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promote the acceptance of the Protestant faith by Romanists。
To the conservative and compromising; these arguments seemed conclusive。 But
there was another class that did not so judge。 The fact that these customs
〃tended to bridge over the chasm between Rome and the Reformation〃 (Martyn;
volume 5; page 22); was in their view a conclusive argument against
retaining them。 They looked upon them as badges of the slavery from which
they had been delivered and to which they had no disposition to return。 They
reasoned that God has in His word established the regulations governing His
worship; and that men are not at liberty to add to these or to detract from
them。 The very beginning of the great apostasy was in seeking to supplement
the authority of God by
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that of the church。 Rome began by enjoining what God had not forbidden; and
she ended by forbidding what He had explicitly enjoined。
Many earnestly desired to return to the purity and simplicity which
characterized the primitive church。 They regarded many of the established
customs of the English Church as monuments of idolatry; and they could not
in conscience unite in her worship。 But the church; being supported by the
civil authority; would permit no dissent from her forms。 Attendance upon her
service was required by law; and unauthorized assemblies for religious
worship were prohibited; under penalty of imprisonment; exile; and death。
At the opening of the seventeenth century the monarch who had just ascended
the throne of England declared his determination to make the Puritans
〃conform; or 。 。 。 harry them out of the land; or else worse。〃George
Bancroft; History of the United States of America; pt。 1; ch。 12; par。 6。
Hunted; persecuted; and imprisoned; they could discern in the future no
promise of better days; and many yielded to the conviction that for such as
would serve God according to the dictates of their conscience; 〃England was
ceasing forever to be a habitable place。〃J。 G。 Palfrey; History of New
England; ch。 3; par。 43。 Some at last determined to seek refuge in Holland。
Difficulties; losses; and imprisonment were encountered。 Their purposes were
thwarted; and they were betrayed into the hands of their enemies。 But
steadfast perseverance finally conquered; and they found shelter on the
friendly shores of the Dutch Republic。
In their flight they had left their houses; their goods; and their means of
livelihood。 They were strangers in a strange land; among a people of
different language and customs。 They were forced to resort to new and
untried occupations to earn their bread。 Middle…aged men; who had spent
their lives in tilling the soil; had now to learn mechanical trades。 But
they cheerfully accepted the situation and lost no time in idleness or
repining。 Though often pinched with poverty;
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they thanked God for the blessings which were still granted them and found
their joy in unmolested spiritual communion。 〃They knew they were pilgrims;
and looked not much on those things; but lifted up their eyes to heaven;
their dearest country; and quieted their spirits。〃Bancroft; pt。 1; ch。 12;
par。 15。
In the midst of exile and hardship their love and faith waxed strong。 They
trusted the Lord's promises; and He did not fail them in time of need。 His
angels were by their side; to encourage and support them。 And when God's
hand seemed pointing them across the sea; to a land where they might found
for themselves a state; and leave to their children the precious heritage of
religious liberty; they went forward; without shrinking; in the path of
providence。
God had permitted trials to come upon His people to prepare them for the
accomplishment of His gracious purpose toward them。 The church had been
brought low; that she might be exalted。 God was about to display His power
in her behalf; to give to the world another evidence that He will not
forsake those who trust in Him。 He had overruled events to cause the wrath
of Satan and the plots of evil men to advance His glory and to bring His
people to a place of security。 Persecution and exile were opening the way to
freedom。
When first constrained to separate from the English Church; the Puritans had
joined themselves together by a solemn covenant; as the Lord's free people;
〃to walk together in all His ways made known or to be made known to them。〃
J。 Brown; The Pilgrim Fathers; page 74。 Here was the true spirit of
reform; the vital principle of Protestantism。 It was with this purpose that
the Pilgrims departed from Holland to find a home in the New World。 John
Robinson; their pastor; who was providentially prevented from accompanying
them; in his farewell address to the exiles said:
〃Brethren; we are now erelong to part asunder; and the Lord knoweth whether
I shall live ever to see your faces more。 But whether the Lord hath
appointed it or not; I
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charge you before God and His blessed angels to follow me no farther than I
have followed Christ。 If God should reveal anything to you by any other
instrument of His; be as ready to receive it as ever you were to receive any
truth of my ministry; for I am very confident the Lord hath more truth and
light yet to break forth out of His holy word。〃Martyn; vol。 5; p。 70。
〃For my part; I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the reformed
churches; who are come to a period in religion; and will go at present no
farther than the instruments of their reformation。 The Lutherans cannot be
drawn to go beyond what Luther saw; 。 。 。 and the Calvinists; you see; stick
fast where they were left by that great man of God; who yet saw not all
things。 This is a misery much to be lamented; for though they were burning
and shining lights in their time; yet they penetrated not into the whole
counsel of God; but were they now living; would be as willing to embrace
further light as that which they first received。〃D。 Neal; History of the
Puritans; vol。 1; p。 269。
〃Remember your church covenant; in which you have agreed to walk in all the
ways of the Lord; made or to be made known unto you。 Remember your promise
and covenant with God and with one another; to receive whatever light and
truth shall be made known to you from His written word; but withal; take
heed; I beseech you; what you receive for truth; and compare it and weigh it
with other scriptures of truth before you accept it; for it is not possible
the Christian world should come so lately out of such thick antichristian
darkness; and that full perfection of knowledge should break forth at
once。〃Martyn; vol。 5; pp。 70; 71。
It was the desire for liberty of conscience that inspired the Pilgrims to
brave the perils of the long journey across the sea; to endure the hardships
and dangers of the wilderness; and with God's blessing to lay; on the shores
of America; the foundation of a mighty nation。 Yet honest and God…fearing
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as they were; the Pilgrims did not yet comprehend the great principle of
religious liberty。 The freedom which they sacrificed so much to secure for