The Secret Providence of God is Calvin's third response to the Sebastian Castellio a fellow Frenchman and at what time friend and co-worker in Geneva. Castellio met the great reformer in Strasburg and in 1540 lodged with Calvin and in 1543-44 following Calvin's return to Geneva was employed as rector of Geneva College.
Yet, several run-ins with the Genevan authorities, and strong methodological differences over how Scripture was to be translated separated the two and resulted in Castellio resignation in 1544.By 1553 Castellio was an open enemy of the Genevan authorities openly condemning them for persecuting heretics. By 1554, Castellio was in open conflict with Calvin himself over Calvin articulations of predestination and providence in both his Institutes and his Concerning the Eternal Punishment of God.
This book, The Secret Providence of God is the account of this debate. Yet, the history of that debate is hard to nail down. Calvin's repudiation (what this current book contains) of Castellio is accompanied by 14 essays that challenge Calvin's view of predestination and providence. Also included is Calvin's articulate and thorough response. For those seeking a deeper understanding of Calvin's preeminent and defining doctrine, this is the book. It not only rearticulates what is found in the Institutes, but develops it further in light of the common objections that have always followed his doctrines, both during the Reformation and today.
