The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

But the question is why God doth grant Satan so great liberty, as to suffer him to deceive miserable men, and to bewitch them with true divinations. For omitting the disputations which some men move concerning his foresight, I take this for a plain lease, that he doth prophesy and foretell things to come, and which •re hidden only through Gods sufferance. But God seemeth by this •eanes to lay open men who are reckless or careless, to his subtlety, so that they cannot beware. For seeing that prophesies breath out divine power, mens minds must needs be touched with reverence so often as they come abroad unless they contemn God. I answer, that Satan hath never so much liberty granted him of god, save only that the unthankful world may he punished which is so desirous of a lie, that it had rather be deceived, then obey the truth. For that is a general evil,¹ whereof Paul complaineth in the first chapter to the Romans, That men do not glorify God being known naturally by the creation of the world, & that they suppress his truth unjustly.

But the question is why God doth graunt Satan so great libertie, as to suffer him to deceiue miserable men, and to bewitch them with true diuinations. For omitting the disputations which some men moue concerning his foresight, I take this for a plaine lease, that he doth prophesie and foretell things to come, and whic• •re hidden onely through Gods sufferance. But God seemeth by this •eanes to lay open men who are retchles or carelesse, to his subtiltie, so that they cannot beware. For seeing that prophesies breath out diuine power, mens minds must needs be touched with reuerence so often as they come abroad vnlesse they contemne God. I answere, that Satan hath neuer so much libertie graunted him of god, saue only that the vnthankful world may he punished which is so desirous of a lie, that it had rather be deceiued, then obey the truth. For that is a generall euill,¹ whereof Paul complaineth in the first chapter to the Romanes, That men doe not glorifie God being knowen naturally by the creation of the world, & that they suppresse his truth vniustly.