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 |
Historical Highlights 1800AD-1899AD
1801: Second Great Awakening begins at Cane Ridge Revival 1804: Barton Stone and several of his followers break all denominational ties and begin calling themselves merely “Christian—beginning of the “Restoration Movement” 1807: British Parliament votes to abolish slave trade due in large part to William Wilberforce 1809: Restoration Movement (Primitivism)—it takes a prominent place in […]