John Winthrop Model Of Christian Charity

John Winthrop was the leader of the Puritans who were on their way to settle in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. On the voyage over John Winthrop gave a sermon on the ship to everyone that was on board the boat. This sermon became famous and was later give the name “A Model of Christian Charity”. The travellers on the boat were given a forewarning of what they needed to be successful and the consequences that could possibly occur. In the sermon John Winthrop outlines what is necessary for this colony to be successful and why this specific colony is being put under a microscope to view either their success or demise. The “A Model of Christian Charity” sermon is an insightful monologue that I believe were guidelines for all of the settlers to know that if they followed these guidelines that they will not fail.

John Winthrop believed that there were three main things that a colony needed to be successful: the colony must do “His works” especially the rich giving to the poor so they can be honored by Him more, this also would bring more conformity within the community, the rich should do acts of kindness for the poor while the poor should show their gratitude toward the rich, and to make sure the community is as tightly knit as it can be.

John Winthrop believed all of these things would help the new colony become an extremely successful and prosperous colony. The travelers and especially John Winthrop were very big on their relationship with God and what they believed that this is what God truly wanted them to do. In the sermon, the reasons or otherwise called guidelines that were given all had to do with God’s desires for the

community.
The last paragraph in the sermon has a couple of purposes that are intertwined in some way. In the last paragraph John Winthrop refers to the colony as a “city on a hill” because the whole world will be watching them very closely. Everyone can view the city on the hill from afar and still see how it is going. The city on the hill is the focal point at all times. Later into the last paragraph John Winthrop warns the people that if they deviate and not follow the guidelines for them to have a prosperous community that they will break the covenant with God and suffer for years to come. The community must become prosperous in the way that God intends them to become prosperous. No matter if they have to suffer or not it is all part of his plan because he gives the community life.
The sermon that was given by John Winthrop were a set of guidelines as well as a set of rules that let the people know that if the covenant with Him is broken they will suffer dearly. The sermon was very insightful and helpful to the settlers so they would know what is needed to be successful. John Winthrop gave them the impression that the community will be as prosperous as ever even with negativity bestowed upon by the rest of the world who have put them under a microscope. The so-called “City on the Hill” needed God’s covenant to stay alive and well in the new world.