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…

Moreover, here is to be noted, that the saying of Prophecy, is not meant by the Prophet, to tell of things to come, as in the old time it was taken: but the meaning is, that whosoever shall have the gift of Prophecy, should be able to teach and apply doctrine, to the end we might be brought to the knowledge of the trueth and profit thereby, And so, the promise that was made unto us of the coming of Jesus Christ, containeth thus much that we should be more deeply seen in heavenly things, then heretofore we have been. For we see in very deed that S. Paul calleth it the wisdom of God:¹ ⟨p. 183⟩under which all things should be subject. We are now therefore, briefly to conclude upon all things: That as our Lord in sending Jesus Christ his son into the world, to make unto us a more lively assurance of our salvation: Even so, by sending unto us his holy spirit, he hath made us greater partakers of his graces, then ever he did before. The Prophet Joel soon after setteth down in this place, That God will do wonderful things in heaven above, and signs in the earth below, blood, fire, and vapour of smoke: that the Sun shall be turned into darkness, and the Moon into blood. These words show, that great and marvellous things must come to pass, whenas Jesus Christ shall manifest himself. And why so? Forsooth, because the the world shall then be changed. For they which would follow Jesus Christ, must wholly alter their nature. And therefore is the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ called the latter days.

Moreouer, héere is to bée noted, that the saying of Prophesie, is not meant by the Prophet, to tell of things to come, as in the olde time it was taken: but the meaning is, that whosoeuer shal haue the gift of Prophesie, shoulde bée able to teache and apply doctrine, to the ende wee might bée brought to the knowledge of the trueth and profite therby, And so, the promise that was made vnto vs of the cōming of Iesus Christ, conteyneth thus much yt we should be more déeply séene in heauēly things, then heretofore we haue béen. For we sée in very déede yt S. Paul calleth it the wisdome of God:¹ ⟨p. 183⟩vnder which all things should be subiect. Wée are nowe therefore, briefly to conclude vpon all things: That as our Lord in sending Iesus Christe his sonne into the worlde, to make vnto vs a more liuely assurance of our saluation: Euen so, by sending vnto vs his holy spirite, hée hath made vs greater partakers of his graces, then euer hée did before. The Prophet Ioel soone after setteth downe in this place, That God will doe wonderful things in heauen aboue, and signes in the earth belowe, blood, fire, and vapour of smoke: that the Sunne shall bee turned into darkenes, and the Moone into blood. These wordes shewe, that greate and maruellous things must come to passe, whenas Iesus Christ shall manifest himselfe. And why so? Forsooth, because the the worlde shall then bée changed. For they which woulde followe Iesus Christe, must wholy alter their nature. And therefore is the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christe called the latter dayes.