"OF WHOM THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY"
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MARCH
7, 202 --Africa. At Carthage, Perpetua and her four
companions have fallen under the Edict of 202 forbidding conversion to
Judaism or Christianity. They have been condemned by Governor Hilarianus
to fight with wild beasts in the amphitheatre on the charge of treason
because they have refused to sacrifice to the genius of the Emperor and
his oldest son, Antoninus Caracalla.
Felicitas, a Carthaginian slave has prayed she would be enabled to give
birth prematurely because otherwise she would not have been allowed to
be martyred. Her prayer is heard and her child will be adopted by a
Christian woman. Together with Perpetua, Revocatus, Saturus and
Saturninus, she is thrown to wild beasts. They are among the first
victims of the persecution under Septimus Severus. The Governor,
however, has acted illegally because as Perpetua belonged to the upper
class, she could lawfully be punished only by being beheaded.
7, 203 --Africa. A group of Christians are martyred at Carthage who
likely are part of Tertullian’s congregation.
7, 1521 --Germany. Luther again enters Wittemberg having been hidden in
the Castle of Wartburg following Pope Leo X’s excommunication and the
threat of Charles V’s sword. Professors, students, and citizens give
vent to their joy by welcoming him home.
7, 1638 --Rhode Island. The people of Rhode Island enter into a civil
compact declaring,
“We whose names are underwritten do swear solemnly in the presence of
Jehovah, to incorporate ourselves into a body politic, and as He shall
help us, will submit our persons, lives, and estates, unto our Lord
Jesus Christ, King of kings, and Lord of lords, and to all those most
perfect and absolute laws of His, given us in His Holy Word of Truth, to
be guided and judged thereby.”
7, 1766 --England. On March 4th, a bill was submitted declaring absolute
power of Parliament to bind America. Today, it has been scheduled to be
read again, when Lord Camden speaks:
“My lords, when I spoke last on this subject, I was indeed replied to
but not answered. As the affair is of the utmost importance and its
consequences may involve the fate of kingdoms, I took the strictest
review of my arguments; I re-examined all my authorities, fully
determined if I found myself mistaken, publicly to own my mistake and
give up my opinion; but my searches have more and more convinced me that
the British Parliament have no right to tax Americans.
“The declaratory bill now lying on your table is absolutely illegal;
contrary to the fundamental laws of nature; contrary to the fundamental
laws of this constitution—a constitution grounded on the external and
immutable laws of nature; a constitution whose foundation and center is
liberty, which sends liberty to every subject that is or may happen to
be within any part of its ample circumference. Nor, my lords, is the
doctrine new; it is as old as the constitution; it grew up with it;
indeed it is its support: taxation and representation are inseparably
united; God hath joined them; no British parliament can separate them;
to endeavor to do it is to stab our very vitals. My position is this: I
repeat it; I will maintain it to my last hour: taxation and
representation are inseparable. What ever is a man’s own is absolutely
his own; no man hath a right to take it from him without his consent,
either by himself or his representative; whoever attempts to do it
attempts and injury: whoever does it commits a robbery.”