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.