Section 6
August Hermann Francke (1870-1930) – German Lutheran clergyman, philanthropist, biblical scholar, and one of the leaders of Pietism, a movement within Lutheranism that began in the late 17th century, reached its zenith in the mid-18th century, and declined through the 19th century, and had almost vanished in America by the end of the 20th century. While declining as an identifiable Lutheran group, some of its theological tenets influenced Protestantism and Anabaptism generally, inspiring Anglican priest John Wesley to begin the Methodist movement and Alexander Mack to begin the Brethren movement. The Pietist movement combined the Lutheranism of the time with the Reformed emphasis on individual piety and living a vigorous Christian life.
excise – taxes.
Midsummer – the middle of summer; the summer solstice, the longest day of the year when the earth’s axis is pointed most directly at the sun, about the 21st of June.
Michaelmas – the feast of St. Michael, a festival of Roman Catholicism, celebrated September 29.
want – lack.
gymnasium – an upper-level school in Europe for final preparation before university.
Horace, Cicero, Voltaire, Moliere – Horace (65-8 B.C.): leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Roman leader Augustus. Cicero (106-43 B.C.): a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He is widely considered one of Rome’s greatest orators and prose stylists. Voltaire (A.D. 1694-1778): French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher who advocated civil liberty. He produced plays, poetry, novels, essays, and historical and scientific works that influenced important thinkers of both the American and French Revolutions. Moliere (A.D. 1622-1673): French playwright and actor, considered one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature.
cure – spiritual charge or care of souls, as of a priest for his congregation.
profligate – recklessly depraved and immoral.
vicious – addicted to vice or immorality; wicked.
salary – Payment for labor is the rule. Nevertheless, Paul himself refused pay and suffered to avoid hindering the gospel of Christ (1Co 9:7-15).
experimentally – through personal experience of something; experientially.
shillings – silver coins of Great Britain, each equal in value to 1/20 pound.
want – lack.
He has told me – The reader is cautioned against concluding that every subjective feeling, impression, or thought entering the mind is the immediate direction of God. Great mistakes may be made in this way. The written Word (2Ti 3:16), the prayer for wisdom (Jam 1:5), and the multitude of counselors (Pro 11:14; 15:22; 24:6) are the biblically safe path for the believer.
guineas – former gold coins of Great Britain, each equal in value to 21 shillings; or $4.66 U.S. dollars in 1828; last minted in 1813, officially replaced by the pound in 1816. Two guineas in 1830 would be worth approximately $260 USD today using a retail index, and $2,867 using an earnings index. [Source: www.measuringworth.com/calculators/ppoweruk]
condescended – descending or stooping to things unworthy.
£2 4s – two pounds and four shillings. The pound is the standard British monetary unit consisting of 20 shillings, valued at ~$4.44 USD in 1830. £2 4s in 1830 would be worth approximately $260 USD today using a retail index, and $2,867 using an earnings index.
6d – six pence; the pence was equal to 1/240 pound prior to 1971, and 1/100 beginning in 1971. The use of “d” for pence stems from the Roman denarius coin.
sovereign – British gold coin minted from 1489-1932, equal in value to one pound.
Narrative – George Müller’s autobiography, A Narrative of Some of the Lord’s Dealings with George Müller, originally published in four parts respectively in 1837, 1841, 1845, and 1856. Many modern reprints are available from various publishers, including www.solid-ground-books.com.
Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad – Founded by Müller in 1834, its purpose was 1) aiding Christian schools and missionaries by distributing the Bible and Christian tracts; and 2) providing day schools, Sunday schools, and adult schools, all upon a Scriptural foundation.
counterpane – a particular kind of coverlet for a bed.
means – income, resources, revenue, substance considered as the instrument of effecting any purpose; as in “the means to an end.”
£8,100 – equivalent to £601,000 in 2009 using a retail index, or $943,570 USD; and £5,800,000 using an earnings index, or $9,106,000 USD.