1.
All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and both must be enterprised and overcome with answerable courage.
William Bradford
All laudable feats come with considerable challenges, and both must be undertaken and surmounted with due intrepidity.
2.
Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and, as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many.
William Bradford
3.
Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together.
William Bradford
4.
As one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation.
William Bradford
As one tiny spark can stir a blaze, so the illumination kindled here has illuminated many, even to a certain extent our entire nation.
5.
Though I bequeath you no estate, I leave you in the enjoyment of liberty.
William Bradford
I bequeath to you no property, yet I give you the blessing of freedom.
6.
Yea, let them which have been redeemed of the Lord, shew how He hath delivered them from the hand of the oppressor. When they wandered in the desert wilderness out of the way, and found no city to dwell in, both hungry and thirsty, their soul was overwhelmed in them. Let them confess before the Lord His loving kindness and His wonderful works before the sons of men.
William Bradford
7.
The great hope, and for the propagating and advancing the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world
William Bradford
8.
Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness.
William Bradford
9.
But it pleased God to visit us then with death daily, and with so general a disease that the living were scarce able to bury the dead.
William Bradford
10.
Behold, now, another providence of God. A ship comes into the harbor.
William Bradford
11.
And for the season it was winter, and they that know the winters of that country know them to be sharp and violent, and subject to cruel and fierce storms.
William Bradford
12.
The loss of...honest and industrious men's lives cannot be valued at any price.
William Bradford
13.
The LORD is the help of my life
William Bradford
14.
We could not now take time for further search or consideration, our victuals being much spent, especially our beer.
William Bradford