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MAY

 
“Who God intends to destroy, He gives leave to play with Scripture.” – Martin Luther-
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30, 1831 – Pennsylvania. In Kennett Township, James Walker Hood is born. He will become a Methodist and in 1860 will be sent by the New England Conference to Nova Scotia as a missionary among the Negroes there. He will remain for three men while being stationed within the lines of the Union Army. In 1868, he will become a member of the Constitutional Convention of North Carolina, and in 1872, he will be elected bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

31, 1492 – France. Waldensians have been able to gather a series of conventicles at Auvergne Valentinios, near Trevoux, and north of Lyons. Today they hold an assembly in Lyons itself after having been expelled by the Archbishop Jean in 1184.

31, 1567 – France. When he was twenty-five years of age, Guido de Bres (Guy de Bray) was converted to Calvinism. His four brothers and sister are ardent Protestants having been the product of the prayers of their godly mother.
     In 1548, persecution broke out against the protestant church. Mr. Guy de Bres has sought to strengthen the hands of his brethren often traveling incognito. Before the name of John Calvin was much more than a name in Southern Netherlands, Mr. De Bres was already a refugee for his non-Catholic convictions. Sometime around 1548, he fled to England, but returned in 1552.
     Late in 1561, flocks of people led by Huguenot agitators crossed the border and held “chanteries,” which involved singing the Psalms in the night, and were the Psalms Marot had versified. Mr. De Bres took no part in these activities and denounced them. In order to secure justice for his brethren, he composed thirty-seven articles which will become known as the Belgic Confession, but in the investigations that resulted, Mr. De Bres was again forced to flee. Before fleeing, he caused a copy of the confession to be thrown over the wall of the outer court of the castle in the vain hope that the reading of it would convince the authorities that he and his followers were not seditious.
     He also left instructions with one of the flock to burn all his papers left in the garden but that had served as his study. The man failed to effect his orders for when he set fire to the hut, the neighbors rushed quickly to put it out, and when law officials appeared, all his carefully guarded secrets came to light. They were unable to lay hands upon him, however, because he made good his escape. Therefore, they burned him in effigy and put a price on his head whether dead or alive.
     He fled to Sedan, to Brussels, to Antwerp, and then to Valenciennes. Here he has sought to oppose the Anabaptists who have planned a country-wide celebration of the Lord’s Supper vowing, “We want the Lord’s Supper; and if we don’t get it we will cut the throats of all priests and seize their properties.” But the radical element does not prevail. The celebration is canceled.
     The king, however, has intended to make this city an object lesson and has declared this city to be in rebellion. Consequently he has laid siege to it as of December 1566. The city, however, has refused to receive the king's soldiers, which the king has wanted quartered in order to restore peace. Finally, in March, the city fell, and Mr. De Bres was able to effect his escape but only after it fell.
     After several days of hiding in the woods, hunger drove him out; and he was discovered in the Inn where he had ordered food. He was arrested and imprisoned first at Tournai and then at Valenciennes. After a hearing, he was sentenced to die by hanging as a rebel against the crown.
     Shortly before his execution, he wrote his mother to comfort her and to remind her of the goodness of God who had given her more than she had prayed. For shortly before his birth, his mother heard an Italian Waldensian preach and being deeply touched by his gracious words, she had prayed God would give her a son who would so preach the Word of God. Not only had God answered her prayer but has blessed her with a martyr son.
     Mr. De Bres has very few earthly possessions. The Inquisitors were told to be on the lookout for a “tall man with a shabby overcoat.”
     Today he dies. His last words are an exhortation to his followers to obey duly constituted authorities, but his address being unwelcome, the official gives the signal to proceed with his execution. As a result, a violent tumult arises within the soldiery, and leaves several soldiers and bystanders dead, a dozen more wounded.

 

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