Summary Of John Winthrop A Model Of Christian Charity

John Winthrop’s statement about his settlement being a “city upon a hill”, in my opinion he felt like his settlement was being watched by everyone surrounding them, and that because of that they have to be a good role model for their neighbors as well. This idea shaped the Puritan community and society in ways like they must be together as one body, behave according to God’s will, and being the same regardless of the land they are.
Winthrop mentions in his essay “A Model of Christian charity” how they must live in brotherly affection. He goes on to say “we must delight in each other…rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together…as members of the same body”, he wanted everyone to bond and to feel the happiness or sadness from the community as their own (26). This idea of being one body with the community is an idea that still exits until this day;

there are religions such as Christianity, which believes that brothers and sisters in God should interact peacefully in the presence of The Lord, and that if one of the members of their church (which represents the body) is hurting, they all should feel the pain of their sister or brother. Winthrop’s settlement did this to serve God, and do his will.
The Puritan community was shaped on this believe of “city upon a hill” which John Winthrop used as a metaphor to put emphasis and to make his settlement aware of their actions because everyone is watching their every move including God.

He mentions later on in his essay how they should not “embrace this present world and prosecute [their] carnal intentions” because if done so, God might go against them (25). That is why in the text Massachusetts General Court, “Provoking evils”, the Puritan community thought that the Indian attacks were a form of punishment from God because of much sin there was among them. However, Winthrop states that if they do God’s will and follow God’s values and stay away from the corruption of the evil; they will be rewarded with peace in their desired place, which in my opinion is their home. They believed that if they did a good action then they would be rewarded with prosperity. He introduces the idea of if they do well, and they will receive well. Winthrop states that they all serve and believe in the same God; therefore everyone should behave the same and have the same

values.
At the beginning of his essay, Winthrop states that they should be the same people as they were in England. He states “Whatsoever we did, when we lived in England, the same must we do, and more also, where we go”, the Puritan community was expected to be the same people and to not adapt to the new culture and to the new customs they had in the new land they were (24). Once again, he emphasized that their actions is being watched because his settlement is the “city upon a hill”.
In conclusion, Winthrop’s idea of “city upon a hill” is interpret as a city that is at the top of the hill where everyone can see what they are doing, how they are serving God, and how they are treating others. This is why they should be good role models for the other communities watching them. The Puritan community was not only being watched by their neighbors but for God as well. This idea of a “city upon a hill” shaped the community to be together as one body, to follow God’s will, and to not change their values and beliefs regardless of the land they are at.