The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

By the darkness of the Sun, by the bloody streaming of the Moon, by the black vapour of smoke, the Prophet meant to declare, that whither so ever men turn their eyes, there shall many things appear both upward and downward, which may make them amazed and afraid, as he hath already said. Therefore this is as much as if he should have said, that the world was never in a more miserable case, that there were never so many and such cruel tokens of Gods wrath. Hence may we gather how unestimable the goodness of God is, who offereth a present remedy for so great evils: and again, how unthankful they are towards God, and how froward, which do not fly unto the sanctuary of salvation, which is nigh unto them; and doeth meet them. Again, it is out of all doubt that God meaneth by this so doleful a description, to stir up all Godly men, that they may with a more fervent desire seek for salvation. And Peter citeth it to the same end: that the Jews may know that they shall be more than miserable, unless they receive that grace of the Spirit which is offered unto them. Yet here may a question be asked how this can hang together, that when Christ is revealed, there should such a sea of miseries overflow and break out therewithal. For it may seem to be a thing very inconvenient, that he should be the only pledge of Gods love toward mankind, in whom the heavenly father doeth lay open all the treasure of his goodness: yea he poureth out the bowels of his mercy upon us, and that yet by the coming of the same his son, his wrath should be more hot than it was wont, so that it should as it were quite consume both heaven and earth at once. But we must first mark, that because men are too slow to receive Christ, they must be constrained by diverse afflictions, as it were with whips. Secondly, for as much as Christ doeth call unto himself all those which are heavy laden and labour,¹ we must first be tamed by many miseries, that we may learn humility. For through great prosperity, men do set up the horns of pride. And he cannot but despise Christ fiercely, who so ever he be, that seemeth to himself to be happy. Thirdly because we are more than we ought, set upon the seeking of the peace of the flesh:

By the darkenesse of the Sunne, by the bloodie streaming of the Moone, by the blacke vapour of smoke, the Prophet meant to declare, that whither so euer men turne their eyes, there shall manie thinges appeare both vpwarde and downewarde, which maie make them amased and afraide, as hee hath alreadie saide. Therefore this is as much as if hee shoulde haue saide, that the worlde was neuer in a more miserable case, that there were neuer so manie and such cruell tokens of Gods wrath. Hence may wee gather howe vnestimable the goodnesse of God is, who offereth a present remedie for so great euils: and againe, howe vnthankefull they are towardes God, and howe frowarde, which doe not flie vnto the sanctuarie of saluation, which is nigh vnto them; and doeth meete them. Againe, it is out of all doubt that God meaneth by this so dolefull a description, to stirre vp all Godlie men, that they may with a more feruent desire seeke for saluation. And Peter citeth it to the same ende: that the Iewes maie knowe that they shall bee more than miserable, vnlesse they receiue that grace of the Spirite which is offered vnto them. Yet heere may a question bee asked howe this can hange togither, that when Christ is reuealed, there shoulde such a sea of miseries ouerflowe and breake out therewithall. For it may seeme to be a thing verie inconuenient, that hee shoulde bee the onely pledge of Gods loue toward mankinde, in whom the heauenlie father doeth lay open all the treasure of his goodnesse: yea he powreth out the bowels of his mercie vppon vs, and that yet by the comming of the same his sonne, his wrath shoulde bee more whot than it was woont, so that it should as it were quite consume both heauen and earth at once. But we must first marke, that because men are too slowe to receiue Christ, they must bee constrained by diuerse afflictions, as it were with whippes. Secondly, for as much as Christ doeth call vnto himselfe all those which are heauie loden and labour,