The Pilgrims and the Defense of Liberty

George Henry Boughton’s (1833-1905) painting Pilgrims Going to Church in 1867 was originally called The Early Puritans of New England Going to Church.  Boughton was known as the “painter of New England Puritanism” and here portrayed the Pilgrim Church of men, women and children walking to the meetinghouse on guard in defense of their liberty. …

Why They Came: Pilgrim Character

What kind of character did the Pilgrim Church embrace?  It is apparent that Pastor Robinson and William Brewster did embrace and teach good character.  In addition it is clear that they demonstrated it as an example as well. When the Pilgrim Church emigrated from Amsterdam to Leyden, they had to ask permission from the civil…

The Pilgrim Church Service

The Pilgrim or Separatist church began in the home but focused on the exaltation and presence of Christ.  The revival of “hearth and home” in England was nurtured by families who had access to own the Geneva translation of the Bible in their own tongue.  Fathers would read from the Scriptures in the morning and…

Why They Came: Church by Coercion

What makes the Pilgrim movement so unique is that it stands in such contrast to the coercion practiced by the State Church of England?  The State (in this case King James) was the head of the Church and thus there was little religious liberty.  Richard Clyfton had such pressure when pastoring in Babworth, England where…

Why They Came: Prayer and Revival

Queen Mary (“bloody Mary”) killed many who believed in Christ in the 1550’s.  Many leaders prayed.  They translated the Bible into the language of the people.  The Geneva edition came in 1560.  The result of this?  The Great Reformation… and in its wake, the Pilgrim Church!  The Pilgrims arrived at the peak of a revival…

William Brewster and the Pilgrim Press

Most people think of the Pilgrims as stuffy, mournful souls who dressed in black and never smiled.  The life of William Brewster quickly dispells these myths, for he was a bold leader of the Pilgrim Church.  Born in 1566 or 1567 in Scrooby, England, he entered Cambridge University and became an assistant to William Davison,…

Pastor John Robinson and the Synod of Dort

During the time the Pilgrims were staying in Leyden a famous synod was called by the Dutch Reformed Church to settle a doctrinal dispute initiated by Jacob Arminius.  Though Jacob had already died, his disciples presented their objections to the teachings of John Calvin.  This challenge was called the Remonstrance of 1610.  Those defending the…