John Robinson was pastor of the Pilgrim Church in England and Holland, before their departure to America in the Mayflower. On July 22, 1620, Robinson gave this word of warning to the Pilgrims as they were getting ready to sail to the New World:
Lastly, whereas you are become a body politic, using amongst yourselves civil government, let your wisdom and godliness appear not only in choosing such persons as do entirely love and will promote the common good but also in yielding unto them all due honor and obedience in their lawful administrations; not beholding in them the ordinariness of their persons, but God's ordinance for your good...
Someone or few must be appointed over the assembly [for]...discussing and determining of all matters, so in this royal assembly, the church of Christ, though all be Kings, yet some most faithful and most able, are to be set over the rest...wherein...they are...charged to minister according to the Testament of Christ.
In a famous letter to the Mayflower Pilgrims, Robinson wrote:
Thus this holy army of saints is marshaled here on earth by these officers, under the conduct of their glorious Emperor, Christ. Thus it marches in this most heavenly order and gracious array, against all enemies, both bodily and ghostly: peaceable in itself, as Jerusalem, terrible too the enemy as an army with banners, triumphing over their tyranny with patience, their cruelty with meekness and over death itself with dying.
Thus, through the Blood of that spotless Lamb, and that Word of their testimony, they are more than conquerors, bruising the head of the Serpent; yea, through the power of His Word, they have power to cast down Satan like lightning; to tread upon serpents and scorpions; to cast down strongholds, and everything that exalteth itself against God.
The gates of Hell, and all the principalities and powers on earth, shall not prevail against it. Romans 12; I Corinthians 12; Revelation 14:1, 2; Song 6:3; Revelation 12:11; Luke 10:18, 19; 2 Corinthians 10:15; Matthew 16:18, Romans 8:38, 39...