Essay on John Winthrop - 878 Words

The City upon the Hill John Winthrop founded the colony of Massachusetts Bay in 1630, where he was the first Governor of the colony, a position he held for twenty years. In April, 1630, aboard the ship Arbella, he led a large party from England for the new world to establish a pure Christian based colony. They hoped to establish communities of pure Christians who collectively swore a covenant with God that would they work for his ends, knowing that in return, He would watch over them. John Winthrop was born in Edwardstone, Suffolk, England, on January 22, 1588, and died in Boston, Massachusetts on March 26, 1649. He was the only child of Adam Winthrop and his wife, Anne Brown. Winthrop briefly attended Trinity College in†¦show more content†¦This sermon is believed to have been given abound ship in route to the New World. This sermon was inspiring to the Puritans, giving them a sense of holy duty that would be crucial if they wanted to increase their chances of survival in the new world. The A Model of Christian Charity sermon is based on Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden , in which John Winthrop warned the puritan colonists that their new community in New England would be a city upon a hill, watched by the world. Winthrop stated For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. This entire sermon is a clear statement of the special purpose, instilled by Winthrop, which helped motivate the colonists in route to the new world, establishing a covenant with God, with strict adherence to Puritan religious beliefs. The section of the sermon that compares the new colony with a city upon hill starts out with instruction to follow the council of Micah. This council that Winthrop refers too is the Old Testament Book of Micah. Micah was an Old Testament Prophet, who in the middle of his oracles of judgment, revels the Lords wonderful promise of a glorious future. Verse 6:18 of Micah states He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you. But to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. ThisShow MoreRelatedOpposing Views of Early Americans, Thomas Morton and John Winthrop1423 Words   |  6 PagesThere may not be two more contrasting characters of early America then Thomas Morton and John Winthrop. Morton was nicknamed, Leader of Misrule while Winthrop was seen as the model of [a] perfect earthly ruler (147). These two figures not only help settle a new land, they also had firsthand knowledge of each other. They are not two people that lived years apart from each other but rather they lived concurrently. With two such polarizing people living in a small new land, there was bound toRead MoreEssay about John Winthrop and the Suffolk County Court Cases737 Words   |  3 PagesIn 1630, Puritan leader John Winthrop led the great migration to the New World. On board the ship Arbella, John Winthrop delivered a sermon titled A Model of Christian Charity. His speech outlined the objectives he hoped to achieve in the New World. His ideals slightly influenced the Puritans judgments and philosophy however not as much as he had initially hoped for. It seems the judgments of the Suffolk County Court were not influenced by the Arbella sermon. Similarly, it doesnt appear thatRead MoreJohn Smith vs John Winthrop2051 Words   |  9 PagesJessica Helin Paper 1 U.S. History 1 GEN223 John Smith vs. John Winthrop In the early years of America, there was a great deal of political and religious turmoil occurring in England. People wanted to escape to a place where they wouldnt be outlawed for their independent congregations and personal philosophies that they believed in. Eminent men, like John Smith and John Winthrop, saw America as a great opportunity to start over where they could establish new communities separatedRead MoreJohn Winthrop And John Adams1284 Words   |  6 PagesJohn Winthrop and John Adams and their respective works were heavily influenced by their times. Winthrop was a devout Puritan Christian that was escaping a persecuting king in the early to mid-seventeenth century. As a learned and religious man, he came to be the leader of this puritan sect that was to establish a society unlike any other, free from religious corruption that his fellow people saw in the Church of England, that would be a model community much like the â€Å"Citty upon a Hill† describedRead More John Winthrop s The Puritan1610 Words   |  7 PagesPuritan religion, one cannot love anything more than one loves God. In the case of John Winthrop, this edict became an issue. He did not want to abandon the Church of England as the separatists did, a decision which eventually led to the pilgrims starting their own new church. Winthrop wanted to purify the church; however, the government in England made this particularly hard and eventually this is what led to Winthrop leaving England for the New World to solve the Puritan Dilemma. The Puritan DilemmaRead MoreConformative Consequences Of John Winthrop803 Words   |  4 Pages John Winthrop The effects of the post-Columbian world would have profound transformative consequences upon the Americas. As Spanish and Portuguese claimed huge swaths of the Southern Americas the northern regions were up for grabs by English, Dutch and French colonists. One of the most consequential of these colonists was the Englishman, John Winthrop. Winthrop was a deeply devout man, earning the label of Puritan for his pure beliefs. When given the opportunity to establish a colony Winthrop eagerlyRead MoreJohn Winthrop And Roger Williams889 Words   |  4 Pagesviews on liturgy and deontological ethics differed greatly amongst the settlers. This can be seen in the works of John Winthrop and Roger Williams. While both men’s religious beliefs stemmed from the same roots, each held different opinions on how rigid religion and liturgy should be held throughout the community. During the time of English colonization and settlement, John Winthrop wrote many pieces related to the importance of religion in society. These writings include A Model of Christian CharityRead MoreBenjamin Franklin And John Winthrop1651 Words   |  7 PagesBenjamin Franklin and John Winthrop, men with different ideals, present the same notion that America should be presented as a â€Å"city upon a hill.† Franklin believed that the American dream should be presented as an ideal where men and women are equal and can both move up in social class on their own, practicing any religion they desired. On the other hand, Winthrop believed that the new world was a religious safe haven only for the Puritans. American Exceptionalism was overall the main focus, guidingRead MoreJohn Winthrop And James Madison1197 Words   |  5 PagesFrom the beginning, America has been a safe place for the fostering and cultivating of new thoughts and ideologies, but not without repercussion. This is evident in the life of both John Winthrop and James Madison. From early on in their political careers, both leaders faced political opposition. John Winthrop left familiarity in search of religious freedom and the pursuit of a life pleasing to God. James Madison, in creativity, thought of an entirely renovated way to successfully restructure theRead MoreThe American Dream By John Winthrop1168 Words   |  5 Pagesstability, etc. It is â€Å"the pursuit of individual achievement without consideration for moral or legal restrictions† (Angulski, 2013). This idea dates back as far as 1630 to the puritan colonists. It was first established within a sermon given by John Winthrop while sailing to Massachusetts. This sermon set into motion the ideals that we have adapted today enveloping the â€Å"American Dream†. From then on Americans put their faith in the theory that if you work hard and do the right thing you will manifest