“We may patiently pass through this life with its misery, hunger, cold, contempt, reproaches, and other troubles– content with this one thing: that our King will never leave us destitute, but will provide for our needs until, our warfare ended, we are called to triumph.
Such is the nature of His rule, that He shares with us all that He has received from the Father. Now He arms and equips us with His power, adorns us with His beauty and magnificence, enriches us with His wealth. These benefits, then, give us the most fruitful occasion to glory, and also provide us with confidence to struggle fearlessly against the devil, sin, and death.
Finally, clothed with His righteousness, we can valiantly rise above all the world’s reproaches and just as He Himself freely lavishes His gifts upon us, so may we, in return, bring forth fruit to His glory.”
–John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, John T. McNeill, ed, Ford Lewis Battles, trans, Library of Christian Classics (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1960 [1559]), 2.15.4.
