata's spoken teachings and the like as not being in common with non-Buddhists and the two vehicles, and had not yet directly explained transforming living beings. Now it directly explains transforming living beings; hence they are named the merits of a Dharma master.