Pilgrim Fathers
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make the Puritans “conform, or harry them out of the land, or else
worse.” 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 had ceased forever to be a habitable spot.” 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,
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.”
In the midst of exile and hardship, their love and faith waxed strong.
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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