Where the darkenesse of the Sun (and so it may be understood of the Moone) is used properly, it is not put onely for a signe of an eminent and imminent destruction, as it is manifest Luke 23.45. which was a Testimony from Heaven of Christ's innocency for conviction of the mur∣therers: and chap. 21.25. the signes in the Sun and Moone and in the starres, and the distresse of Nations upon the earth with perplexity, and the roaring of the sea and waves, are all to be understood properly as signes before the great and terrible Day of the Lord. So what is promised in the 28. and 29. verses of the second chap. of Joel was truely (albeit not altogether) fulfilled in the daies of Peter (even how-beit the words of the 30. and 31 verses be properly understood) and not wholly fulfill∣til the time immediately preceding the last comming of Christ.
That the darkning of the Sun, or of the Moone properly taken (especially if supernaturall, as this here) is a signe of an eminent and imminent destruction you confesse: but that it is onely so, you deny. And were this true, I have not spoken much out of the way. But the instance you bring of the darkning of the Sun at the time of our Saviours passion, makes nothing for you. For whereas you say [it was a testimony from Heaven of Christ's innocency for conviction of the murtherers] the historie of the Gospel tels you no such thing, and interpreters are against you. Sicut enim Deus tenebris involvebat terram Aegyptum, sicetiam nunc totam Judaeam, in signum ira••i Dei, et futurae poenae, saith Pareus on the 27. chap. of Mat. at the 45. verse, that is, As God did once bring darknesse on the land of Egypt, so likewise did he now on the land of Judea, as a signe of his wrath and their ensuing punishment. So Chrysostome too, It was an undoubted signe of Gods anger, for that which they did against him. And Origen, It was a presage of the future darknesse which should over-spread the whole Jewish Nation. To which Dr. Mayer consents, and with Origen concludes from the time of the darknesse