Institutes of Christian religion - Calvin - XIII - Chapter 18 of Book 1

Required reading
Institutes of Christian religion by John Calvin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 18 of Book 1.

My summary
This week Calvin closes Book One with answers to objections against the providence of God - particularly his providential control of evil.

Firstly because God is said to bend Satan and all the reprobate to his will and thereby appear to be guilty of sin, some draw a distinction between doing and permitting.  Calvin dismisses such a proposition by an abundance of proof texts.

Secondly others suggest that 'if nothing happens without the will of God, he must have two contrary wills, decreeing by a secret counsel what he has openly forbidden in his law'.  Calvin answers this by asserting that God's is never contrary.

Thirdly others suggest that 'If God not only uses the agency of the wicked, but also governs their counsels and affections, he is the author of all their sins; and, therefore, men, in executing what God has decreed, are unjustly condemned, because they are obeying his will.'  Calvin responds by drawing a distinction between God's will and precept.

What grabbed me
The ultimate answer to all the objections about the providence of God was made by Calvin at the end of the Chapter: 'Our true wisdom is to embrace with meek docility, and without reservation, whatever the Holy Scriptures, have delivered. Those who indulge their petulance, a petulance manifestly directed against God, are undeserving of a longer refutation.'

Amen.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 1 of Book 2.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.