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AUGUST

27, 1526 --Germany. The Diet of Speyer today allows every sovereign authority, pending the meeting of a council, to decide matters of faith for itself and its province "recognizing its accountability to God and the Emperor.

27, 1590 --Italy. Pope Sixtus V dies. He promised to pay seven hundred thousand crowns toward the equipping of the Spanish Armada, which was to land on the coast of England to restore Roman Catholicism in that country. When the Armada failed to land, the Pope declined to pay.

27, 1626 --Denmark. At Lutter, Johann Tilly at the head of the Imperial troops defeats the Protestant princes who have united under Christian IV, King of Denmark. The Danish peninsula is flooded with Imperial forces.

27, 1654 --Rhode Island. Sir Henry Vane has left England for "conscience sake" because “none of the ministers (of the Church of England) would give him the sacrament standing." "Under God, the sheet-anchor of Rhode Island was Sir Henry," declares today's town meeting. "You have been a noble and true friend to an outcast and despised people; we have ever reaped the sweet fruits of your constant loving kindness and favor. We have long been free from the iron yoke of wolvish bishops: we have sat dry from the streams of blood spilled by the wars in our native country. We have not felt the new chains of the Presbyterian tyrants, nor in this colony have we been consumed by the over-zealous fire of the (so-called) Godly Christian magistrates. We have not known what an excise means; we have almost forgotten what tithes are. We have long drunk of the cup of as great liberties as any people that we can hear of, under the whole Heaven. When we are gone, our posterity and children after us shall read in our town records, your loving-kindness to us, and our real endeavor after peace and righteousness."

27, 1704 --England. While reading the Scripture this Lord's Day morning, Matthew Henry faints. This evening he will write, "A fever is coming upon me; let me be found ready whenever my Lord comes."

27, 1794 --Switzerland. Merle D'Aubigne is born near Geneva. His father is a merchant in Marseilles. His family was exiled from France for their faith. As a young man he will study theology under Robert Haldane at Geneva; then in Berlin, he will be instructed by Neander. His works, History Of The Reformation In The Sixteenth Century (five volumes), and History Of The Reformation In Europe In The Time Of Calvin are his monuments he will leave behind. The latter work was published in eight volumes.

27, 1897 --Switzerland. The first Zionist Congress is held at Basel and states, "The aim of Zionism is to create for the Jewish people a home in Palestine secured by public law."

27, 1953 --Italy. Pope Pius XII signs a Concordat with Spain and is the first comprehensive treaty signed in his name. It proclaims Roman Catholicism to be the only religion of the Spanish nation.

28, 1525 --France. William Farel is condemned by the French Parliament. His translation of the Bible is classed among the "Prohibited Books."


28, 1645 --Poland. King Ladislaus IV calls the Conference of Thorn because though Protestants enjoy political toleration since 1573, the Roman Catholic party has tried every means to lead them back to Catholicism since the Jesuits gained ascendancy over King Sigismund III as well as his successor.

On October 23rd, Evangelicals will rejoice over the freedom of conscience guaranteed by King Ladislaus in the territories. The Protestants refuse to alter their doctrinal stance which the Roman Catholics are demanding.

28, 1806 --Scotland. A rift has occurred in the anti-burgher General Associate Synod concerning the jurisdiction of civil magistrates in church affairs. Mr. Thomas McCrie and three other ministers withdrew from the denomination, and today organize the Constitutional Associate Presbytery. In 1827 it will merge with the Synod of Original Seceders. Mr. McCrie is thrown out of his church in 1809 following a lawsuit.
  
    
 

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