KING
JAMES, THE PURITANS, AND THE COLONIZING OF AMERICA
King James
of England is dramatic proof that God can work in the
worst of conditions, use the poorest of material, and
still achieve world-changing results. Of himself, the King
had little to recommend him. In the opinion of London’s
elite, he was crude and untrustworthy. Though he responded
favorably to the Puritan request for an "authorized"
version of the Bible he was far from being their friend.
Soon after his arrival in England he said of the Puritans,
"I will make them conform or I will harry them out of the
land." In part, he succeeded and the Pilgrims’ flight to
America soon followed. Like the woman in Revelation, who
"fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared
by God," the Pilgrims escaped to the forests of the New
World.
The
greatest threat to the Puritans--and even to King James
himself--was Catholic Spain that preparing a blood-bath
for Protestant Europe. The Spanish Inquisition, as an
unspeakable terror to mankind, was relentlessly wiping out
Protestantism in Spain and had turned its vengeful eye
toward England. The torture-rack, slow deaths, and
execution, awaited all non-Catholics who fell under
Spanish control. This threat faced all Protestant
Englishmen--not just Puritans. Thankfully, in an
intervention of God, during King James’ first year on the
Throne, English troops defeated Spain and ended the
danger.
Briefly
explained, the difference between Puritans and Pilgrims
was that the Puritans wanted to remain in the Church of
England and "purify" it; the Pilgrims had given up that
hope. Instead, they separated from the Church of England
and, "confessing that they were strangers and pilgrims on
the earth," sought a homeland “whose builder and maker is
God".Hebrews 11:10,13,14. Theologically, the two groups
were the same and in America, the name “Puritan”
identified the church. Before coming to the New World,
many Puritans fled to Holland in the effort to find peace
and security for their churches. That attempt failed.
Returning to England, they twice left for America in the
company of another ship, the Speedwell, only to be forced
back when over-crowded conditions caused the Speedwell to
begin sinking.
When the
Mayflower finally came to America in 1620, over-loaded
from the Speedwell’s cancellation, some husbands, wives,
and children, were separated and left weeping on the dock
as the tiny ship set out to sea. One of those staying
behind was their beloved Pastor, John Robinson, a bright
star in the Puritan movement, who had guided them through
years of political and religious turmoil. Still in his
forties, he hoped, ultimately, to join his flock in the
New World. Six years later, however, 1626, Miles Standish,
came to America and brought the news the little band of
Pilgrims most dreaded to hear: Their beloved John was
dead. King James was also dead. Hampton Court was history.
But, the Pilgrims were safely in America. And, thanks to
God, on their pulpits was a wonderful translation of
Scripture known as the King James Bible.
While the
Pilgrims grieved over the death of Pastor John, in
reality, they were never without his guidance. Not only
did they have his written sermons and numerous letters,
but one special message would always be engraved in their
heart. It was the farewell address he delivered the day
they sailed from England. In that message the Holy Spirit
gave them a prophetic word for the founding of America and
a truth which still challenges the church four centuries
later. Listen to it carefully. In part, John Robinson
said:
"I charge
you before God and before his blessed angels, that you
follow me no further than you have seen me follow the Lord
Jesus Christ. If God reveal anything to you by any other
instrument of his (another minister), be as ready to
receive it as ever you were to receive any truth by my
ministry: for I am verily persuaded, I am very confident,
the Lord hath more truth yet to break forth out of his
holy Word. For my part, I cannot sufficiently bewail the
condition of the reformed churches, who are come to a full
stop in religion and will go at present, no further than
the instruments of their first reformation. The Lutherans
cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw: whatever
part of his will our good God has imparted and revealed
unto Calvin, they will rather die than embrace it. 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 times, yet they penetrated not
into the whole counsel of God: but were they now living,
they would be as willing to embrace further light, as that
which they first received."*
The
separate messages in this quotation are astounding. Some
of the radical concepts of truth and liberty that were
later birthed in Colonial America and became the backbone
of democracy owe their conception to the pen of this man.
For example,
1. "The
Lord hath more truth yet to break forth out of his holy
Word." John Robinson did not believe that theologians of
his day had fully exhausted the mine of God's written
truth. Rather, he was thoroughly convinced that they had
only broken through the top-soil of what would ultimately
prove to be an inexhaustible source of Divine gold. If
only Christians today had that same vision!
2. "The
reformed churches ... are come to a full stop in religion
and will go at present, no further than the instruments of
their first reformation." They "stick fast where they were
left by that great man of God". Though Robinson did not
regard himself as belonging to either the Lutheran or the
Calvinist camp, he none-the-less experienced true grief
that they had become "closed-door" denominations. This is
especially significant because it was so unlike the
attitude of their founders. Martin Luther and John Calvin,
were both willing to accept the fact of "more truth"
breaking out of God's Word. That had been the very
enticement that forced them to press into God and the
truth of Scripture. In both cases, their efforts had been
rewarded by the sudden burst of new, holy revelation. Yet
their followers, according to John Robinson, "stick fast
where they were left by those great men of God." Why did
Robinson use the expression "first Reformation”? Did he
believe that God wanted to lead them into greater
revelation of Scripture than their founders experienced?
Did God intend that the Reformation be progressive,
on-going, with a second, and perhaps a third stage of
revelation?
3.
"Whatever part of His will our good God has imparted and
revealed unto Calvin, the Lutherans will rather die than
embrace it." The religious trap which Luther and Calvin
both zealously fought to escape--the "polarization,
isolation, and stagnation," of their traditional
backgrounds--their own Lutheran and Calvinist disciples
were frantically defending. Robinson saw this as a "misery
much to be lamented." That quickly, the church had
returned to the bondage of a new-style, Protestant
tradition.
4. Though
Luther and Calvin "were burning and shining lights in
their times, yet they penetrated not into the whole
counsel of God." Luther knew that he had not explored the
"heights and depths" of God; Calvin also knew it. The
ultimates of revelation, like a distant star, still shone
beyond both of these men, beckoning them on. Oddly, their
followers never grasped that truth. And sadly, it is still
that way. Denominational Christianity, for the most part,
is polarized around itself, isolated from revelation
knowledge God has imparted to its' neighbors, and
inbreeding with its own kind. Consequently, each is
fighting alone against the death-angel of stagnation. This
is always the inescapable result of any Christian group
which rejects "more truth" from God and relies instead on
the meager supply it already has.
5. Were
Luther and Calvin "now living, they would be as willing to
embrace further light, as that which they first received."
Is that an unfounded statement for John Robinson to make
of these men? Not at all. That was the very quality that
made them what they were in the beginning. They were
willing to embrace further light when the opportunity
came. And if they had done it the first time and it
worked, they would do it again. That simple fact is what
made them Martin Luther and John Calvin.
Where does
John Robinson's challenge find most of current
Christianity? Answer: On the outside looking in. In most
cases, the test of being a Baptist or an Episcopalian, a
Presbyterian or a Lutheran, etc., is "What did our
ancestors believe?" That, my friend, is the very mind-set
which the Reformers fought to escape--not to preserve. Had
that narrow principle been their guide there would have
been no Reformation and the Bible would still be a closed,
unknown book. Thank God that this "misery much to be
lamented", that is, the refusal of Christians to accept
what God has revealed to other believers, is now changing.
Baptists and Brethren are receiving "more truth" about the
baptism and gifts of the Holy Spirit. So are Methodists
and Mennonites. Presbyterians and Pentecostals are
learning from each other.
John
Robinson would be pleased. If fact, I imagine that Brother
John is now shouting on the streets of Glory that we are
finally beginning to see the Light! God does have "more
truth" breaking forth out of His holy Word. The current
emphasis about the work of the Holy Spirit is part of it.
If it is God's truth, accept it. Don't ask if it is
Pentecostal or Catholic, Baptist or Presbyterian, instead,
fall before the Throne, thank God for it, and with all
your heart believe it. You will be glad you did. To King
James, the Puritans, Pilgrims, and others who are
currently choosing truth over tradition we say Thank You!
*John Fletcher's History of Independency, Volume 3, page
69.
Charles
Carrin,
Source: Charles Carrin Ministries
http://www.charlescarrinministries.com
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