Commentary

These few examples I have here added in the end of the Sermon, to let men see that before great alterations or changes of kingdoms and commonwealths, God sends wonderful tokens thereof, to signify the same before it comes to pass. Whereby with Martin Luther, the author of this Sermon, we may well conclude that before the alteration of the whole world (which is the last day) he will send many signs and tokens thereof, which he shows for the most part to be already fulfilled. And therefore the end of all things is now to be looked for, because there has happened of late days many wonderful eclipses, or darkenings of the sun, and moon, many suns have been seen at one time, many rainbows, many terrible blazing stars, and other strange sights of fire in the air, many great tempests of winds, with floods and earthquakes, which have destroyed and overflowed both cities, and whole countries. Of which here might be added diverse examples, both of such as happened before Luther did write this Sermon, as also since that time. But they are almost innumerable, and have been partly seen with our own eyes, and are at large set out in print, by Conraedus Gesnerus, Marcus Fritschius, and others, who have written no small books of such wonderful and strange things, as by the providence of almighty God have happened before time. To this end, that we seeing these things come to pass, forespoken by our Savior, might the more diligently watch for his coming, lest we following the example of the lewd servant, lead a careless life in all kinds of wickedness, and he coming upon us unawares, give us our portion with hypocrites and dissemblers in everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. God grant us therefore to watch for the coming of our Savior, that we being prepared with oil in our lamps, he may take us with him to everlasting life.

Amen.