For we always give more willingly, where we give without return, seeing it is for our own honour that we give. Therefore God in giving reward to all the saints shews himself just; in giving to us, merciful; as the Apostle speaks, “That the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy;” [Rom 16:9] and thence it is said, “Beginning from the last even unto the first.”
Or surely that God may shew His inestimable mercy, He first rewards the last and more unworthy, and afterwards the first; for of His great mercy He regarded not order of merit.
Reproduced in full. Translation: Oxford 1841 (Newman), public domain (Public domain).