The story of Providence revolves around
a little known minister named Roger Williams. Educated in Cambridge University in
England he arrived in the New World in 1631. Roger Williams was no ordinary
minister. He had strong convictions and was not shy about vocalizing them. As
WIlliams was invited to fill the pulpit in Boston he declined because of the relationship
of the local churches in New England and the National Church of Old England. He felt
that the new churches should be separate and independent. Yet, this was only the
beginning. Williams was also troubled that his fellow Christians had simply taken
over land belonging to the Indians. Massachusetts elders responded that they had the
land by charter of King Charles I. And who replied Williams had given the land to
Charles? Williams also repudiated the civil authority that was exercised over the
the Church. "Nothing was more absurd...." Williams wrote.
Well , the Massachsetts authorities had all that they could stand and they put Williams on
formal trial. Roger Williams was found guilty of spreading diverse and
dangerous opinions. Williams was exiled from Massachusetts. He left behind a
wife and child and began walking southward in the bitter winter season through an Indian
dominated wilderness. For 14 weeks he wandered. Finally he came to the
headwaters of Narragansett bay where he purchased land from the Indians. He named
the new land "Providence" , " in a sense of God's merciful providence to me
in my distress. "Thus the colony of Rhode island and Providence Plantations
came in to being.
Let us be bold in the declaration of the wonderful grace
and sovereign care that our Lord has provided for us.
Sincerely,
John Wardy
