"OF WHOM THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY"
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JUNE
13, 313 --Turkey. An Edict of Toleration proclaims religious liberty for
Christians. This Edict ends ten years of the longest and bloodiest
persecution the church has yet experienced, and is considered the legacy
left by Emperor Diocletian.
13, 1689 --Connecticut. On receiving the news of the accession of
William and Mary, the state of Connecticut forwards a loyal address to
King William:
“Great was that day when the Lord, Who sitteth upon the
floods, did divide His and your adversaries like the waters of Jordan
and did magnify you like Joshua, by the deliverance of English dominions
from Popery and slavery. Because the Lord loved Israel forever,
therefore hath He made you king, to do justice and judgment.”
13, 1714 --England. Matthew Henry preaches on the text, “There remaineth
a rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9). Nine days will pass and Mr.
Henry will enter into rest. He has lived to complete only so far as the
book of Acts in the Commentaries that bear his name. Other
Non-Conformists from his notes will complete the New Testament. Mr.
Whitefield will read it through four times, the last time on his knees.
13, 1793 --England. William Carey has written his wife of her reluctance
to go with him to Burma to preach the Gospel. “If I had all the world, I
would freely give it all to have you and the dear children with me; but
the sense of duty is so strong as to overpower all other considerations.
I could not turn back without guilt on my soul ... Tell my dear children
I love them dearly and pray for them constantly. Be assured I love you
most affectionately.”
Today, he will sail aboard the Kron Princessa Maria
with his wife, his four children, and a co-laborer. His destination is
Burma. He will spend forty years working out of Bengal.
13, 1825 --New York. John Summerfield dies. He has helped found the
American Tract Society.
13, 14, 1972 --Mozambique. Today the Portuguese security police arrest
twenty members and leaders of the Presbyterian church here. Included is
the President, Rev. Zedequias Manganhela. They are apprehended in their
homes and given no chance to take warm clothing for the cold nights.
Those requiring medical attention are not al-lowed to carry along their
medicines. They will be taken to a detention camp, and by the end of
November, no official charges will have been stated against them.
On December 11th, following six months in isolation and
interrogation by the security police, Pastor Manganhela, sixty years of
age, will be said to have “committed suicide.”
On December 31st, thirty-seven Presbyterians will be
released from prison.
14, 1497 --Italy. The illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI is murdered.
Though his father mourns for his son, Repenting and talking of
reforming, and even of abdicating his court, there will be no lasting
change in his everyday life.
14, 1626 --Sweden. King Gustavus Adolphus grants a charter to the “South
Company” in Stockholm to colonize and evangelize in the New World.
Following the death of the king, Peter Minuit, the general director of
New Netherlands, will join in the Swedish venture and in 1638 will sail
two Swedish ships into the Delaware River. Here Fort Christina will be
built on land purchased from the Iroquois Indians.