us, which spake them partly of himself. For he is that rich
man, which not only had, but hath, and shall have evermore, I say not
one, but many stewards, even to the end of the world.

He is man, seeing that he is God and man. He is rich, not only in mercy
but in all kind of riches; for it is he that giveth to us all things
abundantly. It is he of whose hand we received both our lives, and other
things necessary for the conservation of the same. What man hath any
thing, I pray you, but he hath received it of his plentifulness? To be
short, it is he that "openeth his hand, and filleth all beasts with his
blessing," and giveth unto us in most ample wise his benediction. Neither
his treasure can be spent, how much soever he lash out; how much soever
we take of him, his treasure tarrieth still, ever taken, never spent.

He is also the good man of the house: the church is his household which
ought with all diligence to be fed with his word and his sacraments.
These be his goods most precious, the dispensation and administration
whereof he would bishops and curates should have. Which thing St. Paul
affirmeth, saying, "Let men esteem us as the ministers of Christ, and
dispensers of God's mysteries." But, I pray you, what is to be looked
for in a dispenser? This surely, "That he be found faithful," and that
he truly dispense, and lay out the goods of the Lord; that he give meat
in time; give it, I say, and not sell it; meat, I say, and not poison.
For the one doth intoxicate and slay the eater, the other feedeth and
nourisheth him. Finally, let him not slack and defer the doing of his
office, but let him do his duty when time is, and need requireth it. This
is also to be looked for, that he be one whom God hath called and put in
office, and not one that cometh uncalled, unsent for; not one that of
himself presumeth to take honour upon him. And surely, if all this that
I say be required in a good minister, it is much lighter to require them
all in every one, than to find one any where that hath them all. Who is
a true and faithful steward? He is true, he is faithful, that cometh no
new money, but taketh it ready coined of the good man of the house; and
neither changeth it, nor clippeth it, after it is taken to him to spend,
but spendeth even the self-same that he had of his Lord, and spendeth it
as his Lord's commandment is; neither to his own vantage uttering it, nor
as the lewd servant did, hiding it in the ground