Divers sermons of Master John Calvin, concerning the divinity, humanity, and nativity of our…Diuers sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, concerning the diuinitie, humanitie, and natiuitie of our…

Now, in that we have said, that the wicked do nothing but that which God ordaineth: a number might reply and say, what good sir, and if it be thus, it might be said, that God should be the cause of the evil, and the wicked were to be excused. For answer hereof, we must in the first place understand, what the will of god is, yea & that he setteth down unto us in his law. We know that he hath forbidden stealing. If then I go & steal, What? Do I then his will? Surely, when the wicked go about to do any mischief, they go not to do the will of God, for they know well enough that God utterly misliketh all wicked dealing. And therefore when they do any evil, they withstand the will of God.

Now, in that we haue saide, that the wicked doe nothing but that which God ordeineth: a number might reply and say, what good sir, and if it bée thus, it might bée said, that God shoulde bée the cause of the euill, and the wicked were to bée excused. For answere hereof, we must in the first place vnderstand, what the will of god is, yea & that he setteth downe vnto vs in his law. We know that he hath forbidden stealing. If then I goe & steale, What? Doe I then his will? Surely, when the wicked goe about to doe any mischiefe, they goe not to doe ye wil of God, for they know wel enough that God vtterly misliketh al wicked dealing. And therefore when they doe any euill, they withstand the will of God.

Wherefore, it followeth that God would not have them do any evil: but suffereth them to do it: & for the cause they are in excusable, forsomuch as they do contrary to his commandment. And therefore we must not say that God is the cause of evil: for he committeth not the faults which we commit. For we see, that he giveth the Devil leave to punish such are worthy thereof. The Devil committeth evil, and hath none other regard but to do mischief, and yet God maketh him to serve him to another clean contrary end. God suffereth a Thief to rob a true man of his goods.¹ And why doeth he so? Forsooth to prove his patience, that it might be known. We see what Job saith in all his troubles, The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken, blessed be the name of the Lord. And yet thieves robbed and spoiled him. What meaneth he then hereby? Doth Job accuse God of theft? No forsooth, you must not so take it: for he knew that thieves were wicked, and that they came not thither but against the will of God, and to the intent to do mischief: howbeit he had a further reach, and considered