In This Farewell Hour

It was seventeenth century A.D. in Holland. The ship SPEEDWAY was ready for voyage across the sea, bound for the MAYFLOWER in America where a group of pilgrims has decided to start a colony. The boarding announcement was made. For the pilgrims it was exciting and foreboding.

The Atlantic was cold and unfamiliar to them. Their loved ones will e left behind. “It was a time to rejoice ;a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get and a time to lose; a time to keep and a time to cast away; a time to rend and a time to sew; a time to keep silence and a time to speak.” In this farewell hour, Pastor John Robinson, their beloved pastor recognized it was a time speak, and he said:
 
 “Brethren , we are soon to part asunder, and only the Lord knows whether I will live to see your faces again – I charge you before God to follow me no further than I have followed Christ. If God should reveal anything to you by any other instrument of His, be as ready to receive it as you have been ready to receive any truth from my ministry – for I am very confident the Lord has more truth and light yet to break forth from His Holy word..
 
 For my part , I cannot tell you how sad I am bout the reformed churches. They will go no further than the instrument of their reformation. The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw… And the Calvinists you see, stick fast where they were left by that great man of God. Even though these reformers were burning and shining light in their time, yet they did not understand all the counsel of God. But if they were living today, they would be as willing to accept further light as the light which they first received.” This was the burning spirit of reformation and the true spirit of its pioneers. Like Martin Luther at Wittenberg ; Conrad Grebrel in Zurich ; Roger Williams at Providence; and the Methodist John Wesley in England.
 
They were willing to learn and grow in the new-light as was revealed to them by God. They recognized that “ the part of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Prov.4:18 (KJV). Hence on October 31, 1517 Martin Luther said “the true christen pilgrimage is not to’ Rome, but to the Prophets, the Psalms and the Gospels.
 
“And Christ warned, Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven.” Matt.7:21( KJV). While Solomon in his divine wisdom wrote, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man”. Eccl. 12:13 (KVJ). faith-word