Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchNovember 24, 2010November 24, 2010

Pastor/TeacherPastor/TeacherJim RickardJim Rickard

Persecution and Persecution and ThanksgivingThanksgiving

The Separatist PersecutionThe Separatist Persecutionin England:in England:

“But these things (persecutions) did “But these things (persecutions) did not dismay them, though they did not dismay them, though they did sometimes trouble them, for their sometimes trouble them, for their

desires were set on the ways of God, desires were set on the ways of God, and to enjoy His ordinances; but they and to enjoy His ordinances; but they rested on His providence, and knew rested on His providence, and knew

whom they had believed.”whom they had believed.”

A. Persecutions:A. Persecutions:In the mid 1500’s there were In the mid 1500’s there were terrible persecutions by the terrible persecutions by the

Catholic Queen (Bloody) Mary of Catholic Queen (Bloody) Mary of England. Many were tortured and England. Many were tortured and burned at the stake due to refusal burned at the stake due to refusal to abide by the State run church.to abide by the State run church.

B. Those in Opposition: B. Those in Opposition:

Two major groups of Two major groups of believers disagreed with the believers disagreed with the beliefs and practices of the beliefs and practices of the

Church of England. Church of England.

1. One group wanted to stay 1. One group wanted to stay in the church, but hoped to in the church, but hoped to

change its forms of worship: change its forms of worship: This group was called This group was called “Puritan” because they “Puritan” because they wanted to “purify” the wanted to “purify” the

church.church.

2. The other group did not 2. The other group did not believe the state church could believe the state church could be changed: This group was be changed: This group was called “Separatist” because called “Separatist” because

they wanted to separate they wanted to separate completely from the completely from the Church of England Church of England

The Separatist are the group The Separatist are the group that came to America first, that came to America first,

known as the pilgrims.known as the pilgrims.

C. The Separatist:C. The Separatist:

At the beginning of the At the beginning of the 1600s, a group of Separatists 1600s, a group of Separatists began to gather at Scrooby began to gather at Scrooby

in the northeastern county of in the northeastern county of Nottingham.Nottingham.

They wanted to worship in a They wanted to worship in a very simple manner without very simple manner without all of the ritual and symbols all of the ritual and symbols

which were used in the which were used in the Anglican Church.Anglican Church.

Differing religious views Differing religious views were not be allowed under were not be allowed under

the new king. Their the new king. Their congregation was against the congregation was against the law and as a result they were law and as a result they were persecuted by imprisonment persecuted by imprisonment

and torture.and torture.

D. Decision to Leave D. Decision to Leave England:England:

In 1606, the Scrooby In 1606, the Scrooby congregation led by William congregation led by William

Brewster and a young William Brewster and a young William Bradford, joined 125 Bradford, joined 125

uncompromising separatists uncompromising separatists who tried to flee to Holland in who tried to flee to Holland in search of religious freedom.search of religious freedom.

Being denied by King James Being denied by King James to start their own church, being to start their own church, being

ridiculed by their neighbors, ridiculed by their neighbors, harassed by the courts, and harassed by the courts, and

forbidden to share the truths of forbidden to share the truths of salvation, they saw only one salvation, they saw only one option: to flee to Holland. option: to flee to Holland.

Their request for passport to Their request for passport to Holland was also denied, Holland was also denied, leaving them prisoners in leaving them prisoners in

their own land.their own land.

E. First Attempt to Leave for E. First Attempt to Leave for Holland 1607:Holland 1607:

They secretly boarded a ship They secretly boarded a ship paying “the large paying “the large

expenditure,” but they had expenditure,” but they had been betrayed. “King James’ been betrayed. “King James’ local sheriff with his bailiffs local sheriff with his bailiffs

appeared on the scene to appeared on the scene to arrest them.”arrest them.”

F. Second Attempt to Leave F. Second Attempt to Leave for Holland Spring of 1608:for Holland Spring of 1608:

The men had loaded the ship The men had loaded the ship when the King’s officers when the King’s officers

arrived. The ship’s captain arrived. The ship’s captain weighed anchor leaving the weighed anchor leaving the woman and children behind woman and children behind

to be arrested.to be arrested.

G. Desperate at Sea:G. Desperate at Sea:

While at sea the men had to While at sea the men had to endure a terrifying storm that endure a terrifying storm that

lasted up to seven days. lasted up to seven days. Desperate, the Pilgrims turned Desperate, the Pilgrims turned to God who delivered them.to God who delivered them.

They endured many other They endured many other troubles at land and sea. Yet, troubles at land and sea. Yet, their cause became famous their cause became famous

and caused many to look into and caused many to look into the same.the same.

Their godly carriage and Their godly carriage and Christian behavior was such Christian behavior was such as left a deep impression in as left a deep impression in

the minds of many.the minds of many.

H. Holland 1608-1620:H. Holland 1608-1620:

Bradford stated, “Yet I may Bradford stated, “Yet I may not omit the fruit that came not omit the fruit that came

hereby, for by these so hereby, for by these so public troubles, in so many public troubles, in so many

eminent places.” eminent places.”

I. Reasons for Leaving I. Reasons for Leaving Holland:Holland:

The main reason was concern The main reason was concern for the children who were for the children who were

“drawn away [from Christ] by “drawn away [from Christ] by evil examples into extravagant evil examples into extravagant

and dangerous courses.”and dangerous courses.”

A second reason was that A second reason was that Bradford and the Separatists Bradford and the Separatists

wanted to spread the wanted to spread the Christian gospel in some Christian gospel in some distant part of the world. distant part of the world.

Heeding Prov 22:3a, Heeding Prov 22:3a, “The prudent sees the evil “The prudent sees the evil

and hides himself”, and hides himself”, they left Holland.they left Holland.

J. Journey to America:J. Journey to America:

On July 22 1620, the On July 22 1620, the Scrooby Pilgrims left Scrooby Pilgrims left

Holland for Southampton, Holland for Southampton, England. England.

They joined another group of They joined another group of English separatists and on English separatists and on

Aug. 5, 1620, the Mayflower Aug. 5, 1620, the Mayflower (80 passengers) and the (80 passengers) and the

Speedwell (40) set sail for Speedwell (40) set sail for Virginia, but the Speedwell Virginia, but the Speedwell was declared unseaworthy.was declared unseaworthy.

On Sept. 6, 1620, the On Sept. 6, 1620, the Mayflower set sail with 102 Mayflower set sail with 102

passengers and 30 crew. They passengers and 30 crew. They endured cramped conditions, endured cramped conditions, rough weather, sickness and rough weather, sickness and

shortage of food.shortage of food.

K. Arrival in the New World:K. Arrival in the New World:

On Nov. 11, 1620, after 66 On Nov. 11, 1620, after 66 days at sea, they land at the days at sea, they land at the

tip of Cape Cod.tip of Cape Cod.

Bradford noted, “They fell Bradford noted, “They fell upon their knees and blessed upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven who had the God of heaven who had brought them over this vast brought them over this vast

and furious ocean.”and furious ocean.”

After enduring the hardships After enduring the hardships of the cruelest of winters, of the cruelest of winters,

almost half of them perished.almost half of them perished.

Bradford gave thanks to God Bradford gave thanks to God for sending them Squanto.for sending them Squanto.

“Thank you Lord for sending Squanto “Thank you Lord for sending Squanto to us. We know your hand has been to us. We know your hand has been upon him throughout all of his trials, upon him throughout all of his trials, and that You have prepared him to be and that You have prepared him to be our guide and friend in a time of great our guide and friend in a time of great need. Squanto is your living answer to need. Squanto is your living answer to

our tears and prayers.”our tears and prayers.”

CommunionCommunion

Grace OfferingGrace Offering

Grace Fellowship ChurchWednesday, November 24, 2010

Tape # 10-130

Thanksgiving and PersecutionThe Pilgrim Journey John 15:18-21; Prov 22:3    

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2010