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NOVEMBER

22, 1793 --France. Prayer books and hymnbooks have been burned, and citizens have been forbidden to keep the Lord's Day as a holy day. Today, all bishops and clergy who have renounced their functions and duties are assured of pensions.

23, 337 --Egypt. In Alexandria, Athanasius, after having been forced into exile by the Emperor Constantine for having refused into communion the heretic Arius, returns, and as Gregory Nazianzen writes, "more triumphal than had ever an emperor." The Emperor Constantine died on May 23rd.

23, 1572 --Scotland. John Knox is dying. He cries out, "If any be present, let him come and see the work of God."

23, 1697 --England. Edward and Elizabeth Gill give birth to a son. They name him, John. The place is Kettering, John Gill will write the only set of commentaries on the Scriptures that deal with every verse in the Bible.

23, 1741 --Massachusetts. Mr. Peter Thatcher is the third minister of Middleborough. He has been greatly moved by the preaching of Gilbert Tennent in March of this year, and declares: "Some half a dozen were roused. In the beginning of October following, I proposed a day of prayer and spake to my brother Shaw for his assistance. This was our errand to the throne of grace, to ask the outpouring of the Sprit on this dry fleece. That week, some of my lately awakened brethren obtained a visit from the Rev. Mr. Crocker . . .. The twenty-third day of November, Mr. Crocker came again. We began about one. He preached from Romans 8:1. This he opened largely, giving the characters of them that were in Christ, and inferred the misery of those who found not the characters in themselves of being in Christ; there was nothing but condemnation for them; showing what that condemnation was, etc. After sermon there was an exhortation delivered. Many now melted down. After the blessing, the people generally stayed, till some cried with terror, which flew like lightning into every breast; I suppose, none excepted. I have written accounts of seventy-six that day struck, and brought first to inquire what they should do to escape condemnation. There were a number of professors of religion that day whose lamps went out. They discovered there was no true oil of grace in them . . .. In a few days from that 23rd of November, so greatly to be remembered, there appeared to be above two hundred awakened . . .. The work grew daily; the numbers were increased, near one hundred and seventy the following year, joined to the church."

23, 1873 --Scotland. Edinburgh is the scene of a mighty revival. The preacher is Dwight Lyman Moody and the song leader is Ira Sankey.

24, 380 --Turkey. At Constantinople, the first act of Emperor Theodosius as he arrives here is to issue an edict expelling the Arians from the churches or to conform to the Nicene Creed. Next year, he will pass a law denying the right to make a will to include apostates to paganism.

24, 1572 --Scotland. John Knox will die at about 11:00 this evening. Failing into unconsciousness, his secretary will ask of him a sign for proof he trusts Christ. John Knox will raise one hand and enter into Glory. His servant Richard Ballentine says of him, "After this manner departit this man of God, the Light of Scotland, the Comfort of the Kird (Church) within the same, the Mirror of Godliness and Patron and Example to all true ministeries, in Purity of life, Soundness in doctrine, and in Boldness in reproving of wickedness, and one that cared not the favor of men (how great soever they were) to reprove their abuses and sins ... What dexterity in teaching, boldness in reproving, and hatred of wickedness was in him, my ignorant dullness is not able to declair."
     The Earl of Mortoun will follow the body and in the presence of an immense concourse will exclaim, "Here lyeth a man who in his life never feared the face of man, who hath been often threatened with dagger, but yet hath ended his dayes in peace and honor."

24, 1740 --United States. "Oh, that there may be harmony and very intimate union between us! Yet, it cannot be, since you hold universal redemption." George Whitefield in a letter to his friend, John Wesley)

24, 1741--Pennsylvania. Count Nicholas Ludwig Von Zinzendorf, the leader of the Moravians arrives in Philadelphia. His pietistic persuasions seen in his attempt to gather together diverse German religious groups of Pennsylvanians is not welcome and in June 1742, the Moravians will be evicted from their meeting house.

24, 1836 --Scotland. Robert Murray M'Cheyne is ordained to the Gospel ministry. He has studied theology under Thomas Chalmers, and now will begin his ministerial labors as assistant to John Boner.





 

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