The Arbella Sermon, John Winthrop, 1630

There are four excerpts of The Arbella Sermon, John Winthrop, 1630 referring to different concepts; therefore, there are four summaries included in this CDL.

1.      Love is what keeps us strong and together throughout difficult and contented times. It is not a body part; rather it’s a bond that glues us with each other. People who feel connected to the God have found a bond that has unified them to the God as a one body (not as parts). When we are not united or have many body parts, we would be unbalanced and disordered qualities. Thus, we are helpless when we are not united.  

2.      This passage is trying to say that no matter where we (colonists) move/go to; we will still live the same way as we did before in England. Our way of life will be same, but we would also do more as we will progressively improve.

3.      John Winthrop had religious virtue of the New England colony.  Since the Church of England was considered corrupted; the colonists were to separate themselves from the Church of England in order to establish their own religious colonies. Winthrop believed in God so much that he believed that everything will work out when the colonists settle in new territory of America. They wanted to live peacefully in the New England with others, not like corruption of the Church of England.

4.      Winthrop states that the God will praise their work of establishing successful colony of New England. He wanted to set up a successful religious colony which stands out from other colonies. The New England colony would be example that people would follow by looking at the importance of the God.

Questions:

1.      Why did John Winthrop use the phrase “a city upon a hill” in the forth excerpt? What was he referring to?

2.      What were some goals of John Winthrop on establishing successful colony?