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JANUARY

 18, 1525 --Switzerland. The first independent church within the general Anabaptist movement was formed here at Zurich in 1523. Today, the church begins to baptize on profession of faith, in spite of the fact the authorities have tried by force to suppress it. The city magistrates counter it by demanding the anti-pedobaptists present their children for baptism or be banished.

18, 1782 --New Hampshire. In Salisbury, now known as Franklin, Daniel Webster is born. In 1807, he will write his pastor, “I believe Jesus Christ to be the Son of God. The miracles which He wrought establish in my mind His personal authority and render it proper for me to believe whatever He asserts.
     “I believe, therefore, all His declarations, as well when He declares Himself to be the Son of God as when He declares any other proposition.
     “I believe there is no other way of salvation than through the merits of His atonement.
     “I believe that the Bible is to be understood and received in the plain, obvious meaning of its passages, since I cannot persuade myself that a book intended for the instruction and conversion of the whole world should cover its meaning in any such mystery and doubt that none but critics and philosophers can discover it.”

18, 1843 --Massachusetts. At Boston, the Methodist anti-slavery convention meets.

18, 1888 --England. When, at the request of his friend S. H. Booth, acting Secretary of the Baptist Union, Charles Haddon Spurgeon refused to name those in the Baptist Union whom he has referred to as being lax toward the faith, the Council passes a vote of “censure” upon him explaining that his charges of doctrinal laxity, being unsupported with the names of the offending parties, ought not to have been made.

19, 1563 --Germany. The Elector Frederick III of the Palatinate has caused the Heidelberg Catechism to be written by Ursinus and Olevianus. Today, it is published at Heidelberg.

19, 1637 --Massachusetts. At Braintree, a general fast is observed.

19, 1684 --England. Having been driven from his pulpit by the Ejection of 1662 because of his refusal to conform to the Act of Uniformity demanding all ministers in the English realm to conform with the Episcopal liturgy found in the Church of England, William Jenkyn dies today in the foul Newgate Prison. He has been denied the mercy of praying with his daughter.
       In Whitehall Palace, Charles II, jestingly falls upon his musicians to play a tune known as “Jenkyn’s Farewell” when a nobleman courageously addresses him, “Your Majesty, Jenkyn has got his liberty.”
      “Aye,” says the King in surprise, “who gave it him?”
     “A greater than your Majesty: Jenkyn is dead.”
     One hundred fifty coaches will accompany his body to the grave. He leaves behind him a Commentary on Jude.
 

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