Pilgrim In An Unholy Land: 2007-08-12

Roger Williams and Legacy! We are all Pilgrims in an unholy land.

Paul Told the Thessalonians This Regarding the Second Coming.

Roger Williams

"In the poor small span of my life, I desired to have been a diligent and constant observer. . . and yet cannot in the holy presence of God bring in the result of a satisfying discovery, that either the begetting ministry of the apostles or messengers to the nations, or the feeding and nourishing ministry of pastors and teachers, according to the first institution of the Lord Jesus, are yet restored and extant", he said. In the 1600s he founded Rhode Island and a group called the Seekers, who would await the day when Christ saw fit to restore His Church. For having such "strange" beliefs he was banished and driven out of Mass., being persecuted for the gospel's sake 200 years before its restoration, demonstrating an historically reoccuring pattern. Nevertheless, he waited and watched!

Roger Williams and the Gospel.

Roger Williams founded the first state with a "hedge" as he liked to call it, separating the state from religion. He did this, because he wanted to find truth and this could only happen when religion was free of government corruption. If there was still a pure religion, it had to be unspotted by government corruption.
In Rhode Island, there was no state sponsored religion, no taxes to support a state run religion, but that never meant a public figure couldn't speak about God, that certainly never meant that they shouldn't pray and ask for guidance in their personal life. Roger Williams was perhaps the brightest, most liberal (when liberalism was about considering all religious ideas, not considering nothing) . He was a man that most Christians as well Jews would hold in the highest esteem. It was because of His leadership, that the first Jewish community was founded in North America and he was co-founder of the first Baptist church in North America. How did he come to conclusions about true religion and priesthood authority, which are totally consistent with 'Mormonism'? I would submit that it was from a lifetime of Bible study and understanding its precepts. If you study Williams life, you will appreciate how much he loved the Bible and tried to live it, how much he desired to interpret it and live it correctly. He is a man who loved native Americans, who gave them free goods, who unlike the puritans, obtained their land legally, who did work for widows when he had nothing to do but wait for an audience with the King of England. He is universally loved by historians. He was a man so loved by the Narragansett Indians that their sachem asked to be buried in Williams clothing. Here are some excerpts from Timothy L. Halls, "Separation of Church and State", University of Illinois Press, 1998. These are from pages 25-27. These quotes clearly show that the LDS idea of a need for apostolic succession and a line of authority aren't 19th century invention, but through careful study of the Bible, one can and should draw the conclusion that there was an apostasy in Christ's Church and that authority was lost and there was a need for a restitution."when [Roger Williams] arrived in Massachusetts he still believed that a pure church might be found if only he were to search for it diligently enough. In later years, though, Williams abandoned the search altogether. He became convinced that churches could not be established willy-nilly just because a band of individuals decided to form one. To found a church one needed a properly ordained minister, and - here was the rub - so far as Williams could tell, no such ministers existed any longer. To be ordained, one had to receive ordination from someone properly ordained by a minister of a true church. Now this chain of ordination had proceeded in an orderly fashion during the early years of the church. Christ had ordained apostles; they, in turn, had ordained church ministers; the ministers had ordained their successors; and so on. But, eventually, Williams thought, the chain had been disrupted. The line of apostolic succession had been severed by Constantine's nationalization of Christianity in the fourth century. At that point, Williams believed, the true church had died, and with it the chain of ordinations that kept the ministry alive." Roger Williams liked to speak of a hedge separating church and state and how when you removed the hedge, state corrupted religion. He was more concerned about the state's ill effect on religion than true religions ill effects on state when there existed no hedge or wall separating the two. Isiah 5:4 'What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 5:5 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down' (my interjection not Hall) "Thereafter, the world was ruled by the anti-Christian Roman Catholic Church and had become a wilderness in which true believers roamed as pilgrims, without benefit of ministry or sacrament." (Hall)Amos 8:12 "And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it."If anyone is fulfillment of this prophecy, it is Roger Williams. He searched all over England and then to New England. He founded a group called the seekers and encouraged all religions to come to Rhode Island, because he wanted to find the truth if it existed in its fullness. (my interjection not Hall) John Cotton wrote this about how Williams began to cut himself off from the New England churches because he didn't believe they possessed the authority to perform ordinances."And then [he] fell off from his ministry, and then from all church-fellowship, and then from his baptism and then from the Lord's Supper, and from all ordinances of Christ dispensed in any church-way, till God shall stir up himself, or some other new apostles to recover, and restore all the ordinances, and churches of Christ out of the ruins of Anti christian apostasy."". . . . Williams eventually abandoned any hope of finding a pure church. He associated for a few months with an infant congregation of Baptists but ultimately separated from them because even they could not claim to have preserved the legacy of the apostolic church. How could they baptize anyone without a properly ordained minister to perform the baptism, and where could they find such a minister? In forming the Baptist church, one of the founding members had baptized Williams, who had baptized the remaining members. But now, Williams saw, he was not a true minister and could not conduct the ordinance of baptism. He saw no alternative but to withdraw from his so recently acquired Baptist brethren. They were trying to create a garden out of a barren wilderness of the world and had set upon an illusive quest for a church that had died and would remain dead until God resurrected it in the last days."Jesus said this: Acts 20:29 "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock"Roger Williams talks about barren wilderness and lack of the beautiful garden, which is the church. It is described in like terms by Amos, 8:11 "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD"But Roger Williams also foresaw a day when God would resurrect the church in the last days which is also consistent with the Bible Isiah 2:2,3 "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us ago up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." This next passage is one of my favorite Roger Williams quotes, because it shows how diligently he searched for Christ's Church, but was unable to be satisfied that it was on the earth in the 1600s and how he knew as a biblical scholar, that there was a need for a restoration of authority to perform ordinances like baptism and there were no missionaries or "messengers to the nations" possessing an authentic message (mine not Hall):"In the poor small span of my life, I desired to have been a diligent and constant observer, and have been my self many ways engaged in city, in country, in court, in schools, in universities, in churches, in old and New England, and yet cannot in the holy presence of God bring in the result of a satisfying discovery, that either the begetting ministry of the apostles or messengers to the nations, or the feeding and nourishing ministry of pastors and teachers, according to the first institution of the Lord Jesus, are yet restored and extant.""Williams saw no alternative but to wait patiently until God at length sent apostles who had the power to start new churches. Until that time, there was no one available either to start a church or to sustain it."

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Boston Massacre

This is the building that the Boston Massacre occurred in front of. We got off the trolley here not realizing that that is what was significant about the structure. Mom took this picture, because she loved the statues on it.

Lizard King

James is the Lizard King, he can do anything! Again, this was taken very close to the Boston Massacre site and where we ate our McDonalds.

WaterTaxi

We were going to do the water taxi, but did the trolley tour instead. These water taxis go on the roads and right down into the water and across the harbor!

Mom and Me

Mom and I in Boston on the Trolley Tour.

McDonalds?

This is right before James amused us all!
The tour guide was telling us about all the wonderful Italian food that is in Boston. Our mouths started to water and I turned around to talk to mom about getting some Italian food. James who is known for his picky eating habits wasn't having any of the that! He wandered up to the tour guide. I turned around and asked "where did James go?" I noticed he had gone up to the tour guide who was still talking Italian. I asked mom, "what is James doing?". Then the tour guide anwsered my question when he abruptly stopped his discourse and said "McDonalds?" and instructed James which stop to get off at. Needless to say, that is where we went. So we ate overlooking the site of the Boston Massacre, cheesburgers in hand! James and Hanna were amused that you had to pay to get into the bathroom. We're not in Utah anymore Toto.

The Constitution from the Harbor

We did a tour of the Constitution, but we only did the speed tour which was the upper deck. We thought it would be quicker and then we could get back on the tour boat and get some grub. We should have done the full tour, because they started way before us. They were well to the lower deck by the time we got to go aboard.
They have sailors stationed on it and it does go out to sea once a year. It has to in order to keep its commissioned status.
You can see the monument behind it. That is on Breed's Hill. This is where the first battle (after Independence had been declared) took place. It was a slaughter! That is where the 'don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes' came from.

Mast of the Constitution

James Fixes to Film

James is examining the camera to take a shot of the harbor. I was amazed at the sheer volume of pics these guys took (over 3000 pics). I'm trying to sort them, but its a chore. I think Hanna wanted to take a picture of every skyscraper in NY and Boston. She nearly succeeded!

Boston Skyline From Harbor

Someone took this shot from the boat in Boston Harbor.

Starfish

Here they are again at Mystic lookin at the star fish (fishes?). Actually, that might be a crab.

Barney?

I'm not sure what this is? This is the day that I had to work so they went with David and mom to Mystic. Is it Barney?

Whoa!! Cool!!

Crabshell!!

Hanna thought it was cool when she found a crabshell along the walkway to a Coast Guard lighthouse.

Pretty RI Coast

RI isn't as spectacular as Maine, but it has its charm.

Sea-weed Hat

Hanna, being in a New York state of mind, decided to employ the latest in seaweed fashion. She piled it onto her head and made a hat. Yuck.

Westerly Beach III

Mom decided to jump in with them.

Westerly Beach II

Here James and Hanna frolick on the Westerly Rhode Island Beach. You can see that it was very misty that day. James liked the waves. One of them came crashing into his legs and made him flip over backwards. He got a nice mouth full of salt water, some sand in the eye and a seaweed necklace to show for it.

Empire State Views

Oh Das Gestank!

Here mom is taking in the wonderful smells of NY. If Rudy cleaned up NY, he forgot to spray some air-freshener on his way out.

Mom by Central Park

Mom on the tour bus, next to Central Park.

Midnight Ride

This is between Revere's home and the 'Old North Church'. This is where the kids bought their Boston sweatshirts.

Paul Revere's Place

Mom rushed passed the gate to snap a quick picture of Paul Revere's house. They set it up so that you couldn't see it unless you paid to go in. She went by and pretended she couldn't hear them to snap this photo.

The Brits Who Never Left Boston

This Cemetary is just up the Hill from the 'Old North Church' in Boston. Many of the British who died on Breed's Hill are buried here. In fact, most the occupants of this cemetary are british soldiers.

Glory!

This is a monument in Boston dedicated to the first black unit in the Civil War. The movie 'Glory' is based on this unit.

USS Constitution Docked in Boston

Cruisin' Boston

Here we are on a Boston cruise of the harbor. This harbor is called Long wharf. It was where the last british soldier left Boston.

Hanna in Mystic

Mystic, Ct. is a very old seaport area. I think it goes back to the 1600s. Hanna at the Aquarium.

James on Marginal Way

James stands on Marginal Way.

James New Hat

James Dons his new hat at Perkin's Cove Maine

Perkin's Cove Maine

James and Hanna at Perkin's Cove, Maine.

Fun With Draw Bridges

James and Hanna play with the Draw Bridge in Perkins Cove, Maine. James pushed the raise button with a couple of guys on the bridge. I think he was embarrassed.

Beautiful Maine

Check this beautiful site out! Sunset in Maine.

Maine Beach

Fatso on the Beach.

Hanna on the Rocks

Hanna playing on the typical Maine rocky coastline.

Marginal Way.

Mom and Hanna walk the Marginal Way on the Perkin's Cove Maine coastline. Beautiful! Marginal Way? What kind of name is that for a pretty walk.

Maine Seafood

This is a lovely eating establishment in York, Maine. Yummy food.

Grand Central Station

James and Hanna in front of the Grand Central Station Maps.

Puttin' on the Ritz

Here we are at the ritzy hotel in NY.

Lennon Shot Here

John Lennon was shot right here as he was coming home from a recording session in Dec. 1980.

Yoko's Place

Hanna UN Ambassador

Hanna is in front of the UN building in NY.

Lower Manhattan from the Empire State Building.

Looking south from the top of the Empire State Building.

Battery Park

This is Battery Park where you pick up the ferry to go to Liberty and Ellis Islands.

Statue of Liberty on the Horizon

Hanna and James on the shore at Battery Park with the Statue of Liberty behind them on the horizon.

NY Tour Bus

Hanna Banana and Hollywood Jameserpants on the NY tourbus. James! Cheerup! You're on vacation.

World Trade Center

Here we are in front of the World Trade Center. I think the church is called St. Joseph. You can see we are in a little cemetary. It was amazing to think this little church, right next door survived virtually unscathed.