Divers sermons of Master John Calvin, concerning the divinity, humanity, and nativity of our…Diuers sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, concerning the diuinitie, humanitie, and natiuitie of our…

The third hour, began after midnight, & lasted three or four hours after. And the fourth & last part, continued from the Sun setting until night. And see, why one of the Evangelists saith, that Jesus Christ was crucified about the third hour: where it is here said, that it was about the sixth hour.¹ Now, our Evangelist saith, that there was darkness from the sixth hour unto the ninth. For our lord Jesus was crucified betwixt the third & sixth hour: and was condemned by Pilate about the third hour. And S. Mark his meaning is, that it was in the end of the third hour, & not at the beginning of it, when as he describeth the time that our Lord Jesus was led unto Golgotha. Now, he was upon the Cross until the ninth hour, even then when as it drew all to an end. And so it is most like to be true, that our Lord Jesus hung not on the Cross above three hours. During which time, it is said, that there was darkness over the face of all the whole land of Judea. For it was not a general Eclipse over the whole world. For, if it had bin so in deed, it would have blemished the miracle which God meant to show: for then the Eclipse would have bin said to come by the order of nature. And on the other side, few men would have said, that it had been in other countries: and they also which make mention thereof, might justly be suspected. But behold, it was the only country of Judea that was covered with darkness. And what time? forsooth even about three hours after noon, when as the Sun was nothing near the setting: But it behooved that it should then be so dark, contrary to all common order, because it might bring a terror and fear upon all the land. Now, some think that this was done in token that God abhorred the deed, as if he meant to city the Jews, to the end they might have some feeling of this their horrible crime which they had committed: and as if he would signify unto them by this visible sign, that all the creatures in the world ought to be ashamed of so detestable an act, as the putting of our lord Jesus Christ in such sort to death.

The third houre, beganne after midnight, & lasted thrée or foure houres after. And the fourth & last part, continued from the Sunne setting vntill night. And sée, why one of the Euāgelists saith, that Iesus Christ was crucified about the third houre: where it is here said, yt it was about the sixt houre.¹ Now, our Euangelist saith, that there was darknesse from the sixt hour vnto the ninth. For our lord Iesus was crucified betwixt the third & sixt houre: and was condemned by Pylate about the third houre. And S. Marke his meaning is, that it was in the ende of the third houre, & not at the beginning of it, when as hée describeth the time that our Lord Iesus was led vnto Golgotha. Now, hée was vpon the Crosse vntill the ninth houre, euen then when as it drew all to an ende. And so it is most like to be true, yt our Lorde Iesus hung not on the Crosse aboue thrée houres. During which time, it is said, yt there was darknesse ouer the face of all the whole land of Iudea. For it was not a generall Eclipse ouer the whole worlde. For, if it had bin so in déede, it would haue blemished the myracle which God ment to shew: for then the Eclipse would haue bin said to come by the order of nature. And on the other side, few mē wold haue said, that it had béene in other countries: and they also which make mention therof, might iustly be suspected. But behold, it was the onely countrey of Iudea that was couered with darknesse. And what time? forsooth euen about thrée houres after noone, when as the Sunne was nothing néere the setting: But it behooued that it should then be so darke, contrary to all common order, because it might bring a terror and feare vpon all the land. Now, some think that this was done in token that God abhorred the déede, as if hée meant to cyte the Iewes, to the ende they might haue some féeling of this their horrible cryme which they had committed: and as if hée would signifie vnto them by this visible signe, that all the creatures in the world ought to be ashamed of so detestable an act, as the putting of our lord Iesus Christ in such sort to death.