"OF WHOM THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY"
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SEPTEMBER
1, 1685 --England. The Battle of Sedgemoor has taken place. Five
thousand Englishmen, among whom are many Non-conformists who have sought
to overcome the tyranny of James II, and the judges of the land have
come in circuit to call forth, sentence, and condemn those imprisoned
for the late rebellion.
The Lord Chief Justice, George Jeffries, is remembered
particularly for his cruelty. A man of violence and blood, with madness
and rage causes unmerciful suffering to many poor innocents. He is said
to have stormed at the prisoners, harried their witnesses, and silenced
any who dared speak for them. In all, he is said to have hanged three
hundred fifty men, women, boys, and girls while transporting eight
hundred fifty as slaves to the West Indies. Larger numbers have been
whipped publicly and, or imprisoned. These acts will become known as the
"Bloody Assizes," and today marks their beginnings.
Four years from this date in 1689, when William III of
Orange is proclaimed king and James II has fled to France, Lord Jeffries
himself will seek to steal away aboard ship when he is apprehended. He
will be committed to the Tower of London, where he will remain for some
months waiting trial. A little before he is to be arraigned in court, he
dies miserably.
He once addressed Richard Baxter, "Richard, thou art an
old knave; thou hast written books enough to load a cart, every one as
full of sedition as an egg is full of meat. I know thou hast a mighty
party, and a great many of the brotherhood are waiting in corners to see
what will become of their might 'Don,' but by the grace of Almighty God,
I'll crush all."
1, 1782 --Pennsylvania. In Philadelphia, a committee of Congress
requests the two chaplains of Congress, William White and George
Duffield, to examine Mr. Robert Aitken's edition of the King James Bible
which he has undertaken at the evident risk of his private fortune.
"Reverend Gentlemen: Our knowledge of your piety and
public spirit leads us without apology to recommend to your particular
attention the edition of the Holy Scriptures published by Mr. Aitken. He
undertook this expensive work at a time when from the circumstances of
the war an English edition of the Bible could not be imported, nor any
opinion formed how long the obstruction might continue. On this account
particularly he deserves applause and encouragement. We therefore wish,
you Reverend, Gentlemen, to examine the execution of the work, and if
approved, to give it the sanction of your judgment and the weight of
your recommendation.
"We are, with very great respect, your most obedient,
humble servants." (Signed) James Duane, Chairman, in behalf of a
Committee of Congress on Mr. Aitken's Memorial.
Mr. Aitken's Bible became the first Bible to be printed
in the New World, the work being completed in Philadelphia.
1, 1849 --France. In Paris, this is the last day in framing a
constitution for the Free Church. Frederic Monod's first sentence to
this constitution reads, “We believe that the entire Scriptures of the
Old and New Testaments is inspired by God, and constitutes the sole and
infallible rule of faith and life." It seeks to leave organization,
liturgy, discipline and mode as well as time of baptism to the
individual communities.
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Let's bring our children as near to Heaven as we can. It is in our power
to restrain them, and reform them, and that we ought to do. Although
Restraining Grace is but Common Grace, yet ...by this means the work of
conversion is more easy."
-Thomas Hooker-