"OF WHOM THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY"
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NOVEMBER
10, 1483 --Germany. John and Margaret Luther are blessed
with a son, and being the eve of St. Martin's Day, they name him
“Martin.” The root of the name "Luther" means "gander," and his father
prays, "God, make his soul as pure and white as his name. The place is
Eisleben in Saxony, Mansfield County. John Luther is a miner.
10, 1759 --New Hampshire. It is Saturday and with the news of the
conquest of Quebec, Governor Wentworth has appointed today as a public
thanksgiving. "The ministers of the Gospel are hereby directed to
perform Divine service in their respective congregations in the morning
only; the afternoon being devoted to public rejoicings and lawful
diversions." Today, however, the Governor will not be able to share in
the festivities, for today he mourns over the dead body of his only son.
10, 1793 --France. In Paris, the Revolutionary Government institutes a
Feast of Reason in celebration of the abolition of religion. It is to be
held in the Notre Dame in which a temple of philosophy has been erected
and in which an opera singer, Mademoiselle Maillard sits as the
representative of Reason. The celebration is continued in the National
Convention where the representative of Reason is carried in a sedan
chair where she is proclaimed goddess of the Feast of Freedom, and
Reason. Then the celebrators go once again to the cathedral where hymns
are sung to Reason.
11, 1491 --Germany. At Schlettstadt, Martin Bucer is born. He will
become the soul of the reformation in Strasburg and as such he will
become the spiritual spokesman for the citizens. Between the years of
1524 and 1544, he will publish three catechisms. He will found a school
in Strasburg in 1538 and a seminary there in 1544. He will endeavor to
make reconciliation between Luther and Zwingli in the controversy over
the Lord's Supper.
"Scripture does not hesitate to affirm that there are
persons whom God delivers to a reprobate sense, and whom He forms for
destruction: why therefore should it be deemed derogatory for God, to
assert that He not only does this, but resolved beforehand to do it?"
"The doctrine of reprobation is useful to the elect inasmuch as it
influences them to a greater fear and abhorrence of sin, and to a firmer
reliance on the goodness of God."
11, 1521 --Germany. Martin Luther writes to Spalatin, "I am desirous to
deliver young people from the infernal flames of celibacy."
11, 1571 --Italy. The Waldensians in the valleys of Luserna, San Martino
and Perosa, together with the congregations of Chison and the margravate
of Saluzzo form a league to resist all infractions of the Peace of
Cavour accorded them by the Duke Emmanuel Philibert. In Calabria, when
they appointed their own pastors, and administered the sacraments, they
were slaughtered by Spanish troops under the orders of the Grand
Inquisitor, Michele Ghislieri (later Pope Plus V). In eleven days in
June, two thousand persons were put to death, and sixteen hundred were
imprisoned while others were condemned to the galleys.
11, 1572 --Scotland. This Tuesday, John Knox is confined to his room
with a bad cold. He calls his servants and pays them their wages.
In 1564, he contracted a second marriage after the death of
his first wife. His second marriage has caused no small stir because
Margaret Stewart is not only connected with the royal family, but she is
a seventeen-year-old maiden while he is three times her age. She proves
to be a devoted nurse to him.
11, 1620 --Massachusetts. At Cape Cod, the Pilgrims send a party from
the Mayflower to explore the shore.
11, 1701 --Connecticut. Having decided upon the establishment of a
college, the Connecticut trustees today will draft the purpose of this
institution: that it will be under Divine blessing to "propagate in this
wilderness the blessed, reformed, Protestant religion ... We, their
unworthy posterity, lamenting our past neglect . . .." This is the
formative state in the founding of Yale which owes its birth in fact to
"ten worthy fathers" who in 1700 assembled at Branford, and each one,
laying a few volumes on a table said, 'I give these books for the
founding of a college in this colony.'"
11, 1716 --England. Following the advice of friends, John Gill preaches
this Sunday evening on
I Corinthians 2:2 --"For I determined not to know anything among you
save Jesus Christ and Him crucified." His public ministry will last
fifty-five years.