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MAY

 “What happens after Death makes all that goes before completely trivial.”
-William Law-
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23, 1618 --Czechoslovakia. Last year when Ferdinand was crowned king of Bohemia, he immediately effected bitter persecution against all Protestants. Taking advantage of the discord between Emperor Rudolph II and his brother Matthias, the Evangelical leaders secured from the former a letter Patent on July 9, 1609, which assured them the free exercise of religion according to their submitted confession, and specifically the right to build new churches and schools in the royal towns and dominions. Emperor Rudolph II was forced to cede Bohemia to his brother Matthias solemnly confirmed the liberties of the estates together with the Imperial patent.
     But the question over the lawful construction of churches and schools stirred up strife. When the Imperial commissioners decided against the Evangelicals, anxiety sprang up that the Emperor was planning to revoke the patent. Insurrection has resulted and today under Count Thurm, the Protestants penetrate the Castle of Prague and throw the Imperial commissioners, Martinitz and Slarvata, out the window into the castle moat fifty feet below. Though badly wounded, they nevertheless effect their escape. This marks the beginning of the Thirty Years’ War.
     The insurgents will organize a national government of their own, and will elect the Elector Palatine Frederick V as their king as opposed to Ferdinand who had been trained in Jesuit schools. They will expel the Jesuits on account of their intrigues and will even attack Austria.

23, 1635 --England. Mr. Richard Mather has been suspended from his pulpit on account of his Puritanism. He has therefore traveled in disguise to Bristol where today he leaves by ship bound for New England. He will arrive there on August 17th after suffering near shipwreck.

23, 1738 --England. Two days following his conversion, Charles Wesley pens his famous hymn of praise,

   “And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Saviour’s blood?
Died He for me who caused His pain,
For me who Him to death pursued ...”

Years will pass, and when he comes to die, he will recite,

 “Bold I approach the eternal throne
And claim the crown through Christ my own!”

24, 1689 --England. The Toleration Act is passed by William and Mary and is entitled,
“An Act for Exempting Their Majesties’ Protestant Subjects Dissenting from the Church of England from the Penalties of Certain Laws.” It allows:

1.) Non-conformists their own places of worship, provided they do not meet behind locked doors;
2.) It authorizes prosecution of any who disturb their services;
3.) And, It exempts them from the penalties of existing laws against Conventicles.

      It ends twenty-eight years of bitter persecution; abolishes the ruinous accumulation of unpaid fines; and wipes out the business of informers in addition to halting the driving of Non-conformists from their homes and the ruining of their businesses merely because they are Separatists.
      However, William III has set limitations for his freedoms:

1.) Non-conformist places of worship must be certified by the bishop of the diocese, or the archdeacon, or by the justices at the quarter sessions;
2.) Ministers are required to take the Oath of Supremacy and the Oath of Allegiance as well as to subscribe to at least thirty-four of the Thirty-nine Articles;
3.) And, Non-conformists are still barred from civil and public office by the Corporation Act of 1661 and by the Test Act of 1673 --both of which will remain in force until 1828.

 

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