The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the…The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the…

And forasmuch as his riches diminish not, nor yet his liberality which he useth towards us: thereby we know that he passeth all the men in the world. Then if we will define in one word how God is rich: it is in being liberal unto us, using bountifulness, and by alluring us too him too succour us in all our needs and wants, according too this saying of his by his Prophet,¹ Come all ye that are thirsty, and drink your fill: ye shall have your fill, not only of water, but also of wine and milk. Too be short, he showeth that they can want nothing, which wait upon him, and put their trust in him. Therefore it is said in the Psalm, that all shall have their part of the spoil,² not only the men of war, (for they might hap too boast that they had gotten the whole pray by their own manhood and policy) but that the women which never stirred out of the house,³ and which did nothing but spin upon their distaffs, shall have part of the booty, as though they had gotten the victory. Hereby (I say) he showeth, that Gods receiving of tributes and taxes of such as he had subdued too his dominion, was not too increase himself withal, but too make us partakers of all the benefits that belong too our salvation. And herewithall let us mark well, how it is alleged, that when God giveth us his gifts, it is not to the intent that we might father any thing upon our own virtue or prowess: but that we should think our selves beholden too his mere free goodness for all things. And so must all things be referred too his glory. For the more that he bestoweth upon us, the more ought we too be forward and ready too confess how much we be bound unto him. But the ⟨p. 170⟩chief point is, that we endeavour too make the gifts that we have received, available too the common edifying of the Church: that is too say, that God may still be more and more exalted, and the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ increased and augmented among men. And so the condition (say I) whereupon our Lord distributeth too every of us the things that belong too him, and are his own, and which he could keep still too himself, is, that we should do him homage for them both in word and deed.