The Institution of Christian Religion

Now how hard is it, for thee to do thy duty in seeking the profit of §5thy neighbour? Thou shalt herein labour in vain, unless thou depart from regard of thy self, and in a manner put of thy self. For how canst thou perform these things that Paul teacheth to be the works of charity, unless thou forsake thy self, to give thy self wholly to other?¹ Charity (saith he) is patient and gentle, not proud, not disdainful, envieth not, swelleth not, seeketh not her own, is not angry, &c. If this one thing be required, that we seek not the things that are our own, we shall do no small violence to nature, which so bendeth us to the only love of our selves, that it doth not easily suffer us negligently to pass over our selves and our own things, to watch for other mens commodities, yea to depart with our own right to resign it to an other. But the Scripture, to lead us thither as it were by the hand, warneth us that what so ever gracious gifts we obtain of the Lord, they are committed unto us upon this condition, that ⟨image 240⟩they should be bestowed to the common benefit of the church: & that therefore the true use of all Gods graces is a liberal & bountiful communicating of them to other. There can be no certain rule, nor more forcible exhortation could be devised for the keeping of the same, than when we be taught that all the good gifts that we have, are things of God delivered, committed to our trust upon this condition, that they should be disposed to the benefit of our neighbours. But the Scripture goeth yet further, when it compareth them to the powers wherewith the men bers of mans body are endued. No member hath his power for himself, nor applieth it to his private use: but poureth it abroad into the other members of the same body, & taketh no profit thereof, but such as proceedeth from the common commodity of the whole body. So whatsoever a godly man is able to do, he ought to be able to do it for his brethren, in providing none otherwise privately for himself, but so that his mind be bent to the common edification of the church. Let this therefore be our order for kindness and doing good: that whatsoever God hath bestowed upon us, whereby we may help our neighbour, we are the Bailies thereof, & bound to render account of the disposing of it. And that the only right disposing is that which is tried by the rule of love.