A Momentous Document

A Momentous Document

For the first time in recorded history, free men covenanted together to form a civil government with the authority to enact laws that the people promised to obey.

THE DATE was November 11, 1620, and the place was the Mayflower, anchored off the coast of Cape Cod. One hundred and two passengers including thirty-four children had spent seven weeks crossing the ocean from England. Of the passengers, sixteen men, eleven women, and fourteen children were Pilgrims, having been associated with the Separatist church in Scrooby, England. Refusing to conform to the Church of England, they had first sought religious asylum in Leyden, Holland. After twelve years there, they became concerned that their children would no longer identify themselves as English. Learning of the possibility of settling in America, they made arrangements with the Virginia Company to settle just south of the Hudson River within the northernmost boundary of the Virginia Charter. However, fierce winds blew them off course to the north—to the shores of Cape Cod.

They decided to settle on Cape Cod but then realized that since they would not be under the jurisdiction of the Virginia Company, they would be on their own because they had no agreement with the New England Company. On board the ship some of the non-Pilgrim bonded servants and those hired by contract greeted this newly revised plan as an opportunity for rebellion. The Pilgrim leadership saw that they must act quickly to prevent a mutiny.

The Pilgrim men then wrote up a compact, now known as the Mayflower Compact, and presented it to those on board. Forty-one of the sixty-five men signed it. Thirteen of those who didn’t sign were sons of signers, covered by their fathers’ commitments. The remaining men, nine servants and two hired sailors, were probably too sick to sign. The compact read:

In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, Ireland, king, Defender of the Faith, etc.

Having undertaken, for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian Faith and honor of our King and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid, and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony. Unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign King James of England . . . Anno Domini 1620.

Before leaving the Netherlands, the Pilgrims had knelt on the dock to ask God’s blessing on their voyage, and now William Bradford recorded, “Being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven.”

During their first winter, forty-seven people died including thirteen of the eighteen women. Only three families were left intact. These humble Christian men and women were to be the seeds of what would become the United States of America.

Reflection

In spite of all the hardships the Pilgrims experienced, their little government lasted and became a model for the entire nation. Acknowledging that their purpose was to glorify God, they covenanted together to enact laws “for the general good of the colony” and promised to abide by them. The Pilgrims had a clear vision and staked their very lives on following it. It is equally important for us to have a clear vision of God’s purposes for ourselves and our families. What is your vision?

As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

Joshua 24:15