The ít'is not referring to the faith, but to the grace.
It is not faith, but the grace plan of salvation that is the gift.
Below is from Calvin's Commentaries,
. For by grace are ye saved. This is an inference from the former statements. Having treated of election and of effectual calling, he arrives at this general conclusion, that they had obtained salvation by faith alone. First, he asserts, that the salvation of the Ephesians was entirely the work, the gracious work of God. But then they had obtained this grace by faith. On one side, we must look at God; and, on the other, at man. God declares, that he owes us nothing; so that salvation is not a reward or recompense, but unmixed grace. The next question is, in what way do men receive that salvation which is offered to them by the hand of God? The answer is, by faith; and hence he concludes that nothing connected with it is our own. If, on the part of God, it is grace alone, and if we bring nothing but faith, which strips us of all commendation, it follows that salvation does not come from us.
As Calvin notes, we bring the faith, which adds nothing to the grace, but only accepts it.
they had obtained salvation by faith alone
salvation is not a reward or recompense, but unmixed grace
in what way do men receive that salvation which is offered to them by the hand of God? The answer is, by faith
it is grace alone, and if we bring nothing but faith, which strips us of all commendation, it follows that salvation does not come from us.
Calvin noted nothing of the sort, and you know it (because I'm assuming you read the entire paragraph you posted.)
Calvin clearly states faith is the vessel that God employs to bestow grace upon the elect.
"...in what way do men receive that salvation which is offered to them by the hand of God? The answer is, by faith; and hence he concludes that nothing connected with it is our own."
God could have said He'd draw a Valentine on our foreheads in red ink or write our names under every third rock or turn all the saved sheep day-glow green so that we'd know we were saved.
But He didn't. We know we are saved because we have faith, given to us by God alone.
I'm not sure of Calvin and I have to research it later. However, your faith is a gift from God. Please consider the following texts:
Rom 12:3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
and the one the you guys usually use:
Rom 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
We receive faith and it comes from God.