Commentaries of the divine John Calvin, upon the prophet Daniel, translated into English, especially…Commentaries of the diuine Iohn Caluine, vpon the prophet Daniell, translated into Englishe, especially…

Now then we see that the world is so governed by the secrete providence of God, that nothing cometh to pass but that which he hath commanded and decreed: and furthermore that he should also worthily be counted the author of all things. Where some do object a kind of absurdity, that God is therefore the author of sin if nothing be but by his will, yea if he work it: this cavillation is easily put away, because there is a diversity betwixt the doing of God and the working of men. For when any man sinneth, God after his manner doth work there: but in the mean season he far differreth from man, because he exerciseth his judgement: even as he is said to blind and to harden. When then God doth command the reprobate or the devil, those doth he give up to be cast into all kinds of lusts. When God then doth so, he doth exercise his judgements. ⟨image 78⟩And he which sinneth is worthily guilty, neither can he entangle God in the society of his wickedness. Why? For God hath nothing common with him as concerning the action of sin. Therefore we see that these things which many would have to disagree betwixt them selves, do well agree, that is, that God doth rule by his will what soever is done in the world, and yet he is not the author of sin. Why? For he so useth the devil and all the reprobate, that he is alway a just judge. The cause doth not alway appear unto us, but we must mark this principle: because that with God is all power, therefore it is not right to speak against his judgements, what show of absurdity soever they have. And therefore it followeth in the text: There is none that can stay his hand, or can say unto him why hast thou thus done?

Now then we sée that the world is so gouerned by the secrete prouidence of God, that nothyng commeth to passe but that which he hath commaunded and decréed: and furthermore that hee should also worthily be counted the author of all thynges. Where some do obiect a kinde of absurditie, that God is therfore the author of sinne if nothing be but by his will, yea if he worke it: this cauillation is easily put away, because there is a diuersitie betwixt the doing of God and the workyng of men. For when any man sinneth, God after his maner doth worke there: but in the meane season he farre differreth from man, because he exerciseth his iudgement: euen as he is sayd to blinde and to harden. When then God doth commaunde the reprobate or the deuil, those doth he geue vp to be cast into all kindes of lustes. When God then doth so, he doth exercise his iudgementes. ⟨image 78⟩