Henry Grattan Guinness – birth, Aug. 11, 1835

“I do now most heartily desire to live but

to exalt Jesus; to live preaching and to

die preaching; to preach to perishing

sinners till I drop down dead.” 

                                                              – Henry Grattan Guinness

 

Henry Grattan Guinness was born this date, 8/11/1835, in Kingstown In Taney, Dublin, Ireland.  He was converted to Christ 1855 and began preaching that same year.  In 1860 he married Fanny E. Fitzgerald.

 

In a separate work of grace he was filled with the Holy Spirit.  So great was the blessing that came to him then that, he wrote, “I sought solitary places in the woods where I could pour out my soul in prayer, with strong crying and tears.  Old things passed away, and all things became new.  How could I keep silence, knowing as I did, that those around me (inIreland) were utterly ignorant of the salvation in which I was rejoicing, and most of them abject slaves of Roman superstition.”

 

Judges, members of Parliament, orators, Fellows of College, lights of the various professions, the rank and fashion of the metropolis came to hear him preach Christ.

 

“One priest threatened that I should be treated like Mr. Sprong, who had been shot at two months previously.”  But he went on preaching and wrote “Many of the poor Roman Catholics in the neighborhood seem deeply impressed by the message of the Gospel and tears sometimes stole down their faces.”

 

Henry and his wife Fanny started the famous East London Missionary Training Institute (also called Harley College).  He was thus responsible for training and sending hundreds of “faith missionaries” all over the world.  He passed away 6/21/1910.  Seven of his children entered Christian ministry.

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Roger Williams – death, Apr. 1, 1683

First, That the blood of so many hundred thousand soules of Protestants and Papists, split in the Wars of present and former Ages, for their respective Consciences, is not required nor accepted by Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace.

Secondly, Pregnant Scriptures and Arguments are throughout the Worke proposed against the Doctrine of persecution for the cause of Conscience.

Thirdly, Satisfactorie Answers are given to Scriptures, and objections produced by Mr. Calvin, Beza, Mr. Cotton, and the Ministers of the New English Churches and others former and later, tending to prove the Doctrine of persecution for cause of Conscience.

Fourthly, The Doctrine of persecution for cause of Conscience, is proved guilty of all the blood of the Soules crying for vengeance under the Altar.

Fifthly, All Civill States with their Officers of justice in their respective constitutions and administrations are proved essentially Civill, and therefore not Judges, Governours or Defendours of the Spirituall or Christian State and Worship.

Sixthly, It is the will and command of God, that (since the comming of his Sonne the Lord Jesus) a permission of the most Paganish, Jewish, Turkish, or Antichristian consciences and worships, bee granted to all men in all Nations and Countries: and they are onely to bee fought against with that Sword which is only (in Soule matters) able to conquer, to wit, the Sword of Gods Spirit, the Word of God.

Seventhly, The State of the Land of Israel, the Kings and people thereof in Peace & War, is proved figurative and ceremoniall, and no patterne nor president for any Kingdome or civill State in the world to follow.

Eighthly, God requireth not an uniformity of Religion to be inacted and inforced in any civill State; which inforced uniformity (sooner or later) is the greatest occasion of civill Warre, ravishing of conscience, persecution of Christ Jesus in his servants, and of the hypocrisie and destruction of millions of souls.

Ninthly, In holding an inforced uniformity of Religion in a civill state, wee must necessarily disclaime our desires and hopes of the Jewes conversion to Christ.

Tenthly, An inforced uniformity of Religion throughout a Nation or civill State, confounds the Civill and Religious, denies the principles of Christianity and civility, and that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh.

Eleventhly, The permission of other consciences and worships then a state professeth, only can (according to God) procure a firme and lasting peace, (good assurance being taken according to the wisedome of the civill State for uniformity of civill obedience from all sorts.)

Twelfthly, lastly, true civility and Christianity may both flourish in a state or Kingdome, notwithstanding the permission of divers and contrary consciences, either of Jew or Gentile.

Roger Williams died this date (4/1/1683) in Providence, RI

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