Angels: Their Ministry; Bad Angels, How God Uses Them in His Providences to His Children

The purpose of this post is to share Calvin’s writings on satan and demons, how God uses them in the lives of believers.

If you have sometimes been unable to understand why you have fallen into sin, then you may gain some insights into how God has been working in your life from section 18 and surrounding sections that are included in the excerpt below, which covers sections 14 through 19 (see sections below).

After the excerpt, the entire chapter is covered in the two videos for any who want to hear it. The videos were copied from the YouTube site: Sermon Library. They have much from the Puritans, Spurgeon….

Book 1, chapter 14 John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion:

IN THE CREATION OF THE WORLD, AND ALL THINGS IN IT, THE TRUE GOD DISTINGUISHED BY CERTAIN MARKS FROM FICTITIOUS GODS

In this chapter commences the second part of Book First, i.e., the knowledge of man. Certain things premised.

1. The creation of the world generally (section 1 and 2);
2. The subject of angels considered (sec. 3 – 13);
3. Of bad angels or devils (sec. 13 – 20); and,
4. The practical use to be made of the history of the creation (sec. 20 – 22).

Sections

1. The mere fact of creation should lead us to acknowledge God, but to prevent our falling away to gentile fictions, God has been pleased to furnish a history of the creation. An impious objection, why the world was not created sooner? Answer to it. Shrewd saying of an old man.
2. For the same reason, the world was created, not in an instant, but in six days. The order of creation described, showing that Adam was not created until God had, with infinite goodness made ample provision for him.
3. The doctrine concerning angels expounded.
   1. That we may learn from them also to acknowledge God.
   2. That we may be put on our guard against the errors of the worshipers of angels and the Manichees. Manicheeism refuted. Rule of piety.
4. The angels created by God. At what time and in what order is it inexpedient to inquire. The garrulity of the Pseudo-Dionysius.
5. The nature, offices, and various names of angels.
6. Angels the dispensers of the divine beneficence to us.
7. A kind of prefects over kingdoms and provinces, but specially the guardians of the elect. Not certain that every believer is under the charge of a single angel. Enough that all angels watch over the safety of the church.
8. The number and orders of angels not defined. Why angels said to be winged.
9. Angels are misintering spirits and spiritual essences.
10. The heathen error of placing angels on the throne of God refuted.
    1. By passages of scripture.
11. Refutation continued.
    1. By inferences from other passages. Why God employs the ministry of angels.
12. Use of the doctrine of Scripture concerning the holy angels.
13. The doctrine concerning bad angels or devils reduced to four heads.
    1. That we may guard against their wiles and assaults.
14. That we may be stimulated to exercises of piety. Why one angel in the singular number often spoken of.
15. The devil being described as the enemy of man, we should perpetually war against him.
16. The wickedness of the devil not by creation but by corruption. Vain and useless to inquire into the mode, time, and character of the fall of angels.
17. Though the devil is always opposed in will and endeavor to the will of God, he can do nothing without his permission and consent.
18. God so overrules wicked spirits as to permit them to try the faithful, and rule over the wicked.
19. The nature of bad angels. They are spiritual essences endued with sense and intelligence.
20. The latter part of the chapter briefly embracing the history of creation, and showing what it is of importance for us to know concerning God.
21. The special object of this knowledge is to prevent us, through ingratitude or thoughtfulness, from overlooking the perfections of God. Example of this primary knowledge.
22. Another object of this knowledge, i.e., that perceiving how these things were created for our use, we may be excited to trust in God, pray to him, and love him

 

Excerpt: 15:42, sections 14 — 19:

 

 

Chapter 14 part one:

 

 

 

Chapter 14, part two:

 

 

 

For other posts on John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, see: Categories, Calvin’s Institutes: Calvin’s writings on Providence are in that section if this post stirred up your interest in that topic.

The book is available on Amazon for around $25; and the Audible version is between $25 and $30.