Question 79 — Of the External Causes of Sin

We must now consider the external causes of sin, and (1) on the part of God; (2) on the part of the devil; (3) on the part of man.

Under the first head there are four points of inquiry:

(1) Whether God is a cause of sin?

• (2) Whether the act of sin is from God?
• (3) Whether God is the cause of spiritual blindness and hardness of heart?
• (4) Whether these things are directed to the salvation of those who are blinded or hardened?