“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28
During the 1600s, Roger Williams was a popular preacher in Salem and Plymouth, Massachusetts. At Plymouth, he regularly preached; according to the colony's governor, William Bradford, “his teachings were well approved”.
After a time, Williams decided that the Plymouth church was not sufficiently separated from the Church of England. Furthermore, his contact with the Narragansett Indians had caused him to question the validity of colonial charters that did not include a legitimate purchase of Indian land. Governor Bradford later wrote that Williams fell "into some strange opinions which caused some controversy between the church and him."
In December 1632, Williams wrote a lengthy tract that openly condemned the King's charters and questioned the right of Plymouth to the land without first buying it from the Native Americans. He even charged that King James had uttered a "solemn lie" in claiming that he was the first Christian monarch to have discovered the land.
In August 1634, Williams became acting pastor of the Salem church. In 1635, he was twice summoned to the General Court for the Court's July term to answer for "erroneous" and "dangerous opinions." The Court finally ordered that he be removed from his church position.
In October 1635, the General Court tried Williams and convicted him of sedition and heresy. After winning a temporary stay from arrest, the sheriff came in January 1636 to arrest Williams, only to discover that he had slipped away three days earlier during a blizzard. He traveled 55 miles through the deep snow and wintered with the local Wampanoags tribe.
In the spring of 1636, Williams and a number of others from Salem began a new settlement on land that he had bought from Chief Massasoit in Rumford, Rhode Island. However, after settling, authorities of Plymouth Colony asserted that Williams and his followers were within their land grant and expressed concern that his presence there might anger the leaders of Massachusetts Bay Colony.
The settlers then continued eastward along a river, where they encountered a cove and freshwater spring. Finding the area suitable for settlement, Williams acquired the tract from the local tribe. Here, Williams and his followers established a new, permanent settlement. Under the belief that divine providence had brought them there, the settlers named the settlement "Providence."
The Lord is Lord of All, nothing escapes His divine purpose. Today in prayer, seek Jesus and His will and follow Him with your whole heart.”
“Providence has at all times been my only dependence, for all other resources seem to have failed us.” – George Washington
God’s Word: “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:11-13
A Few Clouds, 61°
