Historical Highlights 1700AD-1800AD

1700:

By this time, Latin is used only in academic settings and in Roman Catholic documents and liturgy; Reformed churches use vernacular liturgy

1701:

Yale is founded by conservative Congregationalists (Cotton Mather)

1703:

John Wesley and Jonathan Edwards are born

1707:

Charles Wesley born; Isaac Watts publishes Hymns and Spiritual Songs, included in it are hymns When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, O, God, our Help in Ages Past, and Joy to the World—Watts moves away from literal psalm translation to hymnody that expresses the doctrine and thoughts of the Psalms and Scripture

1715:

George Whitefield born

1716:

China bans Christian religious education

1728:

Teleological argument for the existence of God (Creation embodies design and purpose and therefore points to the existence of a purposeful Creator)

1729:

The Presbyterian church in colonial America adopts the Westminster Confession and Catechism, subscription is required of all their ministers

1735:

“The Great Awakening” stirs the American colonies with hundreds of conversions and a return to “heartfelt faith,” until about 1745, Edwards and Whitefield lead

1736:

The Wesley brothers arrive in the colony of Georgia, return within two years disappointed

1738:

John Wesley’s “conversion” eventually leads to a breaking away from the Church of England and the founding of the Methodist Church, it is marked by its evangelistic nature, pietistic/holiness emphasis, and its organizational structure; Wesley describes his conversion as no longer just believing, but coming to “feel it and trust it”

1741:

Handel writes the Messiah, Edwards delivers the sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

1742:

The Philadelphia Confession of Faith, a baptistic adaptation of the Westminster Confession—it becomes one of the most influential statements of Baptist belief

1746:

Princeton is founded by the Presbyterian church 1750: The Enlightenment (Age of Reason), great faith is put in man’s power of reason, observation, and experiment—and in most cases, at the expense of faith

1760:

Churches in America no longer supported by state revenue

1761:

William Carey is born (one of the greatest missionaries God has raised us)

1772:

Methodist circuit riders (itinerant pastors) reach the American frontier

1776:

About 85% of American colonists are Reformed

1780:

Robert Raikes founds Sunday Schools in England, rapidly becomes an international movement

1792:

Charles Finney is born

1792:

The Particular Baptists (Reformed) form the Baptist Missionary Society, they are inspired by Carey’s “Expect great things from God and attempt Great things for God”

1793:

William Carey sails as a missionary to India and oversees more Bible translations than had previously been produced in all Christian history

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