City Upon a Hill
John Winthrop’s “A Model of Christian Charity” is a well versed Spiritual Call to Arms aimed at preparing his Puritan followers for the unknown hardships that lie ahead. His sermon was equally motivating and preparative.
Winthrop was very clever in how he approached this speech. He was able to not only rally his troops with the importance of their journey, but also seeded the implications of what straying from the righteous path may lead to.” So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and byword throughout the world, we shall open the mouths of enemies to speak evil of the ways of God and all professors for God's sake, we shall shame the faces of many of God's worthy servants, and cause their prayers to be turned into curses upon us till we be consumed out of the good land whither we are going.” This excerpt thoroughly depicts what Winthrop believed would be bestowed upon them if they were to wander from their path. The speech he gave was also thorough in what he expected from his followers. I felt like he was very cunning in his depiction of the importance of everyone serving their own distinct purpose. This is a very effective tool to reach the hearts and minds of all the followers. Some of which may have had their spirits easily broken without his encouraging words.
The next message I enjoyed from his speech is that god is already in fact on their side just by providing a safe journey. I’m sure this tactic proved very motivating, especially due to the fear that uncertainty brings. And I imagine the unknown was a very scary endeavor for these brave Puritans. Winthrop explained to his followers that if God was to deliver them to America safely, then he must approve of the example they planned on setting for the new world. Thus instilling the thought that now all of these followers are committed to this agreement with god to live as “The city upon
Winthrop was very clever in how he approached this speech. He was able to not only rally his troops with the importance of their journey, but also seeded the implications of what straying from the righteous path may lead to.” So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and byword throughout the world, we shall open the mouths of enemies to speak evil of the ways of God and all professors for God's sake, we shall shame the faces of many of God's worthy servants, and cause their prayers to be turned into curses upon us till we be consumed out of the good land whither we are going.” This excerpt thoroughly depicts what Winthrop believed would be bestowed upon them if they were to wander from their path. The speech he gave was also thorough in what he expected from his followers. I felt like he was very cunning in his depiction of the importance of everyone serving their own distinct purpose. This is a very effective tool to reach the hearts and minds of all the followers. Some of which may have had their spirits easily broken without his encouraging words.
The next message I enjoyed from his speech is that god is already in fact on their side just by providing a safe journey. I’m sure this tactic proved very motivating, especially due to the fear that uncertainty brings. And I imagine the unknown was a very scary endeavor for these brave Puritans. Winthrop explained to his followers that if God was to deliver them to America safely, then he must approve of the example they planned on setting for the new world. Thus instilling the thought that now all of these followers are committed to this agreement with god to live as “The city upon