Apparently, we've switched back to general revelation.
Calvin is still describing what we know about God. In the last chapter, he wrote at sadistic length about the Trinity. Now, he is speaking of creation.
Calvin returns to a repeated theme: any idiot can look around and see God is awesome. But, wait Johnny Boy, there is something seriously screwed up about God's creation - the Devil. To Calvin the Devil is a good bad example of what is wrong with creation. satan used to be an angel and then he became a bad guy.
Side note: Calvin has been a steady proof-texter throughout Institutes. I did not see any proof texts for this whole Satan- the Fallen Angel business. I know what passages Evangelicals typically cite for this. Usually they are a mixture of vague prophecies, apocalyptic symbolism, and flat out weirdness.
I don't see it, not with the clarity that others do.
Calvin says the Devil and his impish demons are nothing but trouble, but they are not so much trouble. In fact they are another part of the revelation of God's glory and wisdom. How could Satan be a part of God's revealed glory? Well, first of all, God sets him up just to crush his head, then the whole of creation cheers 'Yay, God!' Next, God uses Satan to 'test' the faithful, so that the faithful may prove their worth.
I've always seen the scriptural Devil (as opposed to the medieval weirdness with the pitchfork) as a prosecuting attorney. The Bible calls him the 'Accuser.' A good for nothing snitch. So, I kind of like Calvin's version of things. Satan is well beneath God's power and is just another pawn in God's overall strategy.
Too many people see Satan as some sort of nemesis against Christ's heroism. The Bible describes Satan as a puny, conniving, snitch. He is a worthless scavenger surviving on the scraps whatever carrion sinners leave before their souls rot with the decay of evil.
The Devil is worth no attention at all. The Devil is irrelevant. The amount of time I have spent here, not withstanding.
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