The Institution of Christian Religion

But when they call to mind, that the devil and all the route of the wicked, are so every way holden in by the hand of God as with a bridle, that they can neither conceive any mischief against us, nor go about it when they have conceived it, nor if they go never so much about it, can stir one finger to bring it to pass but so far as he shall suffer, yea so far as he shall command, and that they are not only holden fast bound with fetters, but also compelled with bridle to do service: here have they abundantly wherewith to comfort themselves. For as it is the Lords work to arm their fury and to turn and direct it whether it pleaseth him, so is it his work also to appoint a measure and end, that they do not after their own will licentiously triumph.¹ With which persuasion Paul being stablished, did by the sufferance of God appoint his journey in an other place which he said was in one place hindered by Satan. If he had only said that he had been stopped by Satan, he should have seemed ⟨image 76⟩to give him to much power, as if it had ben in Satan's hand to overthrow the very purposes of God: but when he maketh God the judge, upon whose sufferance all journeys do hang: he doeth therewithal show, that Satan whatsoever he go about, can attain nothing but by gods will. For the same reason doth David because for the sundry changes wherewith mans life is tossed and as it were whirled about, he doeth flee to this sanctuary, sayeth that his times are in the hand of God.² He might have said either the course of his life, or time in the singular number. But by the word Times, he meant to express that howsoever the state of man be unsteadfast, whatsoever alterations do now and then happen, they are governed by God. For which cause Rasin and the king of Israel,³ when joining their powers to the destruction of Judah, they seemed as firebrands kindled to wast and consume the land, are called by the Prophet smoking brands, which can do nothing but breath out a little smoke.⁴ So when Pharaoh was terrible to all men by reason of his richesse, strength and number of men, he himself is compared to a beast of the Sea, and his army to fishes. Therefore God sayeth that he will take the Captain and the army with his hook & draw them whether he list.