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This Month in History
The Parentage of your Bible--Part VII
December 10, 1520--Martin Luther burns the Pope’s "Bull of Excommunication.
December 14, 1837--Frances Ridley Havergal is born, As a Godly woman she will write much for the advancement of the Kingdom of Heaven.
December 15, 1714--George Whitfield, who will prove to be the "Evangelist of the Great Awakening" in New England, is born in Gloucester, England. He will grow up in a bar (pub) in which his mother is a maid.
December 17, 1873--Matthew Henry is gripped by a sermon preached by his father. The sermon has dealt with the signs of true salvation. He comes to Christ with a repentant heart.
December 18, 1707--Charles Wesley, who will be known as the "Sweet Singer of Methodism", is born to Samuel and Susannah Wesley. He will write over 6,500 hymns. He is a younger brother to John.
December 22, 1899--Dwight Lyman Moody will die exclaiming, "This is my triumph! This is my coronation day! I have been looking forward to it for years!"
December 28, 1800--William Carey baptizes his first convert in India, Krishna Pal. Multitudes more will turn to Christ through the ministry of his faithful labor.
December 29, 117O--Thomas a Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, is martyred. Henry II has passed the Constitution of Clarendon in which he sought to extend control over the church. Becket has been his nemesis-- the thorn in his side. Was Henry speaking out of frustration or seeking an avenger when he hollered; "Who shall rid me of this turbulent priest?"
December 31, 1384--John Wycliffe dies. He will prove to be the "Morning Star of the Reformation" as he has translated nearly all the Word of God into English.
PROGRESSIVE REVELATION
1. to Adam, Christ would be incarnate;
2. to Abraham, of what nation Christ would be;
3. to Jacob, of what tribe Christ would be;
4. to David, of what sex Christ would be;
5. to Isaiah, Christ would be "of the virgin";
6. to Micah, where Christ would be born;
7. to Daniel, when Christ would be born.
-John Trapp-
"Bethlehem" translated means both "House Of Bread" and "House of War." Men who refuse to feed upon the "Bread come down from Heaven", who refuse to "eat
My flesh", so Christ says, will find Bethlehem become a "House of War" to them Instead of the "House of Bread" for their souls.
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AN ENGLISHMAN!
The Editor of THE ANGELUS is an Englishman, (and a few other varieties of mankind thrown in for the development of his character), and he wishes to inform you in the last edition a Jest appeared with the date, November 24. No, the Editor does not really believe World War II ceased because of the news his birth was about to take place. The many of you out there who could not separate the ridiculous may have some English blood in you!
THE PARENTAGE OF YOUR BIBLE
Part VII
Text: "Seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read...." --Isaiah 34:16.
"God sparing me, the day will come when a common farm boy knows more Scripture then you, Archbishop!" William Tyndale cried. Will God enable him to pursue his intent?
Tyndale set about to master the Hebrew and Greek, languages. Then, he labored to translate the Word of God for his English countrymen. He sought to translate the Bible with exceeding care. He took great pains that his translation might prove to be ruthless in its accuracy and so pursued it relentlessly. He wanted his labors to be faithful to the original text.
At last a printer was sought. The year was around 1522. In his hands, the printer held the labor of years. All was entrusted to his care. Surely the Word is triumphant at last! Surely perseverance in his work and the labors of the people of God during past ages is about to be crowned with success. Surely... But will it in reality?
No sooner are the copies printed and the king orders them seized! Will Heaven’s Adversary never cease? Will none of these copies survive? No, all are destroyed!
And what will become of the man of God whose labors have been judged unfit for the earth? He flees. Realizing his life will not be safe in his homeland, he seeks refuge in Germany where he again undertakes his work. All the first editions of Tyndale’s work had been destroyed, but he still has his life. The enemies of Him who is his Master and Saviour have not yet taken that from him.
The second edition was no less laborious than the first. He took great pains to keep his translation accurate. At last, after months of work, it was ready for the printer, and one was very carefully chosen who could be entrusted with printing so valuable a work.
The new edition wag completed in 1525. But another problem emerged-- how would he smuggle them into England? How could he transport them across the English Channel?
A solitary walk led him to the city docks where he spied a ship being prepared to sail for England. Its cargo of bales of cotton and sacks of wheat were to leave the dock the following day.
That night, he returned to the dock with friends. They crept aboard the ship! What if they are discovered? What fanaticism! What tomfoolery! Surely someone must have seen them sneak on board! We will resume Tyndale’s daring exploit in the next edition of The ANGELUS