Historical Writings

Death of Pope St. Julius. A staunch defender of Athanasius, he gave him asylum when he was forced into exile by the empire's Arian faction.

Pope Clement VI enumerates the many crimes of Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV and orders him to renounce the imperial dignity, which he ultimately does.

French-born Swiss reformer Theodore Beza (John Calvin's successor) wrote in a letter to Scottish reformer John Knox: 'They whose citizenship is in heaven ought to have their whole dependence on heaven.'

Death of Jacques-Beniqne Bossuet, bishop of Meaux, orator, philosopher, and historian. A master of style and argument, he supported the divine right of kings, defended the freedom of the French church and monarchy against popes, upheld Catholic doctrines against Protestants, and obtained the church's condemnation of some writings of the Quietist bishop François Fenelon.

The first issue of the Tatler, England's first magazine, goes on sale. It will demonstrate the power of the press to reform manners and morals. Joseph Addison, a Christian, will write many of its numbers.

Thomas Cadell publishes William Wilberforce's A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians, in the Higher and Middle Classes in This Country, Contrasted with Real Christianity. The book becomes influential in changing the character of British society.

The Evangelical Reformed Church in Northwest Germany was created by royal decree when the king of Prussia ordered the 124 "reformed" congregations scattered throughout the area to become incorporated as an independent territorial church.

An 11-day constitutional convention in Hot Springs, Arkansas, ended. During its sessions, the Assemblies of God denomination was founded.

Twentieth anniversary of Watchman Nee's imprisonment, five years more than his maximum sentence. Within weeks the evangelical pastor will be dead.

Arrest of 200 Makarere Church people in Uganda under Idi Amin's cruel regime.