The Institution of Christian Religion

The same men do unorderly and unadvisedly draw the chances of §5time past to the naked providence of god. For because upon it do hang all things whatsoever happen, therefore (say they) neither robberies, nor adulteries, ⟨image 73⟩nor manslaughters are committed without the will of God. Why then (say they) shall a these be punished, for that he spoiled him whom the Lords will was to punish with poverty? Why shall the murderer be punished which hath slain him whose life the Lord had ended? If all such men do serve the will of God, why shall they be punished? But I deny that they serve the will of God. For we may not say that he which is carried with an evil mind doeth service to God as commander of it, where in deed he doeth but obey his own wicked lust. He obeyeth God, which being informed of his will doeth labour to that end, whereunto Gods will calleth him. But whereby are we informed of his will, but by his word? Therefore in doing of things we must see that same will of God, which he declareth in his word. God requireth of us only that which he commandeth. If we do any thing against his commandment, it is not obedience but obstinacy and transgression. But unless he would, we should not do it. I grant. But do we evil things to this end to obey him? But he doeth not command us to do them, but rather we run on headlong, not minding what he willeth, but so raging with the intemperance of our own lust, that of set purpose we bend our travail against him. And by these means in evil doing we serve his just ordinance, because according to the infinite greatness of his wisdom, he hath good skill to use evil instruments to do good. And see how foolish is their manner of arguing. They would have the doers unpunished for mischievous acts, because they are not committed but by the disposition of God. I grant more: that thieves and murderers & other evil doers are the instruments of Gods Providence, whom the Lord doth use to execute those judgements which he hath with himself determined. But I deny that their evil doings ought to have any excuse thereby. For why? shall they either entangle God in the same wickedness with them, or shall they cover their naughtiness with his righteousness? They can do neither of both. Because they should not be able to excuse themselves, they are accused by their own conscience.

The same men doo vnorderly and vnaduisedly draw the chaunces of §5