Happy Thanksgiving, American Friends!

We've been enjoying our recent study of the Pilgrims & Puritans, who settled New England so long ago. What stands out is their strong faith in the providence of God, and their desire to live according to His Word. And that was what gave them the will to move to an uncharted wilderness: they needed a place to live "...where they might preserve their own language and customs of life, while retaining their right to worship as the Bible dictated... apart from political or ecclesiastical interference." (The Mayflower Pilgrims, by Edmund Carpenter)

Here is a quote from one of the founders of Jamestown, 1607:
"Wee shall by plantinge there inlarge the glory of the gospel,
and from England plante sincere religion, and provide a safe and
a sure place to receave people from all partes of the worlds that
are forced to flee for the truthe of Gods worde." —Richard Hakluyt

After the Pilgrim's first difficult winter in Plymouth,
they were able to plant & harvest crops the following year (1621);
and before another winter set in, they held a feast to thank God
for His providence & faithfulness.

The First Thanksgiving by Brownscombe
One account of the Pilgrim's Thanksgiving feast comes from
Edward Winslow, who wrote a letter abroad:

Our corn [i.e. wheat] did prove well, and God be praised, we had a good increase of Indian corn, and our barley indifferent good, but our peas not worth the gathering, for we feared they were too late sown. They came up very well, and blossomed, but the sun parched them in the blossom. Our harvest being gotten in, our Governour sent foure men on fowling, that so we might after a more speciall manner rejoyce together, after we had gathered the fruit of our labours; they foure in one day killed as much fowle, as with a little helpe beside, served the Company almost a weeke, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Armes, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest King Massasoyt, with some nintie men, whom for three dayes we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deere, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governour, and upon the Captaine, and others. And although it be not alwayes so plentifull, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodnesse of God, we are so farre from want, that we often wish
you partakers of our plentie.