HW for February 6 - Winthrop excerpts from "A Model of Christian Charity"
Read Winthrop's "A Model of Christian Charity" (excerpt in your photocopy set, p. 43-44 / or full text here) and answer one or more of the questions below?
1. From the feel of the excerpt, what are the foundations being set for what will become New England's most important Puritan colony (Massachusetts Bay)?
2. What are the elements of comparison between the Pilgrims and the People of Israel? Why are they foregrounded?
3. Do some research.
a. If you have the time to read the full text, consider if this is a text you would expect to find at the foundations of American democracy.
b. Is this sermon contradictory or compatible with the expulsion of Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams from Massachusetts Bay Colony?
Image: Edwin Austin Abbey, "Anne Hutchinson on Trial", 1901
answer 2) John Winthrop in his emotional sermon mentioned Moses's discourse to underline that even long time ago, at Israel last farewell, the prophet talked about the importance of the devotion of God to have a dignified existence, only with the fraternity union, with bond of love and altruism people might have Christ's blessing and possess the land. He took Moses for example because his values are quite similar to Winthrop's ones;
ReplyDeleteanswer 1) As the main point, to be united by bond of love; moreover, as the body of Christ, is essential to improve and be a better person to avoid the corruptions of the evil world. For doing that, people (and pilgrims in this case) must love each other fraternally, without being selfish.
ReplyDelete1. The excerpt sets the foundations for what will become Massachusetts Bay Colony's core principles. It emphasizes a sense of community, shared purpose, and a promise/mission with God. The Puritans are encouraged to prioritize love and cooperation, creating a social framework based on Christian ideals. This foundation sets the stage for the development of a, religiously-oriented society in Massachusetts Bay, where the pursuit of a collective vision shapes the early character of the colony.
2. Both groups are seen as chosen by God, facing challenges in a new land, and striving to create a harmonious society based on Christian principles. And, foregrounding the comparison between the Pilgrims and the People of Israel serves to highlight the importance of unity and cooperation within the Puritan community. By drawing parallels with a biblical narrative, Winthrop underscores the idea that their settlement in the New World is a divine mission, and their success hinges on mutual support and adherence to Christian principles. This comparison is used to inspire a sense of shared destiny and responsibility among the Puritans, with shared visions and commitment to each other.
Milene Ferreira
From reading the excerpt of Winthrop's "A Model of Christian Charity," I came to the conclusion that the foundations being set for Massachusetts Bay are the religious foundation, since the colony is founded on strong religious principles, with Winthrop emphasizing the importance of a covenant relationship with God (“Thus stands the cause between God and us. We are entered into covenant with Him for this work.”). This sets the tone for the colony's identity as a Puritan stronghold, where religious faith and practice would be central to daily life; the moral and ethical standards, guided by Christian principles, which are expected from the settlers. Winthrop emphasizes the importance of charity, compassion and selflessness. Another foundation is community togetherness because Winthrop highlights the importance of unity and community among the settlers (“We must delight in each other; make others’ conditions our own; rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together, always having before our eyes our comission and community in the work, as members of the same body. So shall we keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.”). He emphasizes the need for mutual care and support, creating a sense of solidarity and shared purpose among the colonists. Winthrop also declares that God has a special plan for the colony and there’s a general belief in God’s guidance and protection, influencing the colonists’ decisions and actions.
ReplyDelete(Answer to question 1)
Delete2) The Pilgrims and the People of Israel experienced religious persecution, drawing an analogy between the Pilgrims' quest for freedom and the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. Fundamental to both groups was a covenant with God. Both communities perceived their destination as a promised land where they could establish societies based on religious principles. These communities faced challenges in the wilderness, acknowledging divine providence, and interpreting their experiences as part of a divine plan. These comparisons are foregrounded to provide a broader religious and historical context for the Pilgrims' narrative, portraying their settlement in the New World as purposeful and significant, reminiscent of the People of Israel's journey in biblical stories.
ReplyDeleteBeatriz Cardoso
1 ) In this sermon, Winthrop emphasizes the importance of unity and community among the colonists. He uses the metaphor of a "City upon a Hill" to convey the idea that the eyes of the world would be upon them, and they needed to set an example of godly living. This idea fostered a strong sense of community and shared purpose among the settlers. He refers to a covenant with God, suggesting a contractual relationship between the colonists and God. This concept influenced the development of a society based on shared religious values and a commitment to live according to God's laws.
ReplyDeleteThe sermon also emphasizes the importance of caring for one another. Winthrop encourages the colonists to have a sense of charity and to look out for the welfare of their fellow settlers and promotes the idea that hard work and industry are vital for the success of the colony. The Puritans believed in the virtue of labor and saw it as a means of fulfilling their covenant with God. This ethic contributed to the economic success of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
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ReplyDelete3-
ReplyDeletea. This sermon is very religious and has a very Puritan perspective and tone to it, therefore, it contradicts most of the values upheld by today’s United States of America. The passage: “All men being thus (by divine providence) ranked into two sorts, rich and poor; under the first are comprehended all such as are able to live comfortably by their own means duly improved; and all others are poor according to the former distribution.” is not very democratic. Everything appears to be regarded as Divine Providence. People are either rich because of divine providence, or poor as a result of it as well. They do not have much free will, if any. Plus, there was no religious tolerance, which is very ironic. “ But if our hearts shall turn away, so that we will not obey, but shall be seduced, and worship other Gods, our pleasure and profits, and serve them; it is propounded unto us this day, we shall surely perish out of the good land whither we pass over this vast sea to possess it.”
b. This sermon is not compatible with the expulsion of both Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams from Massachusetts Bay Colony. Anne Hutchinson was expelled because “She insisted upon a covenant of grace instead, in which individuals were justified by their faith alone. She even walked out of several Sunday services to express her displeasure with differing religious ideas preached from the pulpit” (Bill of Rights Institute). Anne Hutchinson appears to have noticed some incongruencies in the Puritan religion, plus she was a woman. In John Winthrop’s sermon he states “but if we shall neglect the observation of these articles […], the Lord will surely break out in wrath against us, and be revenged of such people […]” (Winthrop), which goes along with Hutchinson’s belief in a covenant of grace. But her questioning why should they be well-behaved if their destiny was already pre-determined got her banished from the colony for heresy. “All men being thus (by divine providence) ranked into two sorts, rich and poor; under the first are comprehended all such as are able to live comfortably by their own means duly improved; and all others are poor according to the former distribution” (Winthrop). This sermon is, therefore, contradicting itself and is not coherent with Anne Hutchinson’s expulsion. In the case of Roger Williams, his crime is also very ironic “Unlike most Massachusetts ministers, Williams did not believe that the Bible demanded punishment of religious heretics. His interpretation of scripture made him a serious threat to the authority of a colonial society that depended on the Bible as a life guide.”(Massmoments). This contradiction is given because Puritans were fleeing prosecution in the Old World, and now they were establishing their religion/ their interpretation of the Bible as the only acceptable.
Sources:
https://www.massmoments.org/moment-details/roger-williams-banished.html
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/essays/anne-hutchinson-and-religious-dissent
1) From reading the excerpt, the foundations being set for what will become New England’s most important Puritan colony were: in few words, they were to follow Christ in community. The colony “knit together by this bond of love and live in the exercise of it.” The end was to improve their lives in order to do more service to the Lord. Theirs was a civil and ecclesiastical government. As the Lord had given them leave to draw these articles. Winthrop’s sermon preached a shared community united in their love of God.
ReplyDelete“Unlike Bradford’s pilgrims, who wanted to separate from the Church of England, Winthrop was one of a band of dissenters known as Puritans—because they wanted to purify the Church of England—who lost their positions in court after the dissolution of Parliament. (…) The Mayflower compact had described the union of Plymouth’s settlers into a body politic, but Winthrop described the union of his people in the body of Christ, held together by the ligaments of love. “All the parts of this body being thus united are made so contiguous in a special relation as they must needs partake of each other’s strength and infirmity, joy and sorrow, weal and woe,” he said, citing 1 Corinthians 12. “If one member suffers, all suffer with it; if one be in honor, all rejoice with it.” In this, their New England, he said, they would build a city on a hill, as Christ had urged in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:14): “A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” (Lepore, Jill, 2018)
Answer to question 2)
ReplyDeleteIn this sermon, Winthrop draws parallels between the Pilgrims and the People of Israel, highlighting certain elements of comparison. Some of the key elements highlighted were the Covenant, the importance of a special relationship with God, responsibility, accountability, and maintaining an improved exemplary role. Winthrop chose to use these elements in his sermon to achieve the main goal of reinforcing the idea that the Puritan settlers in the New World were on a divine mission, akin to the People of Israel in the Old Testament. He tried to impel the sense of purpose, unity, inclusivity, and moral responsibility among the Puritan community. By saying “city upon a hill”, theorizes the idea of whether their experiment to create a Christian community succeeds or fails, it would be seen by everyone’s eyes, always accentuating the demand for moral conduct and communal support.
- Margarida Alves
1) “A Model of Christianity Charity” (1630) was a sermon written by John Winthrop, in order to ensure the survival of the settlement.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, Winthrop highlights the importance of unity and community (“For this end, we must be knit together, in this work, as one man”). Winthrop also emphasizes the importance of patience and affection (“We must entertain each other in brotherly affection”) (“We must uphold a familiar commerce together in all meekness, gentleness, patience and liberality. We must delight in each other; make other's conditions our own; rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together, always having before our eyes our commission and community in the work, as members of the same body”).
Moreover, the idea of prosperity and the importance of life and future generations are also present, in this sermon (“Therefore let us choose life, that we and our seed may live, by obeying His voice and cleaving to Him, for He is our life and our prosperity”).
Furthermore, this sermon emphasizes how the Pilgrims are pursuing a bigger purpose and how their deeds are done in the name of God (“Thirdly, the end is to improve our lives to do more service to the Lord”). Since John Winthrop was a devout puritan, he focuses on the love of God and how He is always observing our actions (“bond of love, and, live in the exercise of it, if we would have comfort of our being in Christ.”) (“to do justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly with our God”).
However, if we look at the whole text, we can see that what Winthrop is defending is not all about community and brotherhood, since he defends ranks, established by divine providence. He argues that some are born poor and others are born rich, and the poor ones will always depend of the rich to survive. He gives three reasons that support this idea. However, although he believes that people are ranked into two sorts, he says that the rich should not explore the poor (“first upon the wicked in moderating and restraining them, so that the rich and mighty should not eat up the poor”).
In summary, the ideas of unity, prosperity, divine providence and rankings, defended by Winthrop, in “A Model of Christian Charity”, are essential to what would later become New England's most important Puritan colony (Massachusetts Bay).
- Beatriz Bicudo Cunha