"OF WHOM THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY"
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APRIL
12, 1691 --England. “I have been this day doing a work I never did before
--burying a child!" So wrote Matthew Henry on the death of his first
child that is born today. The child will live a year and a half. Today,
Mr. Henry makes his will.
12, 1808 – Washington, D.C. President Thomas Jefferson signs into law an
act providing for the appointment of a chaplain to each brigade of the
army.
12, 1850 --At Sea. Adoniram Judson dies as restfully as one falls
asleep. The time is 4:15 in the afternoon. He is three days from the
sight of the Burmese mountains; therefore, tonight at eight o’clock his
body will be committed to the waves.
13, 1525 --Switzerland. In the town hall of the city of Zurich, all the
clergy have been invited to express their frankest opinion regarding the
Roman Catholic party and that of Zwingli. The First disputation took
place on January 29, 1523. The Second discussion was held during October
26-28, of the same year. The Third disputation was held during January
19, and 20, 1524. This last will prove to be a last desperate attempt by
the Old Church Party to stem the tide. Convents for men and women have
been abolished, and all music has been silenced in the churches since
the Reformed Church should practice nothing that recalls the practice of
the Old Church.
But the Mass has been so ingrained in the life of the
people Zwingli has hesitated to abolish it before the people are
prepared to accept a substitute. Today is Thursday and for the first
time, the Lord's Supper will be observed according to the liturgy
Zwingli has composed. Men and women sit on opposite sides of the table
that extends down the middle aisle. The bread will be served on wooden
platters and the wine will be served out of wooden beakers. The people
will accept the change and thus with the fall of the Mass, the
reformation in this city is completed.
13, 1598 --France. King Henry IV signs the Edict of Nantes. On April
30th, and then on May 2nd, he will sign secret supplementary articles.
The Edict does not permit freedom of worship; the Reformed are satisfied
with a "certain freedom of religion and some justice in the courts." It
reinstates the Roman Catholic service throughout the kingdom, and the
Reformed are obliged to pay tithes to the priests, to observe feasts and
fasts of the Roman Church, and to conform to its marriage laws. On the
other hand, the Reformed gain admissions to Universities, schools and
hospitals; and all offices of the State are accessible to them. The
Edict forbids political meetings without the consent of the king or to
take up arms. Families are reinstated in their rights, honors and
possessions.
The ratification has taken place only under compulsion
by the king. The Huguenots are not satisfied with the Edict because it
grants them less than they think they are entitled to, and the Roman
Catholics are furious because it gives the Protestants too much.
Beginning in 1665, and lasting for twenty years, Louis XIV will begin
issuing the first of two hundred laws, the intent of which is to take
away every vestige of protection afforded the Huguenots by the Edict.
13, 1648 --France. Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Moire, otherwise known as
“Madame Guyon" is born at Montargis. Her mystical approach to the
Scriptures will result in her imprisonment by Louis XIV --"The Most
Christian King," but will be a source of inspiration for generations to
come.
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"A Friend loveth at all times, and a Brother is born for Adversity."
--Proverbs 17:17
