The Institution of Christian Religion

And for this purpose that glorying of Paul is out of season alleged ⟨p. 191⟩That among the Corinthians he did of his own will yield of his right,¹ which otherwise he might have used if he had would, & that he hath employed upon them not only so much as he ought of duty, but also hath given them his free travail beyond the bounds of duties. But they should have marked the reason there expressed, that he did this least he should be an offence to the weak. For false & deceitful workmen did boast them selves with this alluring show of liberality, whereby they might both procure favour to their poisonous doctrines, & raise up hatred to y• Gospel, so that Paul was driven of necessity either to bring the doctrine of Christ into danger, or to mere with such crafts. Go to: if it be to a christian man an indifferent thing, to run into offence, when he may refrain it, then I grant that the Apostle did something of Supererogation for the Lord. But if this were by right required or a wise distributer of the Gospel, then I say that he did that which was his duty to do. Finally although there appear no such cause, yet this saying of Chrysostom is alway true, that all our things are in the same case wherein are the proper possessions of bondmen, which it is certain by the law to be due to their Lord.² And Christ bath uttered the same in the parable. For he asked what thank we will give to a bondservant when having ben all the day travailed with sundry labours he returneth home to us in the evening. But it is possible, that he hath laboured with greater diligence than we durst have required. Be it so: yet he hath done no thing but that which by his estate of bondage he ought, for he with his whole ability is ours. I speak not of what sort their Supererogations are which these men will boast of to God: for they be trifles, such as he neither hath at any time commanded, nor doth approve them, nor will allow them when account shall be to be made before him. In this signification only we will grant that they are works of Supererogation, namely of which it is spoken in the Prophet:³ who hath required these things at your hands? But let them remember what is in an other place also spoken of these things: