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JANUARY

1, 379 --Israel. At Caesarea, Basil dies. Born into a Christian family, he is the brother of Gregory of Nyssa and is a close friend of Gregory Nazianzen. As a defender of orthodoxy, he has resisted the threats of the emperor Valens and has con-tended against Arianism asserting the Son and the Holy Spirit are consubstantial with the Father. His masterpiece consisting of nine sermons on the six days of creation, known as the Hexameron, will have a powerful influence upon Ambrose of Milan.

Both brothers have been reared in the Christian faith by their sister, Macrina. Noma, the mother of Gregory Nazianzen has brought her husband to Christ and has nourished her son in the Word of God.

1, 1484 --Switzerland. Ulrich Zwingli, a leader in the Swiss Reformation, is born in a humble shepherd’s cottage. He is the third of eight children and is named in honor of his father. As a young man, he will be called of God to preach His Word and will early vow, “I will consecrate my ministry to the glory of God; the praise of His only Son; the real salvation of souls, and their instruction in the true faith.”

1, 1489 --France. Those suspected of “heresy” for not conforming to the Church of Rome have been ordered to wear a Cross upon their clothes, both in front and behind, and not to appear at Church without displaying it. Most of those persons who have refused to wear the cross have been reported to the civil and ecclesiastical authorities, and accordingly have fled to the mountains where they will live for the next five years in “dens and caves of the earth.”
Today, those of Freyssinier have been informed no hope remains of bringing them back into the bosom of the Church of Rome. They have “relapsed into the infamous heresy,” and have refused to wear the cross on their clothes. They have received their excommunicated and banished brethren, and have refused to deliver them over to the Church.
Therefore, all persons are forbidden to hold communication whatsoever with them with-out first obtaining permission from the Church; and the Inquisitor is ordered to proceed without further delay to the “execution of his office” against these Waldensians.

1, 1519 --Switzerland. This Saturday, on his thirty-fifth birthday, Ulrich Zwingli mounts the pulpit of the cathedral of Zurich and thunders, “It is to Christ that I wish to conduct you; to Christ, the true Source of salvation. His Divine Word is the only nourishment which I would give to your heart and life.”

1, 1661 --Scotland. In the Parish church of Scone, Charles II is crowned. He is twenty years of age. Mr. Robert Douglas has preached from II Kings on the crowning of Jehoida and has spoken about the bounds and limits of the king’s power: how he must not use his strength unduly, or break his contract with his subjects; that if he does, there will be justification for resisting his despotism.
     The National Covenant and the Solemn League are read to him, and he in turn swears to uphold them. Next, he subscribes to them by his own hand. Once crowned, he is given the scepter and is conducted to the throne with these words:
     “Stand and hold fast from henceforth the place, whereof you are the lawful and righteous heir by a long and lineal succession of your fathers, which is now delivered unto you by authority of Almighty God.”
     Mr. Douglas adds more counsels and warnings, after which, the twentieth Psalm is sung and the apostolic benediction ends the service. But the king has wavered in giving his pledge saying the oath should not import any infringing of the “laws of England” and he is immediately answered that not a single modifying expression will be tolerated. Again on June 23rd he will swear to keep these covenants in every clause and syllable; but he will fail to keep them, for the king has “performed anything that could have been required, yet without any evidence of any real change of heart.”
 

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