"OF WHOM THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY"

 -285-

NOVEMBER
 

30, 1683 --Massachusetts. The people of Massachusetts have seen King Charles II gradually establish despotic power. The king now demands the colonists to surrender their charter.
     For two full weeks the subject is debated that a decision might be made in harmony with the people:

     "Ought the government of Massachusetts submit to the pleasure of the court as to alteration of their charter? Submission would be an offence against the Majesty of Heaven; the religion of the people of New England and the court's pleasure cannot consist together. By submission Massachusetts will gain nothing. The court designs an essential alteration destructive to the vitals of the charter. The Corporations in England that have made an entire resignation have no advantage over those that have stood a suit in law; but, if we maintain a suit, though we should be condemned, we may bring the matter to chancery or to Parliament and in time recover all again. We ought not to act contrary to that way in which God hath owned our worthy predecessors, who, in 1638, when there was a "quo warranto" against the charter, durst not submit. In 1664, they did not submit to the commissioners. We, their successors, should walk in their steps, and so trust in the God of our fathers that we shall see His salvation. Submission would gratify our adversaries and grieve our friends. Our enemies know it will sound ill in the world for them to take away the liberties of a poor people of God in a wilderness. A resignation will bring slavery upon us sooner than otherwise it would be; and will grieve our friends in other colonies, whose eyes are now upon New England, expecting that the people there will not, through fear, a pernicious example unto others.
     “Blind obedience to the pleasure of the court cannot be without great sin, and incurring the high displeasure of the King of kings. Submission would be contrary unto that which has been the unanimous advice of the ministers, given after a solemn day of prayer. The ministers of God in New England have more of the spirit of John Baptist in them, than now, when a storm hath overtaken them, to be reeds shaken with the wind. The priests were to be the first that set their foot in the waters and there to stand till the danger be past. Of all men, they should be an example to the Lord's people, of faith, courage, and constancy. Unquestionably, if the blessed Cotton, Hooker, Davenport, Mather, Shepherd, Mitchell, were now living, they would as is evident from their printed books, say, 'Do not sin in giving away the inheritance of your fathers.'
     "Nor ought we to submit without the consent of the body of the people. But the freemen and church members throughout New England will never consent hereunto. Therefore the government may not do it.
     "The civil liberties of New England are part of the inheritance of their fathers; and shall we give that inheritance away? Is it objected that we shall be exposed to great sufferings? Better suffer than sin. It is better to trust the God of our fathers than to put confidence in princes. If we suffer because we dare not comply with the wills of men against the will of God, we suffer in a good cause, and shall be accounted martyrs in the next generation and at the great day."    

     At the request of the selectmen in Boston, Increase Mather will, contrary to his wishes, appear at a town-meeting and will encourage and excite the people to stand by their charter privileges and not to give away their inheritance.
     The decision of the colony is made today: "The deputies consent not, but adhere to their former bills."
    On June 18, 1684, it will be conditionally judged forfeited and will be confirmed shortly thereafter. In September of the same year, a day of fasting will be appointed "to bewail the rebukes and threatenings from Heaven," and their last word will be, for the "defence of the Protestant religion."

30, 1729 --Connecticut. Samuel Seabury is born at Ledyard, formerly called North Groton. He will become the first bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Because he will derive his support as missionary from the Church of England, he will be under the Oath of Allegiance and will remain loyal to England. As a result, an armed band of patriots will seize him and carry him to New Haven where he will be detained for six months before being passed through the British lines. He will remain loyal to England throughout the War and will be known as the founder of American Episcopalianism, and thereby demonstrating that Episcopacy is adaptable in a free state.

30, 1837 --Scotland. Horatio Bonar is ordained a minister of the Church of Scotland. He pastors North Parish, Kelso.

30, 1852 --Ireland. At Tyrone, Mrs. Cecil Alexander has written the hymn, "Jesus Calls Us" for her husband's sermon this St. Andrews Day morning. In all, she will write more than four hundred additional hymns and Gospel songs.

30, 1861 --Washington, D. C. The Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase, requests Philadelphia Mint Director, Pollock, to submit a design for a coin to include a motto "expressing in fewest and tersest words;" the "trust of our people in God." "No nation can be strong," he declares, "except in the strength of God; or safe except in His defence." The result will be a new coin denomination: the two-cent piece; and the words that will be adopted are, "In God We Trust."

30, 1873 --Illinois. Horatio Spafford, a Chicago lawyer, has lost all his possessions in the great Chicago fire of 1871. Since that time, he has made a comeback, and has sent his wife and his four children on a cruise bound for Europe. He has planned to join them in a few days. The Spafford's have sailed out of New York harbor aboard the French liner, the "S. S. Ville du Havre."
     Today, Mr. Spafford will receive word from his wife that while in mid-ocean, their French liner has collided with an English iron sailing vessel, the "Lochearn." Mrs. Spafford had gathered her children on the deck of the ship and had prayed with them.
     The ship sank within fifteen minutes. Mrs. Spafford was rescued and taken to Cardiff, Wales where nine days later, she cabled her husband. The brief message reads, "Saved alone!"
     In December, while on the way by ship to join his wife in Europe, the Captain will call Mr. Spafford into his cabin and will say, "I believe we are now passing over the spot where the 'Ville du Havre' went down."
     Unable to sleep this night, here in the mid-Atlantic, Mr. Horatio Spafford will write five stanzas, the first of which begins,

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll --
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say --
“It is well, it is well, with my soul!"

 

 

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