"OF WHOM THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY"
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DECEMBER
16, 1546 --Germany. Charles V enters the city of Halle,
and seizes the papers, letters, and sermons of Johann Brenz. Mr. Brenz
has opposed the hostile attitude of the Emperor. Therefore today, Mr.
Brenz is obliged to flee despite the bitter cold. On January, Pastor
Brenz will return.
16, 1630 --England. Archbishop Laud silences Thomas Shepard because of
his refusing to conform to the episcopacy of the Church of England.
After such continued silencings, he will sail for America in December
1634; but when a storm arises of great magnitude, the ship will be
compelled to return to England, and Mr. Shepard will hide himself lest
he be arrested. In July the following year, he will succeed in making
good his escape, and will arrive in Boston on October 3, 1635.
16, 1653 --England. Oliver Cromwell is installed at Westminster as Lord
Protector. Chief among his reforms will be the requirement of a minister
to have a certificate declaring his fitness from three persons whose
godliness and integrity is known. One of these is to be a settled
minister. After his suitableness is examined by a commission known as "Triers"
he will become a settled minister, but liable to expulsion by a body of
Ejectors for immorality, blasphemy or atheism. Mr. Cromwell will stand
before Europe as a champion of religious liberty when he espouses the
cause of the Waldensians against the Duke of Savoy.
16, 1664 --New York. Under English rule, the religious intolerance of
New Amsterdam passes away, and Richard Nicolls, the English governor,
grants to Lutherans "that they might freely and publicly exercise their
religion according to their con-science --on condition that they shall
molest no one of other (faith) and that they shall be obedient to the
present authorities.
16, 1714 --England. George Whitefield is born in Gloucester. This is the
birthplace of William Tyndale, and the site where Bishop Hooper was
burned within sight of his own cathedral. Robert Raikes, a printer, who
will begin the Gloucester Journal, will begin the first Sunday
school.
Thomas and Elizabeth Whitefield operate the Bell
Inn. When measles strike the children, here at the Inn, the lack of
proper treatment will leave George with a squint in one of his eyes that
will remain with him throughout life.
16, 1758 --England. John Newton is appointed minister of the Church of
England.
17, 546 --Italy. The city of Rome is forced to surrender to the Goths
under Totila. Pope Pelagius I will be made ambassador in peace
negotiations with Justinian in 547. Returning home without satisfying
the Gothic king, the king will order all clergy to leave Rome.
17, 1538 --France. The "Great Bible", brought out by Cromwell, Earl of
Essex, Thomas Cranmer, Thomas More and other scholars, has in part been
printed here in Paris under the supervision of Miles Coverdale. Today,
the Inquisitor-General attacks it. Though it will be attacked in the
city of London, it will nevertheless be finished there in April next
year. A second edition will appear in 1540, and will be known as
"Cranmer's Bible" and will be "appointed to the use of the churches."
17, 1673 --England. Matthew Henry is gripped by a sermon preached by his
father, Philip. It has dealt with the signs of true salvation. He comes
to Christ with a repentant heart. His father was ejected from his church
by the Act of Uniformity in 1662 and was later driven from his home by
the Five Mile Act of 1665 at which time he was forced to go into hiding.
17, 1702 --England. Matthew Henry receives his certificate of
Presbyterian ordination having applied for such after being privately
ordained fifteen years ago.
17, 1807 --Massachusetts. At East Haverhill, John Greenleaf Whittier is
born. He will be known for his many poems which will be set to music,
such as "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, Forgive Our Foolish Ways," and
--
Immortal Love forever Full,
Forever Flowing Free;
Forever Shared, Forever Whole,
A never-ebbing Sea.