The Institution of Christian Religion

Yet doth the Lord not deceive nor mock us, when he saith that he §3rendereth for reward to works the same thing which he had before works freely given. For, because he will have us to be exercised with good works to think upon the delivery or enjoying (as I may so call it) of these things which he hath promised, and to run through them to the blessed hope set before us in heaven, the fruit of the promises is also rightly assigned to them, to the ripeness whereof they do not bring us. The Apostle very fitly expressed both these points, when he said that the Colossians apply themselves to the duties of charity, for the pope which is laid up for them in heaven, of which they had before heard by the word of the true speaking Gospel.¹ For when he saith that they knew by the Gospel, that there was hope laid up for them in heaven, he declareth that the same is by Christ only, not underpropped with any works. Wherewith accordeth yt saying of Peter,² that the godly are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto the salvation which is ready to be manifestly showed at the time appointed for it. When he saith that they labour for it, he signifieth that the faithful must run all the time of their life, that they may attain to it. But least we should think that the reward which the lord promiseth us, is not reduced to the measure of merit, he did put forth a parable,³ in which he made himself a householder, which sent all them that he met, to the trimming of his vineyard, some at the first hour of the day, some at the second, some at the third, yea & some a•o at the xi. At evening he payed to every one equal wages. The exposition of which parable, that same old writer what soever he was, whose book is carried abroad under the name of Ambrose of the calling of the Gentiles, hath briefly and truly set out. I will use rather his words than mine own. The Lord (saith he) by the rule of this comparison,⁴ hath stablished the diversity of manifold calling, belonging to one grace: where without doubt they which being let in into the vineyard at the xi. hour, are made equal with them that had wrought the whole day, do represent the estate of them, whom for the advancing of the excellency of grace, the tender kindness of the lord hath rewarded at the waving of the day, and at the ending of their life: