6. Our Lord Jesus Christ judged that men could
more readily be bound and led on to do the things that are right by
kindness than by fear, and that love avails more than dread for
correction. And so, when He came, being born of a Virgin, He sent
forth His grace, that sin might be forgiven in baptism in order to make
us more grateful to Himself. Then if we repay Him by services
befitting men who are grateful, He has declared in this woman that
there will be a reward for this grace itself to all men. For if
He had forgiven only our original debt, He would have seemed more
cautious than merciful, and more careful for our correction than
magnificent in His rewards. It is only the cunning of a narrow
mind that tries to entice, but it is fitting for God that those whom He
has invited by grace He should lead on by increase of that grace.
And so He first bestows on us a gift by baptism, and afterwards gives
more abundantly to those who serve Him faithfully. So, then, the
benefits of Christ are both incentives and rewards of virtue.