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…

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 ⟨p. 187⟩which are come to pass, even since the Gospel hath been preached in these days, yet could not be possible but that the very thinking of them would make the hairs of our head stand upright. Surely, if we had seen the things that were done at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we should have been very blockish if we had not been afeard: For if we did but rightly consider of the things that are continually done even at this day, we should have matter enough to wonder at.

Nowe, if it be asked why such thinges came to passe, after that Iesus Christ was manifested: it is because we were so cursed, as that we would not receiue the graces which hée would haue bestowed vpon vs. And therefore, when our Lorde offreth him selfe vnto vs, and we refuse him, must hée not then of necessitie so lift vp his hande, as to thunder and storme, that we might be afearde of that our so great vnthankfulnesse. We sée therefore why it is saide, that when God had poured out his holie spirit, that we must néedes sée wonderfull troubles, and whē we haue looked vnto heauen aboue, and vpon the earth beneath, we shall sée in them both, such great trouble and feare, as that a man woulde think heauen and earth should euen goe together: so that the Sunne shoulde bée darkened, the Moone be turned to blood, the Starres fall from heauen, and other wonderfull signes appeare. In verie déede, there are some which restraine this vnto the latter day: howbeit, the Prophet meaneth to speake of all the reigne and dominion of Iesus Christ, vntill his comming at the last day to iudge the world. And therefore we must apply all the signes whereof the Prophet here speaketh, vnto our time. For if we considered of the thinges