Of Plymouth Plantation is an incredible book to remind us of the hardships and trials our forefathers went through, while staying steadfastly devoted to our Heavenly Father.  To read William Bradford's account and see how these pilgrims were constantly on their knees praising the Lord is so awesome!  In this book, Governor William Bradford says, "Thus out of small beginnings greater things have grown by His hand Who made all things out of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light enkindled here has shone to many, yea, in a sense, to our whole nation; let the glorious name of Jehovah have all the praise."   In one account, before homes were built, he says this,

"Though it was very dark and rained hard, they ultimately got under the lee of a small island, and remained there safely all night; but they did knot know it was an island till morning.  They were divided in their mind; some wished to stay in the boat, for fear there would be more Indians; others were so weak and cold they could not endure it, but got ashore and with much ado made a fire-everything being wet,-and then the rest were glad enough to join them; for after midnight the wind shifted to the north-west and it froze hard. But though this had been a night of much hardship and danger, God gave them a morning of comfort and refreshment, as He usually doth to His children; for the next day was a fair sun-shining day, and they found they were on an island secure from the Indians, where they could dry their stuff, fix their arms, and rest themselves and give God thanks for His mercies in their manifold deliverances."

How many of us, after suffering through a night of hardship like this would focus on the thanksgiving and on the praise we could still offer up to God?  One more of my favorite quotes from this book (there are many) by William Bradford is this,

"It was to the astonishment of many and almost to the wonder of the world, that from so small a beginning such great things should ensue, as in due time was manifested; and that there should be a resting place for so many of the Lord's people here, when so sharp a scourge had come upon their own nation.  But it was the Lord's doing, and it ought to be marvellous in our eyes."

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