America's Providential History Podcast explores the hand of God in America's history
>> Stephen McDowell: Welcome to America's Providential History Podcast, where we talk about the real story of America and explore the hand of God in our history. Now, here's your host, Stephen McDowell. Hello. Glad you're joining us for this edition of America's Providential History Podcast. Today we will be continuing the story of the Pilgrims, in the words of their governor, William Bradford. We began to look in the past two podcasts at the history of these people we call the Pilgrims. In the words of a gentleman who wrote one of the first great literary and historical works in America, William Bradford. His book of Plymouth Plantation gives a firsthand account of the history of these people, all that they went through. And so we examined how they separated from the Church of England back in the early 1600s and formed their own church. They were persecuted and forced flee, but the authorities wouldn't let them flee. But God providentially got many over to Holland, where they lived about 12 years, in relative liberty, certainly m. Much more than they had experienced in England at the time. And then we looked at their plan for some of them to leave Holland and to start a new society in the new world, America. And so that's where we left off.
Only 46 men, women and children went from the Pilgrim congregation
Talking about how the Pilgrims left Holland, left Del shaven Haviland on July 22, 1620, on a small ship called the Speedwell. And we saw how before departing Holland, they observed a day of fasting and prayer, which is depicted in a painting in the capitol rotunda. Only 46 men, women and children went from the Pilgrim congregation. As I mentioned, at that time it was perhaps 300 in number. So they set sail on the Speedwell. They went to England, and they met the Mayflower at Southampton, England, with about 74 other settlers and crew. About 25 of those were crew. So both ships set sail on August 5th, but by the 13th they had to turn back because the speed well was leaking. Well, they spent precious resources on repairs and sailed again on August 23. But the speed well continued to leak. They turned back and were forced to abandon the ship. And they had lost much time in provisions, but they decided, we'll just all go on one ship. And they set out again on September 6 with 102 passengers in the Mayflower. About half were part of the Covenant Pilgrim Congregation. The other half were people they called strangers. And these strangers were at least all professing Christians from different, different backgrounds and persuasions, but certainly were not part of this church congregation, this Covenant Congregation of the Pilgrims. So Bradford, he wrote how all this was taking place because he thought God was reducing their numbers writing. And thus, like Gideon's army, this small number was divided, as if the Lord, by this work of his providence, thought these few so many, for the great work he had to do well. Bradford Records, on September 6th, and now, all being compact together in one ship, they put to sea again with a prosperous wind, which continued divers days together, which was some encouragement unto them. Yet, according to the usual manner, many were afflicted with sea sickness, and I may not omit here a special work of God's providence. There was a proud and very profane young man, one of the seamen, of a lusty and able body, which made him the more haughty he would always be, contemning the poor people in their sickness, and cursing them daily with grievous execrations, and did not hesitate to tell them that he hoped to help cast half of them overboard before they came to their journey's end, and to make merry with what they had. And if he were by any gently reproved, he would curse and swear most bitterly. So here it is, one guy, one semen, giving him a hard time cursing and hoping that they all die one to throw them overboard. Bradford continues. But it please God, before they came over, before they came half seas over to smite this young man with a grievous disease, of which he died in a desperate manner, and so was himself the first that was thrown overboard. Thus his curses light on his own head, and it was an astonishment to all his fellows, for they noted it to be the just hand of God upon him. In fact, this man, this lusty seaman, haughty seaman who cursed the pilgrims, was the first to die at sea. In fact, he was the only one, to die at sea on this voyage. Will Bradford continues the story. After they had enjoyed fair winds and weather for a season, they were encountered many times with cross winds and met with many fierce storms, with which the ship was shroudily shaken, and her upper works made very leaky. And sundry. Of these storms, the winds were so fierce and the seas so high as they could not bear a knot of sail, but were forced to hull for diverse days together. And so here they face tremendous storms. In fact, as Bradford records, these storms were so bad that half of the time of the 66 days they were at sea, they couldn't come above deck. They were so. So tossed, to and fro, and fear of they be washed over during a, storm. One of these storms, the main beam of the ship cracked, well, providentially. They had a giant screw it's possibly it was used as a jack to erect roofs, their future homes possibly as part of a printing press, but nonetheless they providentially had this giant screw that they used to support the beam. Without this, it is unlikely they could have completed their journey. Well, Bradford continues, after long beating at sea, they fell with that land which is called Cape Cod, the which being made and certainly known to be it, they were not a little joyful. I like Bradford's language that he uses many times, that type of language. They were not a little joyful as you can imagine. And so after 66 days at sea, they sighted land on November 9 on the outer edge of Cape Cod. They attempted to sell south, but were unable due to the weather and dangerous shoals. So they turned back and anchored in what is now Provincetown harbor on Saturday, November 11th. And the captain said, well, we can't make it. Remember, they were intended to settle in the north part of Virginia. They were way hundreds of miles north of where they intended to sail. But because of the weather and the dangerous conditions, winter was approaching. The captain decided, you guys are going to get off here and find a place to settle. here. This is as far as I'm going. Well, Bradford writes, after their arrival at Provincetown Harbor Nov. 11, being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean, and delivered them from all the perils and miseries thereof again to set their feet on the firm and stable earth, their proper element, and no marvel if they were thus joyful. And so, after all they've gone through and the great difficulties in England and making it to Holland, living in Holland, planning and coming to the new land, then the difficult 66 days at sea. they arrived at land not where they had originally intended to settle, but nonetheless arrived at land. So being out from under the authority of the Virginia Company, that's who was giving them authority to settle in their land. It caused some of the non separatists, some of those strangers, to talk mutinously of abusing their liberty once they went ashore. So before leaving the ship, the pilgrims drew up their own governmental compact, which in part states, having undertaken for the glory of God an advancement of the Christian faith, the honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the north parts of Virginia do by these presents covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic. Now this is, this document is what has come to known as the Mayflower compact. That's because it was on the Mayflower, on the ship before the Pilgrims and strangers went ashore. They drew up this civil covenant on the ship and all of the men had to sign it before they were allowed to go ashore and participate. Now they all signed, all the men signed that document on November 11, 1620. And this is one of the most significant of the founding political documents in America. It was written by a small group of English separatists. And these, remember these were mostly farmers in England. And then they learned some other trades and skills in Holland. Here were the, these people seeking religious and civil freedom that, that they drew, they, they drew up this unique document, this, that forms the foundation of what is unique about American polity. It's based upon the, the principle of Christian self government. Here these individuals recognize that to form a civil society in the way that God wants it to be formed, we're going to covenant together under him and all agree to live in accordance with these principles that we lay out and future laws that we make. Now there's really nothing like this that had come to be up at this time. It's, it's later on others who came and settled in the New World would, would adopt similar types of covenants and, and, but it's based upon a Christian recognition of covenanting. And the reason that these farmers could reason to such a significant document that forms the foundation of what made American polity unique is because they had been taught how to reason. From the Bible to all of life, they'd searched the Scriptures themselves, their pastors and leaders instructing them. Remember in the last podcast we read the instruction from Pastor John Robinson in a letter he wrote to the Pilgrims where he touched on the issue of civil government. And when they come together to form their civil government, it needs to be in accordance with God. What God has to say about qualifications for godly officials and how you look at those giving honor to them, but that recognizing that the civil leader is not divine by any means, but the reason they could do this, they were taught by their pastors and learned how to reason biblically, but they'd also perform the experiment or the, the, the same type of thing when they formed their church. Remember that the Scrooby Covenant, early 1600s when these people separated from the Church of England, they covenanted together to form a church body, a church society. And now what they had done in the ecclesiastical realm, now they were doing in the civil realm applying those same principles to that. So the Mayflower Compact is an extremely important document in not just the history of America, but in the advance of civil liberty in the world. It was a seed that began to grow and grow and grow over time. Those same kind of ideas from the Bible that influenced the Pilgrims, also influenced Puritans and others who came to start the colonies and produce unique founding documents. You know, there's over a hundred different constitutions, compacts and charters written in early America. 86 written in America, 20 or so written back in England. And all of these are a step forward in regards to civil liberty. And they all shaped and came together when we formed our national covenant in 1776, that declaration of Independence. They all, had influence and merged together, and expressed on the. This national level in our founding, Covenant. Well, the Pilgrims anchored at Provincetown, as I said, on November 11. The next day they observed the Sabbath on the ship. Then On Monday the 13th, they reassembled the shallop, which was a light sailboat brought to explore the coastal areas, and took the longboat off the deck and began exploring the area they found, at one place they found some corn and beans and baskets, some corns and beans and baskets on which they what they called Corn Hill. Bradford wrote, we were very glad and sure it was God's good providence that we found this corn, for else we know not how we should have done, because this provided seed for them for the next year. Now, they resolved that when they found the Indians to whom m it belonged, they would, as Bradford wrote, quote, give them full satisfaction. Which they did about six months later, repaid them for what they had, found. Well, early on December 7, while the pilgrims observe their morning prayers, they were attacked by Nauset Indians. But providentially none were hurt. And Bradford says so after we had given God thanks for our deliverance, we took our shallop and went on our journey and called this place the first encounter.
The Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620
before they certainly had mentioned the possibility when the difficulty going to a new world was encountering the natives that lived there because they'd heard all kinds of, stories about how they treated others and killed others. And so they experienced an attack early on, from them. Well, snow already covered the ground. But on Friday the 8th, a strong storm with rain, sleet and snow blinded them and caused their rudder and their mast to break. Now, that's on this little shallop that they were sailing around exploring the bay and area. So they put ashore at Clark's island in Plymouth Harbor. They made repairs on Saturday, and on Sunday they observed the first church service on land near a large Rock that's known as Pulpit Rock. See for the pilgrims religious liberty always preceded civil liberty. Or that is we could say Pulpit Rock preceded Plymouth Rock in the landing of the Pilgrims. Well on Monday morning December 11th. Now today this would be December 3rd, 21st. That's due to a calendar change made in 1754, excuse me 1752 by the English. Other European countries had switched their calendar prior to that so that, that the the solar calendar reflect the paper calendar that you were used. So on the morning of December 11th that their dating of that time the pilgrims landed on what is now known as Plymouth Rock. Now Bradford does not mention a rock himself in his writings but in 1741 a gentleman, Thomas Faunce who was then 95 years old traveled to Plymouth when a wharf was about to be built. And he related how he was told as a child by his father and others that this was the rock they first stepped on when the Pilgrim fathers came ashore on December 11. He was the son of one of the original settlers at Plymouth. Faunce died in 1745 at age 99. So in 1774 the rock was attempted to be moved to town square to erect a liberty pole upon it to inspire men to enlist and fight for independence. The rock split in two and some said this was prophetic predicting the split with England. Half was left in the original spot and the other taken to the square. In 1834 the upper part of the rock was moved from the square to the front of Pilgrim hall. That is the oldest public museum in America and was constructed in 1824. And on the way it fell off the cart and split in two and the pieces were rejoined and the date 1620 was painted on the surface. And so there is a new canopy was built for the bottom half of the rock by Hammett Billings. This is the same man that designed the forefathers monument which in past earlier podcast in the year earlier in the year I took a couple of podcast to look at the forefathers monument and, and the as a matrix of liberty. you can go back and listen to that to learn more. So but then so he, Hammett Billings designed a cover for what we call Plymouth Rock today that you can go to Plymouth Massachusetts and see it. And this was around 1859-67 when all this, he was constructing this and designing it. But then for The Tercentenary Celebration 1920 A New Canopy was built and that's the one that's currently over the rock. And so they Then went ashore. They. They, set foot on. On land and went ashore. now they had arrived on shore, but that didn't mean that all their worries were filled. You know, all their worries were now done, you might think all the difficulties that they had gone through, everything that they suffered, that you might think, ah, we've made it, we've arrived. But you have to realize that they were not met by a holiday inn or some hotel, nice restaurants, where they could go and settle. Well, no, not at all. In fact, Bradford, in his off Plymouth plantation, writes of quote, on their safe arrival at cape Cod, he says this. But here I cannot but stay and make a pause and stand half amazed at this poor people's present conditions. And so, I think, will the reader too, when he well considers the same. Being thus passed the vast ocean and a sea of troubles before in their preparation, as may be remembered by that which went before, they had now no friends to welcome them, nor inns to entertain or refresh their weather beaten bodies, no houses, or much less towns to repair to to seek for succour. It is recorded in scripture as a mercy to the apostle and his shipwrecked company, that the barbarians showed them no small kindness in refreshing them. But these savage barbarians, when they met with them as after will appear, were readier to fill their sides full of arrows than otherwise. And for the season it was winter. And they that know the winters of that country know them to be sharp and violent and subject to cruel and fierce storms, dangerous to travel to known places, much more to search an unknown coast. Besides, what could they see but a hideous and desolate wilderness full of wild beasts and wild men. And what multitudes there might be of them they knew not. Neither could they, as it were, go up to the top of Pisgah to view from this wilderness a more goodly country, to feed their hopes for which way soever they turn their eyes, save upward to the heavens, they could have little solace or content in respect of any outward objects. For summer being done, all things stand upon them with a weather beaten face. And the whole country full of woods and thickets, represented a wild and savage hue. If they look behind them, there was the mighty ocean which they had passed, and was now as a main bar and gulf to separate them from all the civil parts of the world. If it be said they had a ship to succor them, it is true. But what heard they daily from the master and company. But that with speed they should look out a place with their shallop, where they would be at some distance, for the season was such as he would not stir from thence till a safe harbour was discovered by them where they would be, and he might go without danger, and that victuals consumed apace, but he must and would keep sufficient for themselves in their return. Yea, it was muttered by some that if they got not a place in time, they would turn them and their goods ashore and leave them. Let it also be considered what weak hopes of supply and succour they left behind them that might bear up their minds in this sad condition and trials they were under. And they would not but be very small. It is true, indeed, the affections and love of their brethren of Leyden were cordial and entire towards them, but they had little power to help them or themselves. And how the case stood between them and the merchants at their coming away hath already been declared. So here it is. You know, they. They arrive, they see the land, they're going to go ashore, being forced ashore right there by the captain. But what did they see but a hideous and desolate wilderness? Wherever they looked, that's all they saw. And winter was coming on. And here's the captain. He had a ship, but he was trying to get. Get rid of him as soon as possible and was threatening to kick him off if they didn't. Didn't do, something quickly. Bradford goes on to write. After painting this realistic picture of the great difficulties they. They faced, he writes, what could now sustain them but the spirit of God and His grace. May not and ought not the children of these fathers rightly say our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean and were ready to perish in this wilderness. But they cried unto the Lord, and he heard their voice and looked on their adversity, etc. Let them therefore praise the Lord because he is good and his mercies endure forever. Yea, let them which have been redeemed of the Lord show how he hath delivered them from the hand of the oppressor. When they wandered in the desert wilderness out of the way and found no city to dwell in, both hungry and thirsty, their soul was overwhelmed in them. Let them confess before the Lord his loving kindness and his wonderful works before the sons of men. And so they looked to the only one who could sustain them in that very difficult situation.
Bradford talks about their first winter when he says this
just, you know, we have to stand amazed at these pilgrim forefathers for all they endured but the great faith and the vision they had for the sovereignty of God and the providence of God and the care and comfort and protection of God Believing that they were even as stepping stones, they had no knowledge of the outcome of what was going to happen. They were just taking, being faithful to God to do what he'd call them to do, trusting in him to keep and protect and provide. And so they faced winter coming on. And then Bradford talks about their first winter when he says this. But that which was most sad and lamentable by the way, you know, they searched around, they looked for, for a site where they were going to want, wanted to settle, searching, many different places. And they came to a nice place that had fresh supply of water, had ability to build some kind of fort to protect them, and no one was living there. No natives lived in the area. Now they didn't know it at the time, but they would learn later that had they come to that very spot just a couple few years before that, they would have been met by the Patuxent Indians, some of the fiercest in the area. But in the year 1617, 1616 and 1617, a plague had come and mysteriously wiped out every one of these, the Patuxis, except one, and we'll tell you about him here a little later. So Bradford writes. But that which was most sad and lamentable was that in two or three months time half of their company died. So by the way, so they found the area and their plan was, well we're going to build a common meeting house and then each family is going to build a home on the side of a main street that we lay out until they could get shelter built. They, they remained on the ship and so they were doing this work on the ship, coming ashore, each day building, the, the fort, the common house, the meeting house, building individual homes after that. So back brag, Bradford said. But that which was most sad and lamentable was that in two or three months time half of their company died, especially in January and February being the depth of winter, and wanting houses and other comforts, being infected with the scurvy and other diseases which this long voyage in their incompetent condition had brought upon them. So as there died sometimes two or three of a day in the foresaid time, that of a hundred and odd persons scarce 50 remained. And of these in the time of most distress, there was but six or seven sound persons, who to their great commendations be it spoken, spared no pains, night nor day, but with abundance of toil and hazard of their own health, fetched them wood, made them fires, dressed them meat, made their beds, washed their loathsome clothes clothed and unclothed them, in a word, did all the homely and necessary offices for them which dainty and queasy stomachs cannot endure to hear named. And all this willingly and cheerfully, without any grudging in the least, showing herein their true love and to their friends and brethren, a rare example and worthy to be remembered. So what a great testimony of the Christian character of these pilgrim forefathers, who half their number died that first winter, which they certainly had heard about Jamestown, the winter of 1609 and 1610, when 90% of the settlers in Jamestown were killed because of the bad conditions and sickness and disease and other things. And that was one of the things they counted the cost to see. Are we prepared to face such difficulties? So half their number died, but there were those six or seven at one time were the only ones that could really get up and move. And they took care of the others, did all the things that are necessary. And so those who died the first winter were buried in unmarked graves in order that the Indians wouldn't know how weak they were. And some of their bones actually were discovered in the 18th and 19th centuries. And today there's a monument, a sarcophagus monument, up. Just up this little hill from where the replica of the Mayflower is and, and the Plymouth Rock is. But some of those bones that they found, are now buried there at this sarcophagus monument. And so when you go, you can. Can see the monument and, and be reminded of the great sacrifice that they made. Well, as, they. They endured this very difficult winter. But, Bradford records God in his mercy, what he. How he was going to help provide for them to make it in the New World. And this is what he said. But about 16 March, now this would have been 1621. About 16 March, a certain Indian came boldly amongst them and spoke to them in br. Broken English, which they could well understand, but marvelled at. His name was Samoset. He told them also of another Indian whose name was Squanto, a native of this place who had been in England and could speak better English than himself, being after some time of entertainment and gifts dismissed. A while after, he came again and five more with him and made away for the coming of their great sachem, called Massasoit, who about four or five days after came with the aforesaid Squanto, with whom after friendly entertainment and some gifts given him, they made a peace with him, which hath now continued this 24 years. In fact, the peace that they had made with them continued 50 years. we'll say something about that later on. So he was writing 24 years after this, this history. Bradford continues after these things. He returned to his place, but Squanto continued with him and was their interpreter and was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation. Bradford recognized that God in his mercy sent this Native American, who, by the way, had had quite a providential story himself. He, he, Squanto, was part of the Patuxent tribe that actually had lived right where the Pilgrims were settling. And he, in around 1605 or so was, was, captured by English sea captain and took back to England. There he lived a number of years in England, learned English, introduced to, you know, the way people the English lived. Then he got a ride back with John Smith in 16, 14, back to New England. And it wasn't long after that he's captured again by another sea captain. And he took him and was selling him into slavery, took him to Spain, sold him into slavery. Providentially, Squanto was bought by some monks who introduced him to the Christian faith as they knew it. Squanto, after some time, left the monks, found his way back to England, and was there a few years when in 1619, he got a ride back to New England. And when he arrived, hoping to see his tribe, he found out that they had all been wiped out by this plague. So Squanto went and joined himself for the nearby Wampanoag Indian tribe where Massasoit was the chief. And it was then, not too long after that, that he heard about these English settlers who had come and were seeking to settle right at the very spot where he, his tribe, had used to live. And Bradford sees him as a special instrument. Son of God. God prepared him in so many ways for their good beyond their expectation. Bradford continues. He directed them how to set their corn, to where to fish and to procure other commodities, and was their pilot to bring them to unknown places for their profit, and never left them till he died. Afterwards, they, as many as were able, began to plant their corn, in which service Squanto stood them in great steed, showing them both the manner how to set it and after how to dress and tend it. Also he told them, except they got fish and set with it in these old grounds, it would come to nothing. And he showed them that in the middle of April they should have store enough to come up the brook by which they began to build and taught them how to take it and where to get other provisions necessary for them, all of which they found true by trial and experience. And then Bradford says, and thus they found the Lord to be with them in all their ways and to bless their outgoings and incomings, for which let his holy name have all the praise forever to all posterity. So here it was, thanks to Squanto, Samoset, to Squanto, to Massasoit. These Native Americans, they helped assure that they survived. They made it because Squanto taught them how to plant corn, corn out of other crops, how to fish and what to do, because without him, they might well never have survived. That's why Bradford called him a special instrument sent of God for their good, beyond their expectation. And so they began to. The seeds, just the planting of the Plymouth Colony began to take root. It was, still many challenges, as we'll see. They faced many difficulties. they faced. But God in his mercy had, planted in them the beginning of what became the seed of the American Republic. Yes, Jamestown was here, and that was the first permanent American settlement in the New World. But the Pilgrims carried that unique, clear seed rooted in biblical Christianity. And it was manifested in their lives, their words, all that they, they did. And it makes a, you know, they were the stepping stones. And many others began to come, after them as well. And so Bradford relates in a beautiful way all the trials and difficulties that they went through to come and plant this seed. Now in the next podcast we're going to take a look at. Well, then we saw the sea, we saw what's occurred up to this place. But how do we get that tradition of having a day of Thanksgiving, that unique holiday, American holiday, Thanksgiving Day, we trace to the Pilgrims. How did that come about? Where did that tradition come from? And this is what we'll pick up in the next, podcast. So I hope you're going to be able to join us. I invite you to Visit our website, providencefoundation.com Pick up our book, America's Providential History, to read about the Pilgrims. And we have many other resources as well that you can enjoy there. So, I hope that you can be part of the next podcast, next week. God bless you.
