...redeemed from oppression and the bondage of sin. According to John Winthrop, the settlers came to America to ". . .advance the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ and to enjoy the liberties of the Gospel thereof with purities and peace and for preserving and propagating the truth and liberties of the Gospel."...

...Virginia shared the same holy purpose. Those who formed the New England Confederation of 1643 confessed, "we all came into these parts of America with one and the same aim, namely, to advance the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ."16 Whenever Americans lost this vision,...