The Real Thanksgiving Story (circa 1623 AD)
What was the real account of the only official day that Governor Bradford proclaimed as Thanksgiving? What was the miracle that occurred that marked it for that purpose? You may be surprised. Read the two separate accounts from Bradford and Winslow concerning this amazing event in history.
THE MIRACLE OF 1623
THE ACCOUNT OF THE ONLY OFFICIAL DAY THAT BRADFORD PROCLAIMED AS THANKSGIVING
Honoring God by Giving Thanks for the Thanksgiving Story
Romans 1:21
Romans 1:21 is our main text. As you are turning there, I want to share with you that I often think about the recognition that God is One God, and as One God, He has revealed to us that He is three persons in One God. Do you ever just meditate on how hard it is to understand that? Thinking in terms of the triune Godhead is always a mind bender for me. It's been a mind bender for most Christians in history. If you go too far, you run headlong into something called modalism. Modalism is where it looks, to the natural mind, like Jesus is not really a distinct person of the three eternal coexistent persons of the One Godhead. And so because of what Jesus appeared to be, some forms of modalism think Jesus is really only some kind of an extension of God or something like that. Other forms of modalism describe the Father, or Son, or the Holy Sprit, as the way the One person displays Himself singularly. In other words, when God displays Himself as the Father, they say that there is no Son, or Holy Spirit. When God displays Himself as the Son, then there is no Father or Holy Spirit, and finally, when God displays Himself as the Holy Spirit, there is no Father or Son. Modalists will say that the Son is really the Father, and so they will say that Jesus never really gave thanks to the Father like the Scriptures state that Jesus did. The Scriptural revelations of the individual personhood of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit don't make sense to the modalist--you know--it's a mind bender, like most spiritual truths are mind benders. But, their bent minds want to try and straighten out what is already straight from God's realm. And so what happens is that they want a human way of looking at God that sounds right to their minds. But, modalism is a heresy in that it does not describe the God of the Bible. But, knowing this, there are certain aspects about the triune Godhead that are amazing revelations. One is that Jesus, the eternal Son, while in His pre-cross ministry, gave thanks to the Father. We read where Jesus gave thanks for food in respect to the Passover meal,
"And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, ... And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, ..." Luke 22:17 & 19
When Jesus miraculously turned a few loaves of bread, and a few fish into piles of bread and fish, we read,
"Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted." John 6:11
It is amazing that Jesus, in the work of His own miracle, and in the proclamation of the covenant in His blood, gave thanks to God for food. Like I said, the thoughts are amazing. God, manifested in the flesh, is thanking God for food. What is just as amazing is that there are people that know God and yet do not give thanks. We find it in our verse for the morning in Romans 1:21. Let's read it together. Paul says,
"21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened." Romans 1:21
Not giving thanks to God is to not honor Him. Not giving thanks to God is the height of folly, and we don't want to be guilty of this foolishness. This is the Thanksgiving holiday season in our country, and so, as has been our practice here at Bridgeway since the beginning, I want to honor God, and I want to build us up with a beautiful story of Thanksgiving. It is the story of the first years of the Separatist Pilgrims and their experiences in settling America. The Separatist had plenty to give thanks to God for. They knew God, and they honored Him as God; especially in giving thanks to Him for the great things He has done. Sometimes we can get all caught up in the tediousness of life, and so what happens is that we are not seeing the big picture. All the things that seem like distractions will keep us from honoring, and giving thanks to the One who deserves it; But nothing should be a distraction from honoring God by giving thanks to Him, and yet, distractions come. Sometimes people are distracted by the fact that everything seems to be going great in their lives, and because all is well, they forget about God, and the way their forgetfulness is manifested is that they quit honoring Him by giving thanks to Him. On the other hand, people get distracted when things go wrong, and because things go wrong, they don't feel much like honoring God by giving thanks to Him. Even in the holiday season which is supposed to be a time for honoring Our Father, and giving thanks, many, Christians are so wrapped up in the season that they are not wrapped up in the honor, the thanks, or the God that the season is supposed to be all about. Lest we forget, we need to be urging one another to be thankful, and to give glory, honor, and praise to God for all that He has done. The actual Separatist Pilgrim's story should encourage us to do that. It should encourage all of us beyond thoughts of family get togethers, and turkey and dressing, and all kinds of deserts, and all these various things. Of course, they're all things to be thankful for, but they are not the focus. God is the focus. God is the focus of the story of the Separatist Pilgrims--particularly the miracle of 1623. Most of us here have heard of the miracle of 1623, but a lot of folks have never heard of it, and most people in our nation, who focus on the holiday (meaning holy-day) instead of the Holy God who is over the day, have no idea that a verifiable miracle occurred in 1623 that was responsible for setting aside the first official day of thanksgiving that the Governor of the Pilgrims decreed as we find in his diary, and we find in the Journal of fellow colonist, Edward Winslow. I am going to share that story this morning, in this sermon titled,
Honoring God by Giving Thanks for the Thanksgiving Story
[prayer]
Looking back at the only surviving history accounts left for us in William Bradford's diary, Winslow's journal, and Mourt's Relation, we get a good picture of the Pilgrims and the first official thanksgiving from the pilgrims themselves. Once upon a time, the history goes, there were Christians who lived in 16th and 17th century England who were called Separatists. They were protestant Christians. A lot of people think they were Puritans, but they were not Puritans. They were called Separatists because they refused to remain with the state mandated Church of England, and they refused to align themselves with the Puritans. Puritans were people who wanted to reform the church of England, but Puritan's did not want to separate from it directly. Consequently, the Separatists had their own Biblical assemblies that were governed by Elders who sought to focus upon the word of God. Winslow referred to himself and the rest of the Separatist Pilgrims as a distinct church group. He said,
"... all thankfulness to our God, which dealt so graciously with us, whose name for these and all other his mercies towards his Church ..." (1)
The Separatist churches were persecuted by the English authorities. They were persecuted by members of the Church of England. Unfortunately, many Separatists were imprisoned and publicly executed. This is one of the bizarre aspects of the history of the church in general, where people who claimed to be Christians, murdered other Christians simply because they separated from what people considered the official church. Even the highly venerated Puritans that people are so fascinated with in our day, were also known to have persecuted the Separatists. It is a tragic fact that according to the historic record Puritans persecuted the Separatists, and even took part in their executions. While William Bradford was living in England, he was warned not to convert to Separatism. Bradford reflected the unwavering heart of a Separatist when he said;
"... I am not only willing to part with everything that is dear to me in this world for this Cause but I am thankful that God hath given me heart so to do; and will accept me so to suffer for Him." (2)
We notice that Bradford was thankful to God. But we also notice that Bradford thanked God for things that most of us contemporary Christians in our culture are not typically thanking God for. The Separatists were losing homes, and they were losing their loved ones. They were being hung, or burned at the stake. They had the constant fear of imprisonment, or being outcast from society, neighbors, and family, as heretics. Because of all the persecution, some Separatists decided to sneak out of England. They decided to go to Holland in 1609 because of the freedom to practice their Christianity that existed there. Eventually, they considered the liberal dutch society to be bad for their community, so they decided to leave Holland for America. Though they didn't like Holland, they had a bigger motivation. Bradford wrote in his diary that the bigger motivation was;
"... a great hope and inward zeal ... of laying some good foundation, or at least to make some way thereunto, for the propagating and advancing the gospel of the kingdom of Christ ..." (3)
The Separatists had evangelism of the nations in their hearts as their hope and zeal. To get out of the Old World, for the New, the Separatist church group was able to arrange for a voyage to be financed by English investors in exchange for 7 years of labor. Trying to leave England was difficult, and consequently the difficulty led to a very costly decision. Evidently, the ships that the pilgrims were on, ran into problems in trying to set sail. They were forced to make two separate attempts to get out to sea. The big problem came when the second ship, which was packed full of needed supplies, kept taking in water. This is when the costly decision was made. They decided to leave the second cargo ship behind with about 20 people. The remaining group took the other ship which was called the Mayflower. There were two reasons why this turned out to be a fateful decision: 1) was because they were going to desperately need the provisions on the other cargo ship; 2) was that they were going to arrive in America just as a very harsh winter was to begin. The difficulty of being without the extra supplies would turn out to be magnified by the severe weather. Nevertheless, with winter approaching, on September 6, 1620 the Pilgrims set sail for America. All total, there were 44 Separatists Pilgrims on the ship. They called themselves the "Saints" (which means, the set apart ones in Christ). They also referred to themselves as the "congregation." Along with the Separatists, there were 66 other people on the boat, which included the crew. The Separatists called the others, oddly enough, the "Strangers." The voyage was harsh; people got sick, and one boy even died. The only other person who died on the voyage, was a hostile man who kept threatening to molest, and murder many of the Separatists. So, when he died, the Pilgrims interpreted his death as God's providential hand of deliverance. Even the sea salted crew of the ship were amazed; believing that God had repaid the man for his wickedness. (4)
Finally, on November 10th, 1620, they sighted land and ventured onto the shores of America. At this time, the "Mayflower Compact" was written. Originally, its creation was meant to settle disunity between the Separatists, and the "strangers" who had boarded in London. The two groups did not get along very well on the voyage, and it seemed that strife would continue in the developing colony if there was no charter. So a compact was written as a type of constitution. It starts out with 5 glorious, and foundational words;
"In the name of God ..."
What an amazing proclamation! But there is more to the beginning of the Mayflower compact. It states,
"In the name of God ... Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith. ..."
These are the words of the mission statement of our nation's first constitutional charter, and in unequivocal terms, they make the mission crystal clear. But, modern revisionists would like all of us to forget the mission statement within this foundational document of our nation; "In the name of God ... Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith." Actually, this is a great mission statement for any Christian anywhere, including us.
It was at this time, when the compact was written, that the group began calling themselves the "Pilgrims." The Pilgrims decided to settle in an area that Captain John Smith named "Plymouth," in 1614. Once on the wooded shore, they began exploring the wilderness. On two separate expeditions, corn was found buried in mounds. Some of it was gathered and stored away to be used in the Spring. The pilgrims considered finding the seed to be God's providence because Winter was coming quickly and the Pilgrims had no seed to plant the next Spring. We remember that they left the other ship behind with all those needed provisions. So, when the pilgrims found the seed, they were thankful to God, and yet they were also thankful to whoever had buried the seed in the mounds. "Mourt's Relation," reveals the goodwill of the Separatists in repaying the people for the seed that was found. We read,
"And thus we came ... weary ... and delivered in our corn into the store, to be kept for seed, for we knew not how to come by any, and therefore were very glad, purposing, so soon as we could meet with any inhabitants of that place, to make them large satisfaction [due repayment and more]. This was our first discovery ... And sure it was God's good providence that we found this corn, for else we know not how we should have done, ..."
This fact is important because secular revisionists want to make out the original Separatists as a band of selfish imperialists who were bent on exploiting the native Americans, with absolutely no care or conscience concerning what they were doing. But according to real history, such is not the case at all. After the pilgrims gave God the glory for His providential hand in revealing the grain, and then concerning their second discovery; Mourt's relation continues,
"... But so soon as we can meet conveniently with them [the native Americans], we will give them full satisfaction [reimbursement]. Thus much of our second discovery." (5)
The Pilgrims gave glory to God in thanksgiving, and in consistency with true Christian integrity, they were willing to repay for provisions they had discovered in a time of emergency need. Now, the days that follow demonstrate to us, in retrospect, the grave consequences of leaving the other ship behind. Winter came hard, heavy, and fast. The cold, snow, and sleet was extreme. The first severe cold snap hit in but a matter of weeks. This icy cold front greatly inhibited the necessary construction of the pilgrim's settlement. Tragedy soon followed. Weakened by the seven-week crossing, and lack of adequate housing, people started to get really sick--so sick, that they began to die. Now here is the sobering reality of the tragedy--One person would die per day. Over time, two people would die per day. Sometimes three people would die in one day. On top of this disheartening existence, the pilgrims were continuously concerned that the Native Americans would be hostile. So in the midst of the struggle to survive, the few who were healthy enough, would dig graves in the cold dark cover of night to keep any distant observers from seeing how their numbers were rapidly dwindling. Circumstances were beyond bad. At one point, there were only seven colonists who were strong enough to dig the graves, to collect the wood; to make the needed fires; and on top of that, feed and care for the sick who were barely hanging on. They were scared. They were weak. They were dying, and they were alone. To give you an idea of just how devastating that winter was; by springtime they had lost 46 of the original 102 people who came on the Mayflower--that's virtually half the people.
On March 16th, four days before the first day of spring, another providential event occurred. Stunned onlookers witnessed a native American walk out of the woods and right into the middle of the settlement. As everyone watched in amazement, the man astonished the stupefied pilgrims by calling out "Welcome," in perfect English. His name was Samoset, and he was Abnaki. Yes, the Pilgrims, and their settelment, were welcomed to America by native Americans. Apparently Samoset had learned some English from English fishermen who sailed up and down the coast. Samoset later brought another Indian named "Tisquantum." I think most of us know him by the other name he was called, which was "Squanto." Squanto spoke even better English than Samoset. Squanto had learned English in England as a result of being kidnapped and forced to work on Merchant ships for 15 years. Squanto (who was a Patuxet), had returned to America from England 6 months earlier. What Squanto found was that all the rest of the Patuxets had died from a plague. Apparently, Squanto was the last remaining descendant of his people. Providentially, the Pilgrims were living on the exact same location where the Patuxets had once flourished. This is an amazing fact considering that the Patuxets were legendary for their bloody fierceness in battle. If the Patuxets had been there when the Pilgrims arrived, it is highly probable that there would have been an all out war, and more than likely, the Pilgrims would not have survived. But now the fierce Patuxets were gone, except for Squanto.
Squanto's importance to the Pilgrim's survival was enormous. We can safely say that the Pilgrims probably would not have survived without Squanto's help. I think most of us are familiar with the story of how Squanto taught the pilgrims how to get maple syrup; which plants were poisonous, and which ones could be used for medicine. He taught them how to plant corn, using several seeds buried with a fish, and so forth. Because of Squanto's needed help, the harvest that came in the next fall was successful and the Pilgrims found themselves with enough food to store for the following winter. When we think about the facts, it is truly amazing how much the pilgrims had gone through over the previous months. Those who survived had come through harsh, daunting hardship, and suffering. With these things in mind, the Pilgrims gave God the glory for His providential care through Squanto. Bradford wrote of befriending Squanto; and he described Squanto as a;
"special instrument sent of God ..." (6)
By the way, this is not a demeaning description. The Separatists believed that they were special instruments sent of God too.
At about this time, the Pilgrims made contact with the Wampanoag people. The pilgrims were committed to be fair and honest with the Wampanoags. In the first treaty agreement between the Plymouth Pilgrims and the Wampanoags (which lasted 50 years), the Pilgrims agreed that if anything had been taken, it must be returned. Additionally, the Pilgrims would help the Wampanoags defend themselves if they were attacked, and the Wampanoags would likewise, help the Pilgrims. Later, William Bradford, who by this time had become governor of the colony, sent word to his friend, Chief Massasoit (the leader of the Wampanoags), to;
"search out those, from whom we took their corn, that we may restore the same to them in full measure." (7)
At the end of that first harvest, the Pilgrims invited Squanto, Massasoit, and other Indians to join them in a big celebration feast. It is the big feast that most of us learned about in government school. It is the one you usually see in all the paintings, books, and decorations around the Thanksgiving Holiday. It is the celebration feast where Chief Massasoit, and 90 of his men, came to join in with the pilgrims. The celebration lasted three days. William Bradford, in his journal, describes the abundance of the harvest, and food that led to, and supplied the feast:
"They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fit up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health and strength and had all things in good plenty. For as some were thus employed in affairs abroad, others were exercising in fishing, about cod and bass and other fish, of which they took good store, of which every family had their portion. All the summer there was no want; and now began to come in store of fowl, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees). And besides waterfowl there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc. Besides they had about a peck of meal a week to a person, or now since harvest, Indian corn to that proportion. Which made many afterwards write so largely of their plenty here to their friends in England, which were not feigned but true reports. Our corn [ie. wheat] did prove well, and God be praised, we had a good increase of Indian corn, and our barley indifferent good, ..." (8)
Edward Winslow gave the account of the actual feast in what he called this, "special manner of rejoicing together" in a letter dated December 11, 1621:
"Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty." (9)
I think it is important that we notice that Winslow said, "we might after a special manner rejoice together;" adding; "by the goodness of God, we are so far from want ..." These are statements that we Christians know as thanksgiving to our mighty God--glorifying Him for his provision.
The Miracle Of 1623
Most Americans recognize, to some degree, that what I have just related is what many call the Thanksgiving story. But, folks, there is more. What I'm talking about is the miracle of 1623. The miracle was recorded by Governor William Bradford who was there and experienced it. It was recorded by Edward Winslow who was there and experienced it too. Because of this miracle, the first thanksgiving day was ordained by William Bradford for Plymouth Plantation. We do not typically hear about this miracle in the history lessons and on the movies, and all that kind of thing now-a-days. But it happened. It was real, and it was cause for giving glory, honor, and thanksgiving to God and God alone for His spectacular provision. What happened is that even though God had apparently brought provision in that first harvest, the Pilgrims began to run severely short of food in the following months. Part of the problem was that one month after their celebration, the first ship to come in from England dropped off 35 unexpected people right into the pilgrim's laps. The pilgrims referred to these people as "Adventurers." The problem was that the newcomers did not bring any extra clothing. They did not bring any bedding. They did not even bring any tools with them to work with, and help out the colony. The worst thing of all was that the adventurers did not bring any food. Now we understand why they were called "Adventurers."
True to their faith in Christ, the Separatist Pilgrims made the decision to go to half rations in November so that they could share their food with the newcomers. They hoped, and prayed to God, that they would all make it to summer. It was hard. They practically starved that winter; eating small portions, and praying the whole time. Amazingly, not one person was lost to starvation. Spring finally arrived, but the hardship wasn't over. What followed was a severe blistering drought that lasted through the summer. We need to understand the seriousness of this drought. The native American Indians had no recollection of such a drought like this ever happening before. That fact speaks volumes--when a group of local people tell you that they can not recollect a drought as bad as the one they are going through. Essentially, week followed after week, with absolutely no rain at all. What did come was intense heat. The crops had been planted, which was good. The crops had sprouted up in the spring, and they had grown to about midway, which would also seem good. But, now, in the midst of the searing summer, the plants were just sitting there in the blistering heat. They were petrified and browning in the parched dry fields. Further, because of the heat and lack of moisture, most of the crop had died. Now the rest of the crop was dying. Subsistence farmers hear this story and they immediately relate to how drastically severe this emergency was. Sometimes it is difficult for us to wrap our brains around events like these. But, think about the reality of the situation: if you don't produce it then you starve, which in that context, meant, you starve to death. It's that simple. On top of all of this, we must keep in mind that the Pilgrims desperately needed this particular crop. Again, try to wrap your mind around the fact that they were still recuperating from almost being completely wiped out by a plague. They absolutely could not lose this crop, or it was over. They needed this food, but what can anyone do about it? But they needed something else. They needed a miracle. The situation only got more and more desperate. People's hopes began to droop and die just like the wilting crops all around them. People were giving up. Do you know how it is to give up? I do. So, in the midst of uncertainty, Governor Bradford, decided that what needed to be done, is what most of us already know needs to be done when we are in the midst of uncertainty, and we are at the point of giving up. Maybe we are sick. Maybe we are hurting in our job, or we can't make enough money to pay all the emergency bills that keep on coming and coming, or maybe we have lost someone in a tragic death. What happens is that we get hit by the daily grind that grinds us into the ground, and so our own hopes begin to fade. You know that there is not a whole lot that you can physically do, so you pray. Those of us who are humble and honest, know about those times that we feel trapped. There are times, where our life seems like it is a total mess. It seems that there is no place else to go, but we do know where to go, and we do know what to do. We pray because God's word shows us that we should pray. It teaches us to pray. It commands us to pray, and so we do. The pilgrims did the same thing.
Governor Bradford took control. He ordered the colony to set aside a whole day for nothing but fasting and prayer. How is that for blending church and state? They were all to get together corporately, in unity, and converge at what they called the "big House." It is prayer time, and we are all going to do it together, and we aren't going to stop, and we are going to do it all day long. And so that's exactly what they did, and that is exactly when it happened. God provided in a miracle. I love telling the story of Thanksgiving, but I love telling this part of the story, because this is the part that only the church throughout the ages can really fully appreciate. Others can hear the story and God will use our testimonies in His own way to be part of the effectual call of an unbeliever, but for us, this story is a story of a part of us, because it is about part of the church. In other words, if you and I were there, we would have gone up to the big house with everyone else to pray, and the details of what happened with the following miracle would have been our own experience where we would have also given true thanksgiving to our One true God. Listen to Governor Bradford's account of the miracle from his own journal;
"I may not here omit how, notwithstand[ing] all their great pains and industry, and the great hopes of a large crop, the Lord seemed to blast, and take away the same, and to threaten further and more sore famine unto them. By a great drought which continued from the third week in May, till about the middle of July, without any rain and with great heat for the most part, insomuch as the corn began to wither away though it was set with fish, the moisture whereof helped it much. Yet at length it began to languish sore, and some of the drier grounds were parched like withered hay, part whereof was never recovered. Upon which they set apart a solemn day of humiliation, to seek the Lord by humble and fervent prayer, in this great distress. [now here comes the miracle] And He was pleased to give them a gracious and speedy answer, both to their own and the Indians' admiration that lived amongst them. For all the morning, and the greatest part of the day, it was clear weather and very hot, and not a cloud or any sign of rain to be seen; yet toward evening it began to overcast, and shortly after to rain with such sweet and gentle showers as gave them cause of rejoicing and blessing God. It came without either wind or thunder or any violence, and by degrees in that abundance as that the earth was thoroughly wet and soaked and therewith. Which did so apparently revive and quicken the decayed corn and other fruits, as was wonderful to see, and made the Indians astonished to behold. And afterwards the Lord sent them such seasonable showers, with interchange of fair warm weather as, through His blessing, caused a fruitful and liberal harvest, to their no small comfort and rejoicing. For which mercy, in time convenient, they also set apart a day of thanksgiving." (10)
This miraculous answer to prayer was confirmed by Edward Winslow in his journal. Winslow was there. He also experienced the miracle of 1623. Listen to his own amazement as he glorifies God;
"... before this month began to prepare our ground against seed-time. In the midst of April we began to set [the seed], the weather being then seasonable, which much encouraged us, giving us good hopes of after plenty: the setting season is good till the latter end of May. But it pleased God for our further chastisement, to send a great drought, insomuch, as in six weeks after the latter setting there scarce fell any rain, so that the stalk of that was first set began to send forth the ear before it came to half growth, and that which was later, not like to yield any at all, both blade and stalk hanging the head, and changing the color in such manner, as we judged it utterly dead: our Beans also ran not up according to their wonted manner, but stood at a stay, many being parched away, as though they had been scorched before the fire. Now were our hopes overthrown, and we discouraged, our joy being turned into mourning. To add also to this sorrowful estate in which we were, we heard of a supply [ship] that was sent unto us many months since, which having two repulses [been turned away twice] before, was a third time in company of another ship three hundred Leagues at Sea, and now in three months time heard no further of her, only the signs of a wreck were scene on the coast, which could not be judged to be any other then the same [ship]. So that at once God seemed to deprive us of all future hopes. The most courageous were now discouraged, because God which hitherto had been our only Shield and Supporter, now seemed in his anger to arm himself against us; and who can withstand the fierceness of his wrath. These, and the like considerations moved not only every good man privately to enter into examination with his own estate between God and his conscience, and so to humiliation before him: but also more solemnly to humble our selves together before the Lord by fasting and prayer. To that end a day was appointed by public authority, and set apart from all other employments, hoping that the same God which had stirred us up hereunto, would be moved hereby in mercy to look down upon us, and grant the request of our dejected souls, if our continuance there might any way stand with his glory and our good. But oh the mercy of our God! Who was as ready to hear as we to ask: For though in the morning when we assembled together, the heavens were as clear and the drought as like to continue as ever it was: yet (our exercise [in prayer] continuing some eight or nine hours) before our departure the weather was over-cast, the clouds gathered together on all sides, and on the next morning distilled such soft, sweet, and moderate showers of rain, continuing some fourteen days, and mixed with such seasonable weather, as it was hard to say whether our withered Corn or drooping affections were most quickened or revived. Such was the bounty and goodness of our God. Of this the Indians by means of [a particular man named] Hobomok took notice: who being then in the Town, and this exercise in the midst of the week, said, it was but three days since Sunday, and therefore demanded of a boy what was the reason thereof? Which when he [the Indian, Hobomok] knew and saw what effects followed thereupon, he and all of them [the Indians with him] admired the goodness of our God towards us, that wrought so great a change in so short a time, ... So that having these many signs of God's favor and acceptation, we thought it would be great ingratitude, if secretly we should smother up the same, or content our selves with private thanksgiving for that which by private prayer could not be obtained. And therefore another solemn day was set apart and appointed for that end, wherein we returned glory, honor, and praise, with all thankfulness to our God, which dealt so graciously with us, whose name for these and all other his mercies towards his Church and chosen ones, by them be blessed and praised now and evermore, Amen." (11)
What we have just had the privilege of hearing is what we know as a Christian testimony. It is the Christian testimony of a miracle. It is also worship, where we give glory to God in thanksgiving. It is also American history. After 3 months of no rain; intense heat, and dying plants, heaven's door swings open in accord with the prayers and fasting of Gods' children. The harvest that next fall was so abundant that the pilgrims ended up with a surplus of food and seed.
There is one more important detail that I must remind us of before we finish up. It's something that we will rarely hear in our country anymore, particularly in the government schools. It used to be taught, but unfortunately, it isn't typically taught anymore. Actually, in all my years in school, I never once heard this important fact that I am going to share with you, which is another reason why I enjoy telling this story year after year. What I am talking about is that this July miracle that occurred in 1623, is the sole and only event that a day of thanksgiving was ever proclaimed for commemoration by Governor Bradford. He declared;
"For which [God's] mercy, in time convenient, they also set apart a day of thanksgiving."
Winslow said that a,
" ... solemn day was set apart and appointed ... wherein we returned glory, honor, and praise, with all thankfulness to our God, which dealt so graciously with us, whose name for these and all other his mercies towards his Church and chosen ones, by them be blessed and praised now and evermore, Amen."
This, my dear brothers and sisters, is the original thanksgiving story of previous brothers and sisters.
I urge you to keep it in mind during this Thanksgiving season. I urge you to share the story with your family, and friends. When you do, you will be giving all glory to God, as Isaiah says,
"And in that day you will say, 'Give thanks to Jehovah, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make them remember that His name is exalted.'"
Let us do the same thing now by honoring God and giving Him thanks. Let's be about returning glory, honor, and praise, with all thankfulness to our God.
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(1) "Good Newes from New England" (1624) Written by Mayflower passenger Edward Winslow, Good Newes from New England was published in London in 1624.
(2) Of Plymouth Plantation 1620-1647 by William Bradford, [Ed; Samuel Eliot Morison] p. 25
(3) Secondary source; The Landing of the Pilgrims, James Daugherty, Landmark Books, 1981, pp. 38-39
(4) "Mourt's Relation: A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth" by Edward Winslow and William Bradford (1621) http://members.aol.com/calebj/mourt.html
(5) Of Plymouth Plantation 1620-1647 by William Bradford, [Ed; Samuel Eliot Morison], p. 81
(6) Ibid. p. 88
(7) Ibid. p. 90
(8) "A Letter Sent From New England to a Friend in These Parts" [Letter From Winslow]; see last section of "Mourt's Relation: A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth" by Edward Winslow and William Bradford (1621) http://members.aol.com/calebj/mourt6.html
(9) Of Plymouth Plantation 1620-1647 by William Bradford, [Ed; Samuel Eliot Morison] p. 131
(10) "Good Newes from New England" (1624) Written by Mayflower passenger Edward Winslow, Good Newes from New England was published in London in 1624.
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/users/deetz/Plymouth/goodnews1.html
