Theodosis - Why God Allows Evil

Calvin is a thoroughgoing determinist who thinks that god foreknows and decrees everything we do. He does, however, accept that there are genuinely efficacious causes other than god. That's precisely why he speaks of created things as god's instruments. If god wants something to be burned, he may use fire to do it. And in that case, the fire really does burn the thing, albeit at god's command. Similarly, if god wants to punish a people for their sins, he may used a wicked tyrant to do it - but only because they're evil. Our sinful will is just as real as fire's ability to burn, and exercises just as much causal influence