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CHAPTER SIX THE PURITANS “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves,” James 1:22. KJV As the desire to return to the Bible swept across Europe, many people left the Church of England in search of a purer way to worship and serve God. As we have already noted, one such group was the Pilgrims and another was the Puritans. The major differences between these groups were: the Pilgrims were marked by poverty, they were generally less educated and they wanted to separate themselves from the Church of England. The Puritans were more wealthy, better educated and desired to purify the Church of England from within. In 1618, King James
made a decree that
all Puritans not willing to conform to ecclesiastical authority had to leave
the country. The Puritans now came to
the same conclusions that the Pilgrims had reached earlier. The Church of
England was not going to change! In desperation, the Puritans also began to
turn their dreams toward America.34
(34 Peter Marshall/David Manuel,
The Light and the Glory, Fleming H. Revell, Division of Baker Book House
Co., Grand Rapids, MI., 1977, p. 160. In 1628, 66 Puritan men traveled to the New World and began building the town of Salem.35 (35Peter Marshall/David Manuel, The Light and the Glory, Fleming H. Revell, Division of Baker Book House Co., Grand Rapids, MI., 1977, p. 160.) In the Spring of 1629, the Puritans secured two ships for 200 people who wished to go to the New World. As the land of England faded away in the distance, Francis Higginson told the people, “We go to practice the positive part of church formation and the spread of the gospel in America.”36 (36Peter Marshall/David Manuel, The Light and the Glory, Fleming H. Revell, Division of Baker Book House Co., Grand Rapids, MI., 1977, p. 155.) The exodus had begun, but in order to gain the necessary momentum, it would need a leader like Moses. The Puritans wanted John Winthrop to go with them and be their leader, and soon he was unanimously elected to be their Governor. He then began the huge job of arranging passage for more than 1,000 Puritans who were waiting to go to America. The ships were ready on time and he boarded the Arbella.37 (37Peter Marshall/David Manuel, The Light and the Glory, Fleming H. Revell, Division of Baker Book House Co., Grand Rapids, MI., 1977, pp. 156, 157.) (Just a note: The ancestors of your author came with either the second or third group of the Puritans.) On June 8, 1630, after 72 days of waiting, John Winthrop got his first sight of New England. (Author’s note: I conclude that this was about 15 months after the second group of Puritans had departed for Salem.)38 (38Peter Marshall/David Manuel, The Light and the Glory, Fleming H. Revell, Division of Baker Book House Co., Grand Rapids, MI., 1977, p. 158.) The sight that greeted him the following morning was far from cheerful. Where was Salem? Surely this pitiful collection of huts and canvas shelters was not Salem! But this was Salem. The people that came to the shore were gaunt and ragged. They were listless, slow and apathetic. He soon learned that of the 266 men that had come before him to Salem, only 85 remained. More than 80 had died and the rest had quit and gone back to England. Many of those who remained were intending to go back as well.39 (39Peter Marshall/David Manuel, The Light and the Glory, Fleming H. Revell, Division of Baker Book House Co., Grand Rapids, MI., 1977, p. 160.) Winthrop sized up the situation, and a short time later called a meeting and requested that everyone attend. The meeting was to start one hour after noon, and the people were to wear old clothes. Promptly at one o’clock, Winthrop walked in, and it was evident that he was dressed in old clothing. He looked more like a servant than the gentleman that he was. (Author’s note: In our day in America, we think of a gentleman as being a man that is polite. This is not the way the word was used that day in Salem. Their word meant a man of social standing that considered physical work so far beneath him that he would rather die than work.) Winthrop began to talk. “The situation here is not exactly what we in England were led to expect. I think it can be rectified without too much trouble, although it’s going to require hard work. By the end of summer, every one of you is going to be in a proper home. Until then, more than one family will have to live together.” At that moment, he was interrupted by two “gentlemen” who were just arriving and carrying on a conversation of their own. One of the men was wearing a white shirt with a ruffle at the neck. As Winthrop began giving out assignments he said, “The rest of you form into two work parties: those under 40 go with Mr. Endicott, and the rest follow me. Are there any questions?” One of the “gentlemen” spoke up. “John, do you really expect me to--, I brought nine men with me to do that sort of thing.” Winthrop answered, “Yes, Richard, I really do. Last August you put your name to an agreement which bound you as a Christian to be ready to further this work. Also, I want you to know that I consider lateness to be a sin against God! This is His work. To steal His time is to blaspheme against what He is trying to accomplish here!” A miracle took place upon Winthrop’s arrival; a nearly dead colony was resurrected.40 (40Peter Marshall/David Manuel, The Light and the Glory, Fleming H. Revell, Division of Baker Book House Co., Grand Rapids, MI., 1977, p. 166.) The year, 1628, marks the beginning of the Great Migration which lasted 16 years. More than 20,000 Puritans left for New England and 45,000 other Englishmen headed to Virginia and points south. In comparison this would be like three million Americans leaving our country today.41 (41Peter Marshall/David Manuel, The Light and the Glory, Fleming H. Revell, Division of Baker Book House Co., Grand Rapids, MI., 1977, p. 148.) THE LIGHTS WENT OUT In 1629, King Charles of England accidentally signed a “charter” that allowed the Puritans to rule themselves. In 1685, Charles demanded that the Pilgrims give up this charter. When a man named Increase Mather received the news, he shut himself in his study and spent the day on his knees in fasting and prayer. The agents arrived one night after dark to retrieve the charter. The cherished document lay on the table. At the very moment the king’s men ordered the charter to be handed over to them, the candles went out. When the light was restored, the charter had disappeared! It was found later in the hollow trunk of an old oak tree. Notice the providence of God: · God providentially blessed England by sending someone, perhaps Joseph of Arimathea, to preach to them. · God providentially blessed King Alfred with an unbelievable spirit of forgiveness. · God providentially blessed England with a spiritual revival. · God providentially guided England to a biblical foundation for their country. · If Columbus had landed farther north, this country would have been Catholic. Had the Spanish colonization of Florida been successful, this country would have been Catholic. · Had Jamestown and Roanoke been more successful this country would have had its foundation on greed instead of God.42 (42Peter Marshall/David Manuel, The Light and the Glory, Fleming H. Revell, Division of Baker Book House Co., Grand Rapids, MI., 1977, p. 155.) · If God had not blessed England with a spiritual revival, the Pilgrims would not have left England. · If God had not strengthened the Pilgrims for this difficult work, they would have died without leaving us this rich heritage. · If God had not led the Pilgrims to the land of the Patuxets they would have starved. · If God had not sent the snow storm, they would not have found the land of the Patuxets. · If God had not prepared Squanto, he would not have been able to communicate with the Pilgrims. · If God had not sent Winthrop, the Puritan settlement would have failed.
Study Guide Chapter Six 1. According to James 1:22, what are we supposed to do besides hearing God’s word? 2. What three things marked the difference between the Pilgrims and the Puritans? 3. What did King James’ decree say that caused the Puritans to give up hope of purifying the Church of England? 4. What was the name of the first Puritan town in America? 5. What did Francis Higginson tell the people was the purpose of their going to America? 6. When John Winthrop reached Salem, what was the state of mind of the people? 7. How did Winthrop get the people of Salem to work? 8. What would have been the likely result if Columbus had landed further north in America? 9. What would have been the likely result if the Jamestown colony had been more successful? 10. What would have been the likely result if God had not blessed England with a spiritual revival before the Pilgrims came to America? 11. What might have happened to the Pilgrims if God had not first toughened them up in Holland? 12. What might have happened if the Pilgrims had tried to settle Plymouth four years earlier? 13. What might have happened if God had not providentially directed the Pilgrims to the land of the Patuxets? 14. What might have happened if God had not prepared Squanto to aid the Pilgrims in the planting of corn? 15. What might have happened to the Puritan village of Salem if God had not sent Winthrop? 16. What will happen to you and me if we do not take advantage of God’s providential care? 17. What do you have to do to insure that God will providentially care for you?
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