August 16, 1859: The birth of the Swedish pastor, Carl Boberg, who wrote the original poem "Oh Great God" which was then set to music and eventually translated by Stuart K. Hines into the very well-known hymn "How Great Thou Art".
Oh, Great God.
When I the world consider
Which Thou has made by Thine almighty Word
And how the webb of life Thy wisdom guideth
And all creation feedeth at Thy board.
Refrain:
Then doth my soul burst forth in song of praise
Oh, great God
Oh, great God.
The rest of the story is here - http://www.mannamusicinc.com/hgta.htm
August 17, 1775: "Anglican clergyman and hymnwriter John Newton wrote in a letter: 'It is no great matter where we are, provided we see that the Lord has placed us there, and that He is with us.'" (StudyLight.org)
August 18, 1688: "John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's Progress preaches his last sermon, in London" (see issue 11: John Bunyan). (ChristianHistory.net) Of all the books I read over the years, the message in Pilgrims' Progress has stayed with me better than perhaps any other.
It was a sermon describing the nature and effect of the new birth, making apt comparisons to the natural event of childbirth. You can read it here -
http://truthinheart.com/EarlyOberlinCD/ ... ermon.html
August 19,1662 : "Death of Blaise Pascal, French scientist and Christian apologist, famous for his apologetics and his argument that it makes more sense to wager on the existence of God than against him." (ChristianHistory.org)
August 20, 1527: " Diet of Odense allows Lutherans in Denmark." (CHO)
http://www.christianity.com/church/chur ... 29941.html
August 21,1732: "Count von Zinzendorf commends Leonard Dober and David Nitschmann to God as the first Moravian missionaries." (CHO)
August 22, 1433: " Paul Craw (Pavel Kravar) Bohemian Hussite is burned to death in Market Street before St. Andrews in Scotland, the first martyr so burned. A brass ball has been placed in his mouth so he cannot testify to the crowd." (CHO)