John Robinson's final address to the Pilgrims upon their departure to the
New World, 1620
As told by Governor Edward Winslow in Hypocrisie Unmasked,1646.
[Ed. This is the earliest first-hand account of the sermon, and the basis
of Rawson's hymn text and the origin of More Light.]
The Wholesome Counsel Master Robinson gave that part
of the church whereof he was Pastor at their departure from him to begin the
great work of Plantation in New England
Amongst other wholesome instructions and exhortations he used these expressions,
or to the same purpose
We were now, ere long, to part asunder; and the Lord knoweth whether ever he
should live to see our faces again. But whether the Lord had appointed it or
not; he charged us, before God and his blessed angels, to follow him no further
than he followed Christ: and if God should reveal anything to us by any other
instrument of his, to be as ready to receive it, as ever we were to receive
any truth by his Ministry. For he was very confident the Lord had more truth
and light yet to break forth out of his holy Word.
He took occasion also miserably to bewail the state and condition of the Reformed
Churches, who were come to a period [full stop] in religion; and would go no
further than the Instruments of their Reformation. As, for example, the Lutherans:
they could not be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw, for whatever part of God's
will He had further imparted and revealed to Calvin, they will rather die than
embrace it. "And also," saith he, "you see the Calvinists. They
stick where he left them, a misery much to be lamented.
"For though they were precious shining lights in their Times, yet God
had not revealed his whole will to them; and were they now living," saith
he, "they would be as ready and willing to embrace further light as that
they had received."
Here also, he put us in mind of our Church Covenant; at least that part whereby
"we promise and covenant with God and one another to receive whatsoever
light or truth shall be made known to us from his written Word:" but withal
exhorted us to take heed what we received for truth; and well to examine and
compare and weigh it with other Scriptures of truth before we received it. "For,"
saith he, "it is not possible the Christian World should come so lately
out of such thick antichristian darkness; and that full perfection of knowledge
should break forth at once." [.....]
And so advised us, by all means, to endeavour to close with the godly party
of the Kingdom of England [the Puritans]; and rather to study union than division,
viz.: How near we might possibly, without sin, close with them; than, in the
least measure, to affect division or separation from them. "And be not
loath to take another Pastor or Teacher," saith he, "for that Flock
that hath two Shepherds is not endangered, but secured by it."
Many other things there were of great and weighty consequence which he commended
to us. But these things I thought good to relate at the request of some well-willers
to the peace and good agreement of the godly so distracted at present about
the settling of Church Government in the Kingdom of England that so both sides
may truly see what this poor despised Church of Christ now at New Plymouth in
New England, but formerly at Leyden in Holland, was and is how far they were
and still are, from separation from the Churches of Christ, especially those
that are reformed.
Quotes from John Robinson's writings
"That which is commonly called schism ariseth from the conceit of faith
or want of love." "We seek enlightenment from others who see further
into the matter, for we are always prepared to give way modestly to those who
teach better things." (Admonitio ad Lectorem, preface to Robert Parker,
De Politeia)
"Disputations in religion are sometimes necessary, but always dangerous."
"But we should affect strife with none, but study, as far as we can to
accord with all; accounting it a benefit, when we can so do with any. We ought
to be firmly persuaded in our hearts of the truth, and goodness of the religion,
which we embrace in all things; yet as knowing ourselves to be men, whose property
it is to err and to be deceived in many things; and accordingly both to converse
with men in that modesty of mind, as always to desire to learn something better,
or further by them, if it may be." (Works, I, 37-39)
"If in anything we err, advertise us brotherly, with desire of our information,
and not, as our countrymen's manner for the most part is, with a mind of reproaching
us, or gratifying of others; and whom thou findest in error, thou shalt not
leave in obstinacy, nor as having a mind prone to schism. Err we may, alas!
Too easily: but heretics, by the grace of God, we will not be." (Works,
III, 77-78)
"I profess myself always one of them who still desire to learn something
better and further what the good will of God is." (Works, III, 102)
"As for men, how uncharitable they are. How injurious in relating their
own misinformed collections for their opinions! As if the Word of God came out
of them or to them alone." (Works, III, 239)
"It is too great arrogancy for any man to think that he has so sounded
the Word of God to the bottom as precisely to set down the church's discipline
without error."
"The hearing of the Word of God is not so inclosed by any hedge, or ditch,
divine or human, made about it, but lies in common for all, for the good of
all."
We Limit Not the Truth of God
George Rawson (1807-1889) wrote this hymn in the 1850s
based on the final words Pastor John Robinson gave to the Pilgrims
before they journeyed to the New World.
It may be sung to the following familiar hymn tunes:
St. Anne by William
Croft (1678-1727)
Forest Green by Ralph Vaughn Williams (1872-1958)
Ellacombe adapted by William Henry Monk (1823-1889)
We limit not the truth of God to our poor reach of mind --
By notions of our day and sect -- crude partial and confined
No, let a new and better hope within our hearts be stirred
For God hath yet more light and truth to break forth from the Word.
Who dares to bind to one's own sense the oracles of heaven
For all the nations, tongues, and climes and all the ages given?
That universe, how much unknown! that ocean unexplored
For God hath yet more light and truth to break forth from the Word.
Eternal God, Incarnate Word, Spirit of flame and dove,
enlarge expand all living souls to comprehend your love;
and help us all to seek your will with wiser powers conferred
O God, grant yet more light and truth to break forth from the Word.
Ref: http://www.mlp.org/article.php/20041025123421160