He was politely asked to leave and go elsewhere to start his own colony, which he did. About 1636 he settled at Narragansett (Rhode Island). It was a beautiful area, and appeared to be very productive. He made a treaty with the Narragansett Indians and purchased the area, naming it God's Merciful Providence.
We call it Providence today.
Remember Squanto? Well he was from one of the local tribes and helped Roger Williams and the settlers who were flocking to the area. Roger Williams directed that this area have complete religious freedom. With Squanto's help, he compiled a partial dictionary of the Indians' languages. Today it is the only key to those historic local languages.
The Indians and the settlers in that area had a strong, friendly relationship. Later, when other settlers began moving in and the religious nature of the colony began to change, the friendly climate also changed.
Anyway, Roger Williams was acknowledging the 'merciful providence of God' when he named his settlement.
The Westminster Catechism was not the first such document. In the 1570's (about 70 years earlier) some German theologians wrote The Heidelberg Catechism. It used the same "Question and Answer" format as the Westminster (and Socrates), but was divided into 52 parts so that churches could use it every Sunday afternoon to teach the individual lessons.
The popular Westminster Catechism begins:
Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
(Bro Mike talked some about that last Sunday in his message on Heaven -- what a great day that was -- and what a great day that will be -- When we all get to heaven -- that will be the first day of the rest of our lives!)
The Heidelberg Catechism starts differently:
.
Q. What is your only comfort in life and death?
A. That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul in life and in death to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by His Holy Spirit He also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for Him
Later, in questions 27 and 28, the Heidelberg document talks about providence.
27. Q. What do you understand by the providence of God?
A. God's providence is His almighty and ever-present power, whereby as with His hand, He still upholds heaven and earth and all creatures, and so governs them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, food and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, indeed, all things, come not by chance but by His fatherly hand.
28. Q. How does it benefit us to know that God has created all things and still upholds them by His providence?
A. We can be patient in adversity, thankful in prosperity, and with a view to the future we can have a firm confidence in our faithful God and Father that no creature shall separate us from His love, for all creatures are so completely in His hand that without Him, they can not do as much as move.
All things come, not by chance, but by His fatherly hand.... That's the best news I've heard in a long time! Call Katie Curic! Call Dan Rather!
Isn't it beautiful the way God's title of "Father" and "Providence" are linked together?
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting
E'er to take, as from a father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting
Till I reach the promised land.
Day by day and with each passing moment
Strength I find to meet my trials here
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment
I've no cause for worry or for fear
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best....
Help me then, in every tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord
That I lose not faith's consolation
Offerd me within Thy holy Word.
DOXOLOGY......Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!
No comments:
Post a Comment