FIND US FAITHFUL

FIND US FAITHFUL

We’re pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road.

And those who’ve gone before us line the way –

Their lives a stirring testament to God’s sustaining grace.

Let us run the race not only for the price,

But as those who’ve gone before us, let us

Leave to those behind us, the heritage of

Faithfulness passed on thru godly lives.

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone,

And our children sift thru all we’ve left behind,

May the clues that they uncover, and the mem’ries

They uncover, become the light that leads them,

To the road we each must find.

O, may all who come behind us find us faithful,

May the fire of our devotion light their way.

May the footprints that we leave lead them to

Believe, and the lives we live inspire them to obey,

O, may all who come behind us find us faithful.

Joe Duvall

Squanto – friend to the Pilgrims

American Minute with Bill Federer

William Bradford called him “a special instrument sent of God.”

Of 102 Pilgrims that landed in Massachusetts in November of 1620, only half survived till spring.

Then appeared Squanto.

In March of 1621, as recorded in Governor Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation, Squanto joined the Pilgrims:

“About the 16th of March, a certain Indian came boldly amongst them and spoke to them in broken English…

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…

Massasoyt, who about four or five days after, came with the chief of his friends and other attendants, and with Squanto.

With him, after friendly entertainment and some gifts, they made a peace which has now continued for twenty-four years…”

William Bradford continued:

“Squanto stayed with them and was their interpreter and was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation.

He showed them how to plant corn, where to take fish and other commodities, and guided them to unknown places, and never left them till he died.”

Governor Bradford wrote of Squanto:

“He was a native of these parts, and had been one of the few survivors of the plague hereabouts.

He was carried away with others by one Hunt, a captain of a ship, who intended to sell them for slaves in Spain…”

The story is that Squanto was purchased by some monks in the Spanish slave trading city of Malaga.

They introduced him to the Gospel and gave him his freedom.

From their he traveled to England.

During this time, a disease, possibly smallpox, wiped out Squanto’s tribe back in Massachusets.

Governor William Bradford wrote of Squanto:

“…but he got away for England, and was received by a merchant in London, and employed in Newfoundland and other parts, and lastly brought into these parts by a Captain Dermer, a gentleman employed by Sir Ferdinand Gorges…”

Pilgrim Governor William Bradford continued:

“Captain Dermer had been here the same year that the people of the Mayflower arrived, as appears in an account written by him, and given to me by a friend, bearing date, June 30th, 1620…

‘I will first begin,’ says he, ‘with the place from which Squanto (or Tisquantem) was taken away, which in Captain Smith’s map is called ‘Plymouth’; and I would that Plymouth (England) had the same commodities.

I could wish that the first plantation might be situated here, if there came to the number of fifty persons or upward; otherwise at Charlton, because there the savages are less to be feared…

The Pokanokets, who live to the west of Plymouth, bear an inveterate hatred to the English…

For this reason Squanto cannot deny but they would have killed me when I was at Namasket, had he not interceded hard for me.’”

Governor William Bradford described the dangerous situation by telling the unfortunate fate of a French ship in 1617:

“About three years before, a French ship was wrecked at Cape Cod, but the men got ashore and saved their lives and a large part of their provisions.

When the Indians heard of it, they surrounded them and never left watching and dogging them till they got the advantage and killed them, all but three or four, whom they kept, and sent from one Sachem to another, making sport with them and using them worse than slaves.”

Governor William Bradford wrote of Squanto:

“The settlers, as many as were able, then began to plant their corn, in which service Squanto stood them in good stead, showing them how to plant it and cultivate it.

He also told them that unless they got fish to manure this exhausted old soil, it would come to nothing, and he showed them that in the middle of April plenty of fish would come up the brook by which they had begun to build, and taught them how to catch it, and where to get other necessary provisions; all of which they found true by experience…”

Bradford added:

“Another Indian, called Hobbamok came to live with them, a fine strong man, of some account amongst the Indians for his valor and qualities. He remained very faithful to the English till he died.

He and Squanto having gone upon business among the Indians, a Sachem called Corbitant…began to quarrel with them, and threatened to stab Hobbamok; but he being a strong man, cleared himself of him, and came running away, all sweating, and told the Governor what had befallen him, and that he feared they had killed Squanto…

So it was resolved to send the Captain and fourteen men, well armed…The Captain, giving orders to let none escape, entered to search for him.

But Corbitant had gone away that day; so they missed him, but learned that Squanto was alive, and that Corbitant had only threatened to kill him, and made as if to stab him, but did not…”

Bradford wrote further:

“After this, on the 18th of September, they sent out their shallop with ten men and Squanto as guide and interpreter to the Massachusetts, to explore the bay and trade with the natives, which they accomplished, and were kindly received…

Nor was there a man among them who had ever seen a beaver skin till they came out, and were instructed by Squanto.”

American Minute-Notable Events of American Significance Remembered on the Date They Occurred

Governor William Bradford wrote the account of Squanto’s death in LATE SEPTEMBER 1622:

“Captain Standish was appointed to go with them, and Squanto as a guide and interpreter, about the LATTER END OF SEPTEMBER; but the winds drove them in; and putting out again, Captain Standish fell ill with fever, so the Governor (Bradford) went himself.

But they could not get round the shoals of Cape Cod, for flats and breakers, and Squanto could not direct them better.

The Captain of the boat dare not venture any further, so they put into Manamoick Bay, and got what they could there.

Here Squanto fell ill of Indian fever, bleeding much at the nose,-which the Indians take for a symptom of death,-and within a few days he died.

He begged the Governor to pray for him, that he might go to the Englishmen’s God in Heaven, and bequeathed several of his things to some of his English friends, as remembrances.

His death was a great loss.”

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The Moral Liberal contributing editor, William J. Federer, is the bestselling author of “Backfired: A Nation Born for Religious Tolerance no Longer Tolerates Religion,” and numerous other books. A frequent radio and television guest, his daily American Minute is broadcast nationally via radio, television, and Internet. Check out all of Bill’s books here.

83 – March – 24 – THIS DAY IN BAPTIST HISTORY PAST

Roger Williams
First experiment in liberty
1638 – Roger Williams, as the forerunner of religious liberty in America, procured a deed for Aquidnet Island, as the agent for Dr. John Clarke and his company from the Narraganset sachems.  On the same day Williams also was able to secure a deed for Providence for himself.  Dr. Clarke and a company of nineteen had become disenchanted with both the Puritans and Pilgrims in the winter of 1637 and went first to New Hampshire and then turned south toward Long Island and Delaware.  Stopping at Providence, they stayed with Williams who persuaded them to go to Aquidnet where Dr. Clarke founded what many believe to be the First Baptist church in America.  Prior to this, Williams among a few others of the Puritans had a sincere desire to take the gospel to the Indians.  He went out among the Massoits, made friends, learned their language, and taught them the gospel of Christ.  The Indians were most happy that a white man met on their level.  Williams even drafted a treaty of friendship between them which paved the way for future colonies.  Later, when the Boston authorities planned to seize Williams and put him on a ship to send him back to London because of the issue of infant baptism, he, only in his coat and what food he could carry, in a blinding snow storm, left his wife and baby, and walked to the Narragansett Indians.  Greeting him as a friend, they insisted that he remain with them in hiding.  While there he was able to mediate a conflict that developed between two chieftains.  War was averted, and as a reward Chief Massasoit gave him a tract of land.  Also during exile Williams decided to establish his own independent colony which would be open to all who desired to enjoy religious freedom.  This eventually became the State of Rhode Island.
Dr. Greg J. Dixon, from: This Day in Baptist History Vol. I: Cummins/Thompson /, pp. 119.

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211 – July 30 – This Day in Baptist History Past

 

Some who want liberty only want it for themselves

 

Thomas Patient migrated to America as a Congregationalist preacher after graduating from either Oxford or Cambridge University. Meeting Baptists he re-examined the Scriptures concerning Baptism and concluded that “infant baptism” had no foundation in Scripture.” However, because of severe persecution from his church he was forced to return to Great Britain. The Pilgrims had come to find religious liberty but there was not liberty for others. He  served as co-pastor with William Kiffin in London in 1640 and was one of the  Baptist leaders who signed the Particular Baptist Confession of Faith by seven Baptist churches in London in 1644. This was during the Commonwealth under Cromwell and the English Parliament voted to appoint six ministers to preach in Dublin, Ireland, and Patient accepted one of those positions. He spoke to large audiences and he acted as chaplain for Colonel John Jones, who was actually the Gov. of Dublin and Patient was invited to preach each Lord’s Day in the Council of Dublin and thus the aristocracy of the Anglo-Irish society heard the living gospel. Patient baptized a large group in Dublin and it is believed that he founded the First Baptist Church in Ireland following the Reformation in Ireland. He apparently assisted in establishing the Baptist church at Cloughkeating. All the congregation were tried for their lives, but in God’s providence the foreman died, and they were all acquitted. Because Patient was willing to accept government remuneration for preaching, it is evident that the Baptists of London distanced themselves from him. But to him is the honor of building the first Baptist meetinghouse in Ireland.  The man of God fell asleep in Jesus on July 30, 1666 having paid the price for his convictions on Baptism.

 

Dr. Greg J. Dixon: adapted From: This Day in Baptist History Vol. I: Cummins/Thompson, pp. 312-13.