The Institution of Christian Religion

But far other is the order of Gods doing in such things. And that the same may appear more certainly unto us: let the hurt done to the holy man Job by the Chaldees,¹ be an example. The Chaldees killed his herdmen, and like enemies in war, drove away his cattle for booties. Now is their wicked deed plainly seen, and in that work Satan is not idle, from whom the History sayeth, that all this did proceed. But Job himself did acknowledge the work of the lord in it, ⟨p. 25⟩whom he saith to have take away from him those things, that were taken away by the Chaldees. How can we refer the self same work to God, as author, to Satan as author, and to man as author of it, but that we must either excuse Satan by the company of God, or report God to be the author of evil. Very easily: if first we look upon the end, why it was done, and then the manner how. The purpose of the Lord is by calamity to exercise the patience of his servant: The devil goeth about to drive him to despair. The Chaldees against right and law, seek gain of that which is an other mans. Such diversity in purposes, maketh great difference in the work. And in the manner of doing there is no less diversity. The Lord leaveth his servant to Satan to be afflicted: and the Chaldees, whom he did chose for ministers to execute it, he did leave and deliver to him to be driven to it. Satan with his venomous stings, pricked forward the minds of the Chaldees, which otherwise were perverse of them selves to do that mischief: they furiously run to do wrong, and do bind and defile all their members with wicked doing. Therefore it is properly said, that Satan doth work in the reprobate, in whom he exerciseth his kingdom: that is to say, the kingdom of wickedness. It is also said, that God worketh in them after his manner, because Satan him self, for as much as he is the instrument of his wrath, according to his bidding and commandment, turneth him self hither & thither to execute his just judgements. I speak not here of Gods universal moving, whereby as all creatures are sustained, so from thence they take their effectual power of doing any thing. I speak only of that special doing, which appeareth in every special act. We see therefore that it is no absurdity, that one self act be ascribed to God, to Satan, and to man:

But farre other is the order of Gods doyng in such thinges. And that the same may appere more certainly vnto vs: let the hurt done to the holy man Iob by the Chaldees,