Book Information

Book ID Asin: 1538513668
Book Title: Of Plymouth Plantation: Bradford s History of the Plymouth Settlement 1608-1650; Library Edition
Book Author: William Bradford,Harold Paget,Matthew Mcauliffe
Book Format and Price:
Book Format Name: Kindle
Book Format Price: $0.99
Book Format Name: Audiobook
Book Format Price: $0.00
Book Format Name: Hardcover
Book Format Price: $16.99
Book Format Name: Paperback
Book Format Price: $5.95
Book Format Name: AudioCD
Book Format Price: unknown
Book Price: unknown
Book Category: Books, Religion & Spirituality, Worship & Devotion and unknown
Book Rating: 1,135 ratings

Book Product Detail

• Customer Reviews:
  4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,135 ratings

unknown

Book Review

Name: Clay Garner
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: .0 out of 5 stars ''The light here has shone to many, yea, to our whole nation; let the glorious name of Jehovah have all the praise'' - Bradford
Date: Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2017
Review: Modernity is so overwhelming, from school, advertising, print, video, movies, politics, etc., all things push human life and thinking one way. One way to find another opinion, perhaps the only way, is to reach into the past. This collection of letters by several key players and comments by Bradford, provide a very different insight. What a gift!

''O sacred bond,—whilst inviolably preserved! How sweet and precious were its fruits! But when this fidelity decayed, then their ruin approached. Oh that these ancient members had not died (if it had been the will of God); or that this holy care and constant faithfulness had still remained with those that survived. But, alas, that still serpent hath slyly wound himself to untwist these sacred bonds and ties. I was happy in my first times to see and enjoy the blessed fruits of that sweet communion; but it is now a part of my misery in old age to feel its decay, and with grief of heart to lament it. For the warning and admonition of others, and my own humiliation, I here make note of it.''

This paragraph was added decades after the initial writing. Bradford was 'humiliated' from the loss of the 'sacred bond', that is, the deep religious faith and devotion that bonded the first settlers. This account highlights the benefits of sincere Bibical faith when applied with wisdom - and the pain when lost or misused for selfish ends.

Reading this history requires adjusting to the style of that time. Assumes the reader can follow extended lines of reasoning, is familiar with Bibical stories, recognizes Seneca, Plato, Cato, Paul, etc.. The education, the vast reading and even more, the understanding of these thinkers, seems unlike modern writers.

For example, Plato's theory of government, communism, was first implemented. Horrible result - starvation! Now, private property -

''So they began to consider how to raise more corn, and obtain a better crop than they had done, so that they might not continue to endure the misery of want. At length after much debate, the Governor with the advice of the chief among them, allowed each man to plant corn for his own household, and to trust to themselves for that; in all other things to go on in the general way as before. So every family was assigned a parcel of land, according to the proportion of their number with that in view,—for present purposes only, and making no division for inheritance,—all boys and children being included under some family.''

What result?

''This was very successful. It made all hands very industrious, so that much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been by any means the Governor or any other could devise, and saved him a great deal of trouble, and gave far better satisfaction. The women now went willingly into the field, and took their little ones with them to plant corn, while before they would allege weakness and inability; and to have compelled them would have been thought great tyranny and oppression.''

''The failure of this experiment of communal service, which was tried for several years, and by good and honest men proves the emptiness of the theory of Plato and other ancients, applauded by some of later times,—that the taking away of private property, and the possession of it in community, by a commonwealth, would make a state happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God. For in this instance, community of property (so far as it went) was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much employment which would have been to the general benefit and comfort. For the young men who were most able and fit for service objected to being forced to spend their time and strength in working for other men’s wives and children, without any recompense.''

''The strong man or the resourceful man had no more share of food, clothes, etc., than the weak man who was not able to do a quarter the other could. This was thought injustice. The aged and graver men, who were ranked and equalized in labour, food, clothes, etc., with the humbler and younger ones, thought it some indignity and disrespect to them. As for men’s wives who were obliged to do service for other men, such as cooking, washing their clothes, etc., they considered it a kind of slavery, and many husbands would not brook it.''

Interesting that Bradford and others, understood Plato enough to try his system at first. They also understood Bible principles sufficiently to adopt them when Plato failed. This, as he wrote, increased their faith in God and lost faith in Plato.

Bradford's devotion shown -

''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.''

This focus on Jehovah's name is strange today. Even the faithful look to their religion to receive salvation more than giving praise to Jehovah's name. What a difference!

(The film by Ric Burns - ''American Experience: The Pilgrims''; is an excellent presentation of Bradford's book)

Name: Mother
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: .0 out of 5 stars A must read for US history buffs
Date: Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2023
Review: This is a clear account of the beginnings of this country.

Name: The Rebecca Review
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: .0 out of 5 stars A History of the Plymouth Colony
Date: Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2018
Review: "Of Plymouth Plantation" is a large book filled with the history of the Plymouth Colony back in the 1600s. This will be of interest to those who can trace their lineage to the Pilgrims who left England to go to Holland and then North America. I found this book is best read selectively. I enjoyed the Book 1 section the most and read some of Book II. The rest was not as interesting.

From this book I learned that the Pilgrims valued peace and spiritual comfort while living in Holland. Their voyage to America was however not for the faint of heart. This book has letters written back and forth while they were in Holland. Later, they faced incredible dangers on a small ship - The Mayflower.

What I enjoyed about this book was the two funny stories that made me laugh out loud. This is a book of high adventure and parts of it can be considered a spellbinding read.

What this book taught me was that there were people in history who were willing to endure great hardship for religious freedom. If you want to know the real history of this time period, you have to go to the original source of information.

If you have researched and found out you are related to Pilgrims then this book will be fascinating to you. If you love the history of America this will also be of interest. Fortunately this has a clickable contents page so you can read what you want and leave the rest.

~The Rebecca Review

Name: Nancyvan
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: .0 out of 5 stars Good Resourse
Date: Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2023
Review: The basis and reference of other sources I've
used for my Mayflower ancestry research.

Name: LTD TIME
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: .0 out of 5 stars Glad I wasn't there, talk about tough folks - - -
Date: Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2023
Review: American History about as close to bone as one can get. Home of the Brave, right from the start.
Raw history as related by a main actor at the beginnings of a world altering endeavor. Worth a read for all Patriots.

Name: Bill Hutchins
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: .0 out of 5 stars If you like history this is for you
Date: Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2022
Review: Most American History books are told by people who are far removed from their subject. This is an eye witness account of the beginning of America as a nation.

Having lived in Plymouth and having been on the recreated May flower and Plymouth Plantation, this book provided a wealth of information that I lacked. It reinforced what I did know and helped me understand motivations for creating a great nation.

Name: Sujittra Chaturongkul
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: .0 out of 5 stars To advance the kingdom of Our Lord Jesus Christ and to enjoy the liberties of the gospel in purity and peace.
Date: Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2017
Review: This book is about the American ancestors or the persecuted pilgrims who traveled first from England to Holland and stayed (1608-1620) and then on the ship called Mayflower to Plymouth, New England (1620).

William Bradford, the author of the book, was elected the first governor for five times and the scope of the book lasted about fifty two years (1608-1660).

Bradford told the story of the settlers from the original planting corn, using the wampum as money, to the dispersion of the population on account of more wealth.

I notice a lot of American virtues that grew out from this period such as you help those who are close to you in the wilderness, American women do men's jobs as well, emphasis on strong people, necessity causes changes, the effects from both good and bad men alike.

The story was told mainly by presenting historical documents interspersed with his narrations. It is rather tedious and befuddled since I know very little context of the situations that the documents were referring to. But it will be of great scholastic use for historians and American scholars who need original accounts.

And the reason for vacating England for America was:
"to advance the kingdom of Our Lord Jesus Christ and to enjoy the liberties of the gospel in purity and peace." Chapter XXIII

Home | Contact  | DMCA