John Trapp on Joel 2:10

Verſe 10 The earth ſhall quake before them &c.] Tragicis figuris calamitatem amplificat, ſaith Luther here. By ſuch tragical tearmes the Prophets uſe to ſet forth an horrible deſolation, ſuch as firſt the Aſſyrians and afterwards the Romanes brought upon the Jewes: the Turks and Saracens upon the Chriſtian churches whether there were any ſuch earthquake or ſtupendious concuſſions of the heavenly bodies as is here deſcribed, is uncertain. Strange forerunners there were both in heaven and earth of the laſt deſtruction of Ieruſalem, as Chriſt alſo had foretold. In the dayes of Iuſtinian the Emperour, Mr. Clark in the life of Justinian pag. 67. the Sun for the greateſt part of an yeare gave ſo little light, that it was but equall to the light of the Moon, the sky being clear without clouds or any thing to ſhadow it: after which, there followed a great famine, and much war and bloodſhed.

the Sun and the moon ſhall be dark] Wondrous expreſſions to meet with their wondrous ſtupidity. The Hebrew Doctors (and Oecolampadius much diſliketh it not) allegorize the text; and by the earth underſtand the common people, by the heavens the Grandees, by the Sun and Moon the king and kingdome, as by the Starres thoſe of indifferent rank, all which are woe begone (as they ſay) by reaſon of the preſent calamities: as when upon the death of Prince Henry, Great Brittain was ſaid to be all in black; and as Demades was wont to ſay of the Achenians, nunquam eos ſapere niſi pullis veſtibus indutos that they were never ſo wiſe,Plu[illegible: 1 letter]arch. as when they were in mourning weeds.