1865 HT: Dan Graves IN ITS OBITUARY of him, the Missionary Herald asserted that Henry Ballantine preferred above all else to speak of the love of God as manifested in Christ. Once after he had preached from the text, “The blood of Jesus Christ, his son, cleanses us from all sin,” a man of eighty approached, leaning…
1605 HT: Diana Severance Have you ever heard anyone say, “He’s just an ordinary guy?” Curiously, the word guy has its roots in a l7th century plot to blow up the British Parliament. Religion and politics were inseparable in early England. When Pope Pius V excommunicated Queen Elizabeth in l570, English Catholics did not like obeying…
1836 HT: The One Year Christian History (Kindle Edition) IN 1779 Charles Simeon entered King’s College at Cambridge University as an eager student with no particular allegiance to God. After three days he was appalled to learn that at Cambridge participation in the Lord’s Supper was mandatory. In just three weeks he would have to…
1723 HT: Diana Severance, Dan Graves The masterful sermons of what American preacher profoundly influenced Patrick Henry to become a great orator and patriot? What American minister succeeded Jonathan Edwards as President of Princeton University? The answer to both questions is Samuel Davies. Samuel was born on this day, November 3, l723. Evidently, his Baptist mother…
1533 HT: Diana Severance When the apostle Paul escaped Damascus by being lowered over the wall in a basket it was not the last time a Christian evangelist would dramatically flee from persecution. On this day, November 2, in 1533, John Calvin made a similar thrilling escape from Paris. A devout Catholic, Calvin studied law at the…
1863 HT: Dan Graves Swiss-born Henry Dunant needed water rights for a business venture in French-controlled Algeria. The person who could get him those rights was Napoleon III. The only problem was, Napoleon III was on the battlefield in Italy. Dunant did not let that deter him, but set out for Napoleon’s headquarters at Solferino…
1787 HT: Christianity History Institute William Wilberforce is remembered as a vocal opponent of the slave trade, who worked tirelessly in the British parliament to end the trade. He also championed many good causes and spearheaded reform movements in England and elsewhere. He was twenty-seven years old when he recognized the desperate need to become that…
Eighteenth century England produced many excellent hymnwriters whose hymns are still sung today — Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley, and the Puritan Philip Doddridge, who died on this day, October 26, 1751. Philip Doddridge was born in London, England on June 26, 1702, the youngest of twenty children. His health was so poor when he was born…
1803 HT: Natalie Tunbridge Henry Martyn, later to become a remarkable missionary, is ordained and given charge of a church at Lolworth, Cambridgeshire, England. The missionary life of Henry Martyn is one of single-minded perseverance to obey the call of God, laborious allegiance to the Word of God, and most importantly, a passionate love for…
1856 HT: Christianity.com London was all astir with talk of the young preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He lacked the flowery, elaborate sentences of most preachers, but his simple directness spoke to the hearts of his audience. His passion for truth was as strong as the older Puritans he loved and studied, yet there was nothing stale…