October

8, 1609--England. John Clarke is born. When persecuted in England as a Separatist, he will flee to the New World arriving in Boston in November 1637. He will join himself to Anne Hutchinson's banished party and together with William Coddington, the small band will petition Roger Williams the right to settle on Rhode Island.
In 1651, when visiting Lynn, Massachusetts, he, with two fellow workers, will be fined. One of the others will even be subjected to whipping. As a result, Mr. Clarke will publish Ill News from New England in which he will defend liberty of conscience and believer's baptism.
In 1663, he will secure a charter from Charles II providing for complete civil and religious liberty.

"And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, 'Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye."

-Acts 4:18,19-

8, 1662 --Massachusetts. The General Court concurs with the Synod that convened in the spring of this year and approves the "Half-Way Covenant" as a "partial" church membership for people who have made no formal profession of faith.
     In 1690, Cotton Mather will declare, "A Church (as the Greek name for it allows us to think) is to consist of a people called out from the ways of sin by the powerful and effectual work of God upon their souls. Regeneration is the thing without which a title unto Sacraments is not to be pretended."

8, 1664 --England. Benjamin Keach is tried at Aylesbury before Sir Robert Hyde, for having taken "certain damnable positions" regarding the second coming in the catechism he has published. He is sentenced to a fine of twenty pounds and two weeks imprisonment, with the pillory on separate days at Aylesbury and Winslow. The public hangman burns his book.

8, 1720 --Massachusetts. At Martha's Vineyard, Jonathan Mayhew is born. He will be a vigorous opponent of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts because he will regard it as a mere disguise for introducing Prelacy. He will become a strong defender of human rights and when it will be argued "Tyranny is no government;" that "the Gospel permits resistance;" and when he is accused of adoring the "Oliverian times," Mr. Mayhew will respond, "I adore Him alone Who is before all times," and will avow his zeal for the principles of the Revolution of 1688, especially "the freedom of speech and of writing." "I am clear of this point," he will affirm, "that no people are under a religious obligation to be slaves, if they are able to set themselves at liberty."
     His spirit will be reflected by many. The Philadelphia Press will write, "None in this day of liberty will say that duty binds us to yield obedience to any man or body of men, forming part of the British Constitution, when they exceed the limits prescribed by that Constitution."
     When the Churchmen of New York preached loyalty to the king as the Lord's anointed, Mr. William Livingstone will retort, "The people are the Lord's anointed. Though named 'mob' and 'rabble', the people are the darling of Providence."
     Presbyterians in Philadelphia will respond, "Power is a sad thing: our Mother should remember we are children and not slaves."
     Calvinists in the North will break forth by adding, "'What portion have we in David? What inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Now see to thine own house, David!"
     James Otis will agree saying, "Lord Coke declares that it is against Magna Carta and against the franchises of the land for freemen to be taxed but by their own consent; Lord Coke rules that an act of Parliament against common law is void."
     William Pitt will argue, "Lawyers are not to be regarded in questions of liberty."
     Such presentiments will cause alarm to many. George Whitefield while in Portsmouth, New Hampshire will moan, "My heart bleeds for America. O poor New England, there is a deep-laid plot against both your civil and religious liberties; and they will be lost. Your golden days are at an end."
     Richard Henry Lee will write, "The ways of Heaven are inscrutable; this step of the mother country, though intended to secure our dependence, may prove a fatal resentment, and be subversive of that end." And another will write, "If the colonies do not now unite they may bid farewell to liberty, burn their charters, and make the best of thraldom."

8, 1772 --Pennsylvania. David Nitschmann dies. He was the first bishop of the Unitas Fratrum (Moravian) and was a pioneer missionary for them. As Bishop, he led a body of Moravians to Georgia. John and Charles Wesley were on board ship and were much affected by their piety and simple way of life.

8, 1835 --Spain. At Lepe, Manuel Metamoros is born. As a young man he will venture a trip to Gibraltar where he will meet Francisco de Paula Ruet through whose preaching he will become a Protestant. When letters from him are found addressed to a Protestant convert, he will be arrested and will spend more than two years in a prison in Barcelona. His sentence of nine years in the galley will be commuted to nine years banishment. He will spend his years of exile in England.