On August 29th in the year 430, the great "Father" of the North African Church, Augustine, died. The object of his Godly mother's prayers for many years, Augustine was at last converted when he overheard a child singing the words, “Take up read, take up and read.” The book that he took up and read was Paul's epistle to the Romans. There he found his salvation and his firm conviction that his salvation was “by grace alone.” It was this conviction that led him to do such magnificent battle with Pelagius and his doctrine of free will and human ability in the matter of redemption.
On August 10th 1572 the faithful French Huguenot leader, Gaspard de Coligny fell victim to an assassin's bullet. Although the wound was not immediately fatal, de Coligny never rose from his bed, but was overtaken by the mobs of the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre on August 24th. Charles, King of France, fired his pistol into the air, shattering the stillness of that black Bartholomew's morning and the slaughter of the professing church of France had begun.
Ninety years later - on the same date – another black page of church history was recorded when two thousand Puritan ministers of the Church of England were ejected for their non-conformity.
On August 31st 1688 "The Immortal Tinker of Bedford," John Bunyan, proved that, indeed, his flesh was as mortal as any man's and departed this life. The mortal has now “put on immortality” however, and lives, not only through his written words, but around the throne of God above.
In 1707, on the 24th August - St Bartholomew's Day again – God's gracious providence ordained the birth of a baby girl that was to mark that day blessed for many souls. Selina, later to become the Countess of Huntingdon, first saw the light of day and after her entrance into the light of the gospel day became truly, one of those women who “labour in the gospel.”
Half-a-century later, on the same day & August 24th – another who used his gospel liberty to strive for the temporal liberty of his fellows was born – William Wilberforce. In the face of endless opposition, Wilberforce finally saw his Bill for the abolition of the slave trade pass through Parliament.
This Page Title – This Month Long Ago — August The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 85 – placed on line July 2010 Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |