“Lean not unto thine own understanding…” – Proverbs
William Bradford And Plymouth Plantation
Over the last week, I read William Bradford’s Plymouth Plantation and the story of the pilgrims’ arrival in America on the Mayflower.
While the original pilgrims were breaking away from the Church of England in an attempt to find religious freedom — an ironic twist of providential fate happened.
William Bradford wrote a history of the Pilgrims’ holy mission. It was a manuscript called Plymouth Plantation. He wrote it when the original pilgrims came to America.
The Manuscript Went Missing
After Bradford’s death in 1657, the manuscript was passed down through his family and used by historians and clergymen to document the colony’s history. It was last known to be housed in the library of the Old South Church in Boston.
However, during the American Revolutionary War, British troops occupied the church in 1775–1776, and the manuscript disappeared, likely taken by British soldiers or looted during the occupation. It remained missing for about a century over a century.
A Twist Of Fate
So where were they found?
Ironically, his writings were found preserved and tucked away… In the library of a bishop of the Church of England!
The manuscript was rediscovered in 1855 in the library of the Bishop of London at Fulham Palace, England. Preserved for future generations by the very institution that the original pilgrims were fleeing from.
Sometimes the very thing you’re fleeing can be your salvation. I believe this goes back to Christ’s teachings in the fifth chapter of Matthew:
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…”
A Serious Topic For Me
It’s a serious topic for me. I discussed it in a recent interview on a show with Paul Harrell on the Paul Harrell Program.
You can watch it below:
