"But, some may say, 'If God has a hand in ordering all things that fall out, He has a hand in the sins of men.'
"I answer, 'No, by no means.' God has no hand in any man's sin. God cannot go contrary to His own nature, He cannot do any unholy action, any more than the sun can be said to be darkened. Here you must take heed of two things; as you must take heed of making God ignorant of men's sins, so you must take heed of making God to have a hand in men's sins. Is it likely that God is the author of sin, and the avenger of it? Is it a likely thing that God should make a law against sin, and then have a hand in breaking His own law? God in His providence permits men's sins. 'He allowed all nations to walk in their own ways,' (Acts 14:16). God permitted their sin, which He never would, if He could not bring good out of it. Had not sin been permitted, God's justice in punishing sin, and His mercy in pardoning sin, had not been so well known. The Lord is pleased to permit it, but He has no hand in sin."
