The Mayflower Pilgrims
A Sermon to Commemorate the 350th Anniversary of the Pilgrim Fathers’ Voyage to America
Scripture
Sermon Description
In this powerful sermon commemorating the 350th anniversary of the Pilgrim Fathers' voyage to America on the Mayflower, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones draws profound lessons from their example for Christians today. He begins by emphasizing the importance of studying church history, particularly this period of transition in the early 17th century which parallels our own age. Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines the historical context of the Separatist movement that led to the Pilgrims' departure, highlighting their desire for a pure church based on Scripture alone. He praises their godly character, doctrinal orthodoxy, and willingness to sacrifice all for their convictions. At the same time, Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes some of their imperfections, such as attempting to establish a theocracy. The heart of his message focuses on the Pilgrims' view of life as a spiritual pilgrimage and their trust in God's providential care, as evidenced by remarkable circumstances surrounding their settlement in Plymouth. Dr. Lloyd-Jones then issues a stirring challenge to his listeners, asking if they hold to the same doctrines and are willing to act on their beliefs as the Pilgrims did. He argues that their example calls modern evangelicals to separate from theological liberalism, sacramentalism, and ecumenical compromise with Rome. Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by exhorting his audience not to honor the Pilgrims hypocritically, but to follow in their path by taking a courageous stand for biblical truth and the purity of the church, even at great personal cost.
Sermon Breakdown
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The speaker expresses his privilege and honor to be present at the commemoration event for the Pilgrim Fathers.
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He introduces Dr. Charles Woodbridge, highlighting his distinguished career and his personal stand for the faith alongside Dr. Gresham Machen.
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The speaker explains the reasons for commemorating the Pilgrim Fathers, emphasizing their character, strength, and conviction as an inspiration.
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He provides historical context, explaining the divisions among the Puritans and the emergence of different groups like the Presbyterians, Brownists, and Congregationalists.
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The central issue was the nature of the Christian church and the character of Christian worship – whether all baptized people were automatically members or only those who professed faith.
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The Pilgrim Fathers established congregational churches, holding to Calvinistic doctrines and requiring members to make a confession of faith and covenant.
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The speaker critiques the Pilgrim Fathers' attempt to form a theocracy and their belief that they could establish a church that would never go astray.
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He highlights John Robinson's statement about being open to further truth from Scripture, clarifying its context regarding church government, not doctrine.
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The ultimate explanation for the Pilgrim Fathers was their knowledge of God, their view of life as a pilgrimage, and their trust in God's providence.
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The speaker emphasizes God's providential care in their journey, citing examples like the pestilence among the Indians and the appearance of Squanto.
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He challenges the audience to react not merely as historians but to examine their own beliefs and willingness to act upon them as the Pilgrim Fathers did.
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The speaker questions whether evangelicals hold the same doctrines, views on church government, and stance towards Rome as the Pilgrim Fathers.
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He calls for separation from liberalism, sacramentalism, and the ecumenical movement, as the Pilgrim Fathers separated over issues of rites, ceremonies, and church government.
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The speaker urges the audience to follow the example of the Pilgrim Fathers, who endured hardships for their principles, rather than remaining complacent.
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He concludes by quoting a hymn, exhorting the audience to follow in the train of the Pilgrim Fathers through perilous toil and pain.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the Pilgrim Fathers: Questions and Answers
Who were the Pilgrim Fathers according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the Pilgrim Fathers were not merely political revolutionaries or rebels, but rather "pious, peaceable Protestants" who were driven by religious convictions. He emphasizes that "they were anxious to go out to form this new land in America, which would be a colony of England, and they swore their allegiance to James I and were very anxious to do so." These were men who believed the Church of England's reformation was incomplete, particularly in matters of church government and practice. They were part of the Puritan movement but specifically belonged to the separatist group that believed in establishing congregational churches consisting only of "gathered saints" rather than all baptized persons.
What was the main reason the Pilgrim Fathers left for America?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones states unequivocally that "there is no question whatsoever but that their main motive in crossing the Atlantic was a religious one." He quotes John Owen, saying these "pious, peaceable Protestants were driven by the severities of church and state to leave their native country and seek a refuge for their lives and liberty with freedom for the worship of God in a wilderness in the ends of the earth." They were seeking religious freedom to worship according to their conscience and to establish churches based on their understanding of biblical principles, not merely seeking political or economic advantages.
What type of churches did the Pilgrim Fathers establish in America?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that "they established congregational churches. They didn't establish new branches of the Church of England. They didn't establish Presbyterian churches. They established congregational churches." These churches required members to make a confession of faith in the reformed doctrine and to "subscribe to a covenant to belong to that particular church." Each church was autonomous, choosing and ordaining its own ministers and admitting or expelling members without any outside body decreeing these decisions. This was "a real departure from Anglicanism, from Episcopacy, and indeed also from Presbyterianism."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones view God's providence in the Pilgrim Fathers' journey?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones sees remarkable divine providence throughout the Pilgrim Fathers' story. He notes several specific examples: they were prevented from landing near the Hudson River where hostile Indians would have killed them; six months before their arrival, "a pestilence had broken out amongst the Indians" killing "19/20th of the Indian population"; they discovered Indian corn that became their salvation; and remarkably, two English-speaking Indians, including Squanto, appeared to help them. About Squanto, he states, "As God allowed Joseph to be taken captive wrongly and to go down into Egypt to prepare the way for the children of Israel in the famine, I believe he did precisely the same thing with Squanto in order to make it possible for the Pilgrim Fathers to settle in that land."
What was the Pilgrim Fathers' view of life according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that "life to these men was a pilgrimage." He explains that "the whole of life in this world to them was nothing but a pilgrimage, and they were journeymen in this world." They lived by the principle that "here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come." He notes that "they were not interested in affluent societies" but rather "they were strangers and pilgrims" whose "citizenship is in heaven." This worldview explained their willingness to leave everything behind: "These men, before they ever decided to go to America, were pilgrims of eternity."
What theological beliefs did the Pilgrim Fathers hold?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the Pilgrim Fathers "held what we would call the reformed faith, the Calvinistic doctrine." He specifically mentions that "John Robinson, the pastor of these people in Leiden, was a great protagonist of the truth of the Canons of Dort" and was "greatly respected and admired by the Dutch theologians." All members had to "make a confession of their faith" and "believe the great cardinal articles of this reformed faith, as it had been taught by Luther and Calvin." They believed in the inerrancy of Scripture and held to the doctrines of the Protestant Reformation.
What criticism does Dr. Lloyd-Jones offer of the Pilgrim Fathers?
While admiring them greatly, Dr. Lloyd-Jones acknowledges that "the Pilgrim Fathers, as I said just now, were not perfect." His main criticism is that "they attempted to form a theocracy" where "only church members were allowed to vote, for instance, in appointing the officers of the state." He also notes they "were not clear on the relationship between the church and state at that point." Additionally, he suggests they were "guilty of imagining that you could so lay down the conditions of church membership and church government...that it would continue like that in perpetuity," which he considers an impossible goal that "history has proved...cannot be done."
What parallel does Dr. Lloyd-Jones draw between the 17th century and modern times?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones sees "a very perfect parallel between what happened in those early days of the 17th century and what is happening today." He states that both are "ages of transition" and that "we are confronted as Christians and as members of the Christian church by precisely the same questions and problems as confronted those men 350 years ago." The central issue remains "the nature of the Christian church and the character of Christian worship." He particularly emphasizes the continuing debate over whether "all in every parish who have been baptized [are] Christians and members of the Christian church automatically" or whether the church consists "only of gathered saints."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones apply the Pilgrim Fathers' example to modern evangelicals?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges modern evangelicals with pointed questions: "If they were prepared to endure all that for those issues, if they were prepared to separate on those issues, are we not prepared to separate from those who are liberals in their doctrine, who deny the Christian faith and who preach actively against it?" He criticizes those who say "I don't want trouble" or "I've always been brought up in this chapel." He argues that if the Pilgrim Fathers separated over matters of "rites and ceremonies and church government" while agreeing on theology, "how much more so should we act on this issue of liberalism, a denial of the very elements of the Christian faith."
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about John Robinson's famous statement about "more truth"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones addresses the frequently misused quote where Robinson said, "I am verily persuaded, I am very confident, the Lord hath more truth yet to break forth out of his holy word." He strongly refutes the liberal interpretation, stating that liberals use this to justify departing from historic doctrines. However, Lloyd-Jones clarifies that "it is abundantly clear from the context that John Robinson at this point was talking about one thing only, and that was church government," not fundamental theological truths. Robinson was acknowledging that reformers like Luther and Calvin couldn't address every issue in their lifetimes, particularly matters of church polity, not suggesting that core doctrines should evolve with the times.
Other Sermons
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.