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JUNE

   22, 380 --Syria. At Doliche, Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata is killed by a stone thrown by an Arian woman. He has come here to attend the consecration of Bishop Maris. Schaff says of him, “He is one of the few bishops of the fourth century of whom nothing but good is known!.”

22, 431 –Turkey. The Council of Ephesus opens with one hundred and ninety-eight bishops.
It will condemn the heresy of Nestorianism and the heresy of Pelagianism.

22, 1633 --Italy. Having endured the tedious ordeal of a trial by the Inquisition for having taught the Copernican yew of the solar system as opposed to the view of Ptolemy, Galileo is today forced to adjure his scientific data on bended knees and upon the threat of torture.

22, 1679 --Scotland. The Covenanters, becoming divided over their attitudes towards those who have accepted the Indulgence granted them by the government on certain conditions, as well as the change in attitude of some towards king Charles II are today defeated by superior numbers at Bothwell Bridge.
     As King Charles has broken his Coronation Oaths made to the Presbyterians at Scone in 1651 and has assumed ecclesiastical powers, some of the Covenanters feel he has forfeited all right to be obeyed by the people.

22, 1680 --Scotland. Ebenezer Erskine is born this Tuesday morning at one o’clock. He and his brother, Ralph, will be known for their unflinching preaching in Scotland. When in the Rebellion of 1745, the rebels will occupy Stifling, he will organize a Secession corps of volunteers in behalf of the king, and will act as its captain. Mr. Erskine has seceded from the Church of Scotland.
      In 1704, he will marry Alison Turpie, whose religious experience and piety will give him what he calls his first real “view of salvation.”


22, 1680 --Scotland. The Declaration of Sanquhar is published today. Among those who have drawn it up is Richard Cameron. It states that because of tyranny the King had forfeited his right to rule. His adherents will call themselves “Cameronians” or “Society People.”
      One month from today, Mr. Cameron and the small group he is leading will be attacked by Royalist soldiers at Arysmoss, and the entire band will be massacred.

22, 1714 --England. Matthew Henry dies having written a most colossal work on the Holy Scriptures known as Matthew Henry’s Commentaries. He has said, “A life spent in the service of God, and communion with Him is the most comfortable and pleasant life that one can live in the present life.”
      The last two Sundays, he has preached on the eternal Sabbath he was about to enter. On Sunday, June 13th, he preached twice on the text: “There remaineth a rest for the people of God” -(Hebrews 4:9), and two days, on the last Sabbath he would be on earth, he preached, “Let us therefore fear lest a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.”—Hebrews 4:1.

22, 1750 --Massachusetts. His congregation dismisses Jonathan Edwards from his church. He is the preacher of the great revival that has swept the Eastern seaboard.
     On July 1st, he will preach his farewell sermon. Since he has opposed the “Half-Way Covenant” espoused and liberalized by his grandfather, Solomon Stoddard, and since he has openly exposed scandalous behavior in the church which has involved the passing around among some of the youths, a book on midwifery, he has been voted out by more than two hundred of the congregation. Twenty have decided for him.
      This latter had involved pornography in a day under the guise of midwifery, while the former has involved a serious abridgment of the Scriptures. The Puritans being Congregationalists provide for baptism of children of church members because they reason God has included infants within His Covenant. However, participation at the Lord’s Table, as well as voting, both in matters pertaining to the church as well as to the State, was confined to those able to give evidence of Saving Faith in Christ.
        The Cambridge Platform (1646-1648) has ruled against severity in examination and has advocated acceptance of the weakest faith. Further, a compromise of baptizing children of “unregenerate” parents was arrived at by the Ministerial Assembly of 1657 and by the Synod of 1657 --both of which have been held in Boston. The issue, as they reasoned it, lay in the fact those children of unregenerated but baptized parents are either of the Covenant of God, or are strangers to the Covenant. As they have reasoned children are within the Covenant of God, they should therefore be baptized.
       The Synod of 1662 has voted to accept the Cambridge Platform of 1646-1648, however, they have not allowed such to come to the Lord’s Table, nor to vote in ecclesiastical matters. The right to vote in civil matters has been restricted to church members since 1631.
       Richard Mather has defended this decision, but Charles Chauncey has opposed it. Nevertheless, Solomon Stoddard, who has previously pastored the Northampton Church, and who is the grandfather of Mr. Edwards, reasoned that if such are to be admitted to baptism, they should be allowed to participate in the Lord’s Supper. This Edwards has resisted, and has instead labored for a Regenerated church membership.
       Mr. Edwards will write to Ebenezer Erskine in Scotland: “I am now as it were thrown upon the wild ocean of the world and know not what will become of me and of my numerous and chargeable family.”
       He will turn his attention to the Stockbridge Indians.

22, 1814 --England. Mr. George Charles Smith, a Methodist, has established prayer meetings for seamen on the Thames River at London. Today the first such recorded prayer meeting is held aboard the brig, “Friendship”. On March 23, 1817, a flag will be hoisted to indicate divine worship will be held aboard ship. These flags will come to be known as “Bethel flags.”
   

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