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JUNE

23, 1606 --Hungary. Most of Hungary accepted the Reformation under Emperor Rudolph II, but in 1578 when the Archbishop of Colocza, George Draskovich, began to import Jesuits, steps were taken against Protestantism.
      In 1603, Count Belgiojoso, Imperial Commander of Upper Hungary, opened persecutions. The Diet of Presburg, therefore, in 1604, drafted twenty-one articles complaining of violations of religious freedom and forwarded a copy to the Emperor in Prague. At the instigation of the Jesuits and the bishops, Rudolph responded in the form of a twenty-second article in which he flatly rejected the grievances of the estates, and renewed all mandates of the Roman Catholics, and threatened future bearers of religious grievances with the penalties prescribed by Roman Canon Law against heresies.
      Protestant persecutions were resumed with fresh ardor, principally under General Basta. The Reformed leader, Stephen Botskai, at the head of the Transylvanian Protestants offered the first resistance.
      Because the disturbance has spread to Hungary and has made such inroads, Archduke Matthias is today is constrained to conclude the Peace of Vienna which repeals Rudolph’s twenty-second article, and guarantees complete religious freedom. The persecutions in Hungary, however, are by no means at an end.

23, 1661 --England. Oliver Haywood writes in his Diary, “Some three or four years ago having a fit of sickness, I read over Mr. Baxter’s (Richard) Gildas Salvianus or Reformed Pastor and was so convinced and awakened therewith that I resolved, if I recovered, to set upon the work of Personal Instruction ... I set upon the work on the Tuesday after, June 23, 1661, going from house to house . . ..”

23, 24, 1691 --England. The Exeter Assembly meets today and twenty-eight ministers with Mr. John Flavel acting as the Moderator, “cheerfully and heartily” assent to the “Happy Union”—a union of Presbyterians and Independents. Mr. Flavel will be commissioned to bear this news to Matthew Mead, John Howe and Increase Mather in London. He will do so, and on the same evening, June 26th, he will die.

24, 1485 --Germany. At Wollin in Pomerania Johann Bugenhagen is born. As a young man the writings of Luther will fall into his hands, and correspondence between them will result. In 1521, he will go to Wittenberg and in 1525, he will officiate at Luther’s wedding. When the plague of 1527 brings death to many, he will continue his pastoral duties when many will quit their churches. He will revise Luther’s translation of Scripture and will preach his funeral on February 22, 1546.

24, 1519 --France. At Vezelay, in Burgundy, Theodore Beza is born. His father, Pierre, is the royal governor here. As a young man he will study law, and when in a prominent position in society, he will fall ill. This sickness will awaken in him a sense of his need for salvation. In the months that follow, he will come into the knowledge of salvation by grace.

24, 1520 --Germany. Martin Luther publishes his famous Appeal to His Imperial Majesty, and
the Christian Nobility of Germany on the Reformation of Christianity. Four thousand copies will soon be sold—an unprecedented number at this period of history. 

 

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