John Winthrop Themes

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John Winthrop was a rich Puritan leader of the Massachusetts Bay Colony who is known for greatly for prompting and leading the first initial movements of people from England to the new world in the early 1600’s. In 1630 on his maiden voyage, Winthrop delivered a sermon that has come to be known both as “A Model of Christian Charity” and “City upon a Hill.” His sermon was commanding and potent, bringing about themes of American Exceptionalism. It begins with “ God Almighty in His most holy and wise providence, hath so disposed of the condition of mankind, as in all times some must be rich, some poor, some high and eminent in power and dignity; others mean and in subjection.” Winthrop is essentially telling the people on board this ship that they are chosen people by God and are coming to America on a mission [He is, but right here he is saying that economic inequality is part of God's plan]. This promotes the greater belief that America is overly important, therefore inflating the people embarking for America’s …show more content…

These themes are evident through the lines of “for this end, we must be knit together in this work as one man. We must entertain each other in brotherly affection, we must be willing to abridge ourselves of our superfluities, for the supply of other’s necessities.” He’s hitting on the Puritan values of unity, love, and charity. The idea of different people working for the same goal is being pushed through his words. Winthrop wants his people to help out the poor in order to better the community as a whole. This sermon epitomizes the hunger for power, optimism, and God that the incoming Puritans all held within their hearts and minds. Winthrop’s “A Model of Christian Charity” helps lay the ground works of early American literature and allows us to better understand the goals and communal life of the initial English founders of the east

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