John Winthrop's general goal when traveling to the New World was a simple one. He wanted this new society to prosper religiously, economically, and politically. All of those aboard the Arbella would have to be willing to cooperate and show sufficient knowledge of Winthrop's words in order to thrive as a new society. After all, the plan was to have the city be a model to the rest of the world.
His reasoning is very similar to that of Communism. However, in today's world, people percieve communism to be completely different than the laws Winthrop gives.
Winthrop's speech starts off as an understanding to why it's essential to form and be apart of a fully functioning economy. He makes it clear that there will be people who are rich, and there will be many who are poor, and that their fate has been determined by God. His reasoning behind this is split into three sections.
His first reason is to express the power of his wisdom, and ability to vary in his subjects.
The second reason he presents shows God's power to moderate and control the wicked, and that He can show the "love, mercy, gentleness, temperance" of the rich, and also the "faith, patience, and obedience" of the poor.
In Winthrop's third reason, he states "that every man might have need of others." The rich need and therefore honor the poor's work, which allow the poor to feel respected.
There's an interesting aspect in Winthrop's reasoning that tends to stick out in the text: He goes on about how no man is more honorable and how both the rich and the poor are needed, but still describes the poor as"the inferior sort." It seems odd how Winthrop can simply classify those who are poor as inferior.
He states that in their Puritan Society, all are "commanded to love his neighbor as himself." This is part of the Law of Nature (moral law), which goes over the need for Puritans to give and recieve aid when it's needed.
There is also the second part of this "double law," the Law of Grace (the gospel). This law generally states that it is one of innocence/regeneracy, that man should do good to all, and that man must love his enemy (unlike in the Law of Nature, which gives no rules for dealing with enemies).
To conclude this "double law," Winthrop gives a statement that it's best to give much aid to those who have no other means of getting help, as opposed to tempting God for a miracle.
Afterwards, he lists several questions, answers, and objections regarding how the community should cooperate with each other. Basically, he states that unless the time and occasion are extraordinary, man is free to be what he wants. When speaking of posterity and children, he states that man must not leave alone his children, but must make way for the new generation.
In regards to generosity (lending and forgiving debt), he states that man should not oppose lending to each other. In a situation where it is not likely that you can be paid back, you should still be willing to lend; only expect to be repaid if you know ahead of time that it's possible. Forgiving debt is also essential if you “didst lend by way of commerce or in mercy.”
He goes on about how all Christians are a part of the same body in Christ, and therefore they all must unite. (Note: Winthrop's first and fourth reasons for this subject are the same). He describes the Christians as ligaments of the body, which are bound by a love.
He mentions how if the Puritans fail to go by these rules, which are the will of God, He “will surely break out in wrath against us...and make us know the price of the breach of such a covenant.”
Winthrop is very determined to make sure his fellow colonists follow these laws, as to avoid angering God. Failing to do so would defeat the purpose of the whole venture, as the “city upon a hill” would not set the example they wished it would.
Afterwards, he lists several questions, answers, and objections regarding how the community should cooperate with each other. Basically, he states that unless the time and occasion are extraordinary, man is free to be what he wants. When speaking of posterity and children, he states that man must not leave alone his children, but must make way for the new generation.
In regards to generosity (lending and forgiving debt), he states that man should not oppose lending to each other. In a situation where it is not likely that you can be paid back, you should still be willing to lend; only expect to be repaid if you know ahead of time that it's possible. Forgiving debt is also essential if you “didst lend by way of commerce or in mercy.”
He goes on about how all Christians are a part of the same body in Christ, and therefore they all must unite. (Note: Winthrop's first and fourth reasons for this subject are the same). He describes the Christians as ligaments of the body, which are bound by a love.
He mentions how if the Puritans fail to go by these rules, which are the will of God, He “will surely break out in wrath against us...and make us know the price of the breach of such a covenant.”
Winthrop is very determined to make sure his fellow colonists follow these laws, as to avoid angering God. Failing to do so would defeat the purpose of the whole venture, as the “city upon a hill” would not set the example they wished it would.
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