which they are not finding in sex and drugs. By contrast, these Pil grim forebears stand as shining examples of men who were narrow but deep, certain of what they believed, unswerving in their loy alty, and passionately dedicated to the God they trusted and for whom they would willingly have died. I sincerely believe that a return to the Biblical faith and conviction would have a great impact at this hour. It is true that many of our youth are turning away from the organized church structures, but they have not rejected Jesus, God or the Bible. One of the hopeful signs I see in America is that thou sands of students and young people are turning to Christ. This factor has not been given extensive cov erage by the mass media, some of which seem to be preoccupied with a small minority of radicals, dem onstrators and slogan shouters; but I can assure you that there is anoth er side to the coin. Second, the Pilgrim Fathers left us an example of disciplined living. They were Puritans who were ready to order everything — per sonal life, worship, the church, bus iness affairs, political views, and even recreation—according to the commandments of God. The word "Puritan" itself was coined in the popular mind to identify those who followed a strict and closely regu lated life. A hundred years later Jonathan Edwards said of them: "This practice of religion was not only their business at certain sea sons . . . but the business of their lives." They did not mind being called narrow by the religious and civil establishment of the day. They re membered that their Lord had said,
"Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." The ethic of self-mastery and spiritual discipline falls strangely on the ears of today's generation. What a contrast between the conduct of the Pilgrims and the permissive ness and hedonism of our day! Tl ird, they have left us the ex ample of freedom under law. The Mayflower Compact forged by these Englishmen before they left the boat was the wedge that opened the door to "government of the people, by the people, for the people," that has endured in America for 350 years. Most his torians agree that their document was the forerunner of the Consti tution of the United States. This little band of people also experimented with economics and searched for an equitable manner of
Dr. Billy Graham
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