Bradford's History of 'Plimoth Plantation': From the Original Manuscript. With a Report of the Proceedings Incident to the Return of the Manuscript to MassachusettsBradford, William
History
Bradford's History of 'Plimoth Plantation': From the Original Manuscript. With a Report of the Proceedings Incident to the Return of the Manuscript to Massachusetts
Bradford, William
Massachusetts -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
[136] And as we our selves stand ready to imbrace all occasions that
may tend to y^e furthrance of so hopefull a work, rather admiring of
what is, then grudging for what is not; so it must rest in you to make
all good againe. And if in nothing else you can be approved, yet let
your honestie & conscience be still approved, & lose not one jote of
you^r innocencie, amids your crosses & afflictions. And surly if you
upon this allteration behave your selves wisly, and goe on fairly, as
men whose hope is not in this life, you shall need no other weapon to
wound your adversaries; for when your righteousnes is revealled as y^e
light, they shall cover their faces with shame, that causlesly have
sought your overthrow.
Now we thinke it but reason, that all such things as ther apertaine to
the generall, be kept & preserved togeather, and rather increased
dayly, then any way be dispersed or imbeseled away for any private
ends or intents whatsoever. And after your necessities are served, you
gather togeather such co[=m]odities as y^e cuntrie yeelds, & send them
over to pay debts & clear ingagements hear, which are not less then
1400^li. And we hope you will doe your best to free our ingagements,
&c. Let us all indeavor to keep a faire & honest course, and see what
time will bring forth, and how God in his providence will worke for
us. We still are perswaded you are y^e people that must make a
plantation in those remoate places when all others faile and returne.
And your experience of Gods providence and preservation of you is such
as we hope your harts will not faile you, though your freinds should
forsake you (which we our selves shall not doe whilst we live, so long
as your honestie so well appereth). Yet surly help would arise from
some other place whilst you waite on God, with uprightnes, though we
should leave you allso.
And lastly be you all intreated to walke circumspectly, and carry your
selves so uprightly in all your ways, as y^t no man may make just
exceptions against you. And more espetially that y^e favour and
countenance of God may be so toward you, as y^t you may find abundante
joye & peace even amids tribulations, that you may say with David,
Though my father & mother should forsake me, yet y^e Lord would take
me up.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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