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AUGUST

    
 6, 1745 --New Jersey. Today, David Brainerd writes, " ...I insisted, on I John 4:10 --"Herein is love." They (the Indians) seemed eager of hearing, but there appeared nothing very remarkable, except their attention, till near the close of my discourse; and then Divine truths were attended with a surprising influence, and produced a great concern among them. There were scarcely three in forty who could refrain from tears and bitter cries. They all as one seemed in an agony of soul to obtain an interest in Christ; and the more I discoursed of the love and compassion of God in sending His Son to suffer for the sins of men, and the more I invited them to come and partake of His love, the more their distress was aggravated, because they felt themselves unable to come. It was surprising to see how their hearts seemed to be pierced with the tender and melting invitations of the Gospel, where there was not a word of terror spoken to them.
     "There were this day two persons who obtained relief and comfort, which when I came to discourse with them particularly, seemed solid, rational, and Scriptural. After I had inquired into the grounds of their comfort, and said many things, which I thought proper to them, I asked them what they wanted that God should do further for them. They replied, they "wanted Christ should wipe their hearts quite clean.'"

6, 1801 --American Frontier. Revival breaks out and will be known as the "Second Great Awakening." It lasts six days and is noted for its emotionalism. Peter Cartright, the circuit rider will be converted in this revival. It is predominantly a Presbyterian revival though some Baptists and Methodists are active.

6, 1809 --England. In Somersby, Lincolnshire, Alfred Tennyson is born to the Rector of the parish. He will be known for his poetry which will include "Crossing The Bar", which work he will request to conclude all collections of his poems.

7, 1667 --Massachusetts. Mr. John Wilson has organized the First Church in Boston, founding it in the Charlestown section. He has been a principal opponent of the Antinomian Controversy led by Anne Hutchinson. He has served as Chaplain of the expedition against the Pequot Indians, and later served as co-laborer with John Eliot for the conversion of the Indians. Today he dies.

7, 1745 --New Jersey. David Brainerd writes in his Diary: "Preached to the Indians from Isaiah 53:3-10. There was a remarkable influence attending the Word and great concern in the assembly . . .. Most were much affected, and many in great distress for their souls; and some few could neither go nor stand, but lay flat on the ground as if pierced at heart, crying incessantly for mercy . . .. It was remarkable that as fast as they came from remote places round about, the Spirit of God seemed to seize them with concern for their souls . . .. It is worthy of remark, that those who obtained comfort first were in general deeply affected with concern for their souls when I preached to them in June last."

8, 1471 --France. At the age of ninety-one years, Thomas Hammerlein, better known as Thomas A Kempis, dies. He has left for the nourishing of Christians for five hundred years, his Imitation of Christ.

8, 1683 --France. An assembly of Huguenots is surprised by a troop of dragoons. Most of the congregation escapes --those who are apprehended are hanged on the nearest trees. Their crime is that they do not subscribe to the king's religion.

8, 1694 --Belgium. Antoine Arnauld dies in Brussels. Jansenism, a Sovereign Grace movement within the Roman Catholic Church, is founded upon his work. His views were not influential in 1643 so he went into hiding. In 1668, he emerged from his cover, and people came to see him in embarrassing numbers.
     In 1679, he felt he could not longer remain in France in safety and fled to the Netherlands. The frequent invasions by Louis XIV of France have forced Mr. Arnauld to seek refuge in Protestant Holland on several occasions. The arrest of Pete du Breuil, a priest of the Oratory, and his subsequent life long imprisonment for having received some of Mr. Arnauld's books convinced him France was not a safe place for him, and he has lived most of his days in Brussels.
     He dies today in Brussels, and his body is secretly buried. His heart is taken to Port Royal.
     Pasquier Quesnel will succeed Mr. Arnauld as Jansenist leader. His Moral Reflections will be condemned by the Pope in his Bull entitled, "Unigenitus."


 

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