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…

That God will send terrible and wondrous signs, blood, and fire, and the vapour of smoke. The Sun shall be turned into darkness, and the Moon into blood. Wherein (as we have briefly said) the Prophet meant to show, that when God would visit his people at the coming of Jesus Christ, although great felicity and blessing was promised, yet the meaning was not for all that, but that we should see horrible and marvellous things. And therefore it was very needful that we should be told of it, to the end we might understand, that the coming of Jesus Christ was not to place us in this world as in a Paradise, and to live in it at our ease and pleasure: But that Jesus Christ was sent to an other end: to wit, that we might be drawn from these earthly things, and be lifted up unto heavenly matters. And to say truly, there were never so horrible and wonderful things, as were at the coming of Jesus Christ.

That God will send terrible and wonderous signes, blood, and fyre, and the vapoure of smoke. The Sunne shall be turned into darknesse, and the Moone into blood. Wherein (as wée haue briefly saide) the Prophet meant to shewe, that when God would visite his people at the comming of Iesus Christ, although great felicitie and blessing was promised, yet the meaning was not for all that, but that we should sée horrible and merueylous thinges. And therefore it was verie néedfull that we should be told of it, to the ende we might vnderstande, that the comming of Iesus Christ was not to place vs in this world as in a Paradise, and to liue in it at our ease and pleasure: But that Iesus Christ was sent to an other ende: to wit, that wee might be drawne from these earthly things, and be lifted vp vnto heauenly matters. And to say truely, there were neuer so horrible and wonderfull thinges, as were at the comming of Iesus Christ.

Now, if it be asked why such things came to pass, after that Jesus Christ was manifested: it is because we were so cursed, as that we would not receive the graces which he would have bestowed upon us. And therefore, when our Lord offereth him self unto us, and we refuse him, must he not then of necessity so lift up his hand, as to thunder and storm, that we might be afeard of that our so great unthankfulness. We see therefore why it is said, that when God had poured out his holy spirit, that we must needs see wonderful troubles, and when we have looked unto heaven above, and upon the earth beneath, we shall see in them both, such great trouble and fear, as that a man would think heaven and earth should even go together: so that the Sun should be darkened, the Moon be turned to blood, the Stars fall from heaven, and other wonderful signs appear. In very deed, there are some which restrain this unto the latter day: howbeit, the Prophet meaneth to speak of all the reign and dominion of Jesus Christ, until his coming at the last day to judge the world. And therefore we must apply all the signs whereof the Prophet here speaketh, unto our time. For if we considered of the things