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TWO SIGNIFICANT COMPACTS In the fall of 1620, before stepping out of the Mayflower at Plymouth Rock and beginning their new life in their new world, the Pilgrims agreed to sign the Mayflower Compact. Their signatures were written beneath the following words: "In ye name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyall subjects of our dread soveraigne Lord, King James, by ye grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland king, defender of ye faith, etc., having undertaken, for ye glorie of God, and advancement of ye Christian faith . . ." That’s quite a vision, but it get’s even better. Eighteen years later, in 1638, Dr. John Clarke led a group of Christians about forty-five miles southward to Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and founded America’s first real Baptist church. He had been banished from Boston (since religious freedom was non-existent at the time), so he led his group of believers to Rhode Island and drew up the Portsmouth Compact. The Portsmouth Compact would be the first government document to protect religious opinion on American soil (a predecessor to the First Amendment). It reads as follows: “We whose names are underwritten, do here solemnly, in the presence of Jehovah, incorporate ourselves into a body politic, and as He shall help, will submit our persons, lives and estates, unto our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, and to all those perfect and most absolute laws of His, given us in His holy word of truth, to be guided and judged thereby.” Now, that’s a vision if you ever saw one! No mention is made of the king of England, just the “King of kings” and a desire to follow His words. So, if you ever travel near Portsmouth, Rhode Island, you might want to stop by and give special attention to the city’s welcome sign: WELCOMEPORTSMOUTHBirthplace of American DemocracyEst. 1638