ipl-logo

John Winthrop's Role In A Christian Society

658 Words3 Pages

John Winthrop was a Puritan who had every advantage in life. He was born into a wealthy family that was able to provide him with everything needed to succeed. His family was a part of the gentry class, which was the dominant force in English society during his time. He attended Trinity College at the age of 14 where he studied law. His faith was always apparent in his actions. He was extremely ardent in his religious studies. He possessed an elitist outlook about himself, and this outlook led him to believe that he was elected for salvation. His main goal was to “reform the national church from within” (165). However, when Charles I, a king who was sympathetic to Roman Catholicism, ascended to the throne, he knew that he could never openly …show more content…

He related this to the way a human body functions. In this reading, Winthrop states, “There is no body but consists of parts and that with which knits these parts together gives the body its perfection” (171). This embellishes his view of how in a Christian society, everyone needs to work together in order for the society to be successful, and how if one person is in need everyone else should help this person. It is exactly like how the human body is able to function. If there is one part of the human body that does not work correctly, then the rest of the body needs to unite and pick up the slack until this body part is able to complete its job. This analogy shows how Winthrop believed that in order to reach perfection every person needs to fulfill their duties and help one another in times of need. It was a tedious task to fulfill, but with the work ethic the Puritans had, it would not be too daunting of a task. If their society were able to become unified like this and stay steadfast in their covenant, then they would prosper in this new world. However, the bond that would be needed in order to be unified was much more complex than the bonds of a human

Show More
Related
135 Words | 1 Pages

When he was in college he studied law, so did much of the men in his class of society. Winthrop maintained the office in the government from 1627 to 1629. In the beginning he had no interests in overseas journeying and exploring the colonies. He lost the government job when his income on his land was reduced by Charles the first’s threatening anti-Puritan policy.

Read More
504 Words | 3 Pages

Jamestown and Plymouth were the first two successful English on the north side. In this essay will be talking about Jamestown and Plymouth, the ones that made history. That’s why we are talking about them right now or any day. Jamestown was established in 1607 and Plymouth in 1620. These two colonies were different, yet had a number striking similarities in government's, reasons for settlements, and differing economic activities.

Read More
511 Words | 3 Pages

Due to his practices he was shunned by the settlers and although his strict methods may have brought order and stability he didn't understand that such acts do not affect only a single party, he would be facing consequences as well. The entire reason that Caleb’s Crossing took place on Martha’s Vineyard was due to the fact that Bethia’s father choose to separate from Winthrop whom was a man that would exercise his mass influence to punish those who’s ideals were not synonymous with his own. Although little is revealed about his character, he is the stereotypical autocrat whom places himself before that of the people and steps over them for his own gain, a human political disturbance that Bethia’s father strives to further himself

Read More
608 Words | 3 Pages

Jonathon Edwards is another great writer with similar influences as William Bradford and John Winthrop. Bradford and Winthrop writings were influenced through the old beliefs under the Puritan religion such as God is supreme, and nature is evil. However, Edward’s beliefs stem from the Puritan religion, the beliefs and writings are of new beliefs under the Enlightened thought. Edwards, though born in the new world, was well known for his fire and brimstone preaching. He became known as the nature of God preacher because he believed God is revealed in nature and is knowable through reason and natural laws.

Read More
290 Words | 2 Pages

The puritan rhetoric and conception of love does not in any way match with the normal human way of perceiving love. John Winthrop explains it as it is written in the holy Bible, and also expounds it by the use of his knowledge. His explanation out of the Bible are not however as complicated as those of ordinary people, who believe that love is expensive and one has to buy it from a friend. Winthrop convinces the Christians on the simplicity of love, and later brings them to understand that loving one another is the greatest commandment which has a reward at the end. Unlike the rest of the people who are non believers, Winthrop touches on the aspects of love by quoting different verses from the bible.

Read More
922 Words | 4 Pages

“When he learned that the Christians in Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Carthage were living in poverty, he was moved by their impoverished condition and used to send money.” “It was chiefly for this reason that he struck up friendships with the kings overseas, so that the poor Christians living under their rule might receive some relief and assistance” (27). Not only did Charles help the poor but Charles but also he also helps renovate the church of St. Peters the Apostle. Charles loved the church however he only visited this church a total of four to during his reign as king. Charles last visit to Rome was to help restore the state of the church.

Read More
829 Words | 4 Pages

Moving into the colony, John Winthrop’s ideals of a utopian Christian society revolves around the people of the colony having the same beliefs about Christianity as the government and John Winthrop. The government, or the ministers and John Winthrop, believe that in order to be assured you must do good deeds and Anne Hutchinson believes that you have to partake in a joyous life to get into heaven. This is the existing conflict. Anne is brought to trial about her opinions and holding bible studies of large crowds of men and women preaching these “strange” ideals. At the beginning of the trial, Winthrop says, “you are called here for troubling the peace of the commonwealth and the churches here.”

Read More
1099 Words | 5 Pages

The New Englanders took religion seriously, making unitary laws according to Puritan standards. John Winthrop, later chosen as the first Massachusetts Bay Colony governor, was seeking religious freedom. Wishing to inspire the colonists to dwell in brotherly unity, he summoned them together to remind them “that if we [colonists] 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 a by-word through the world.” On the other hand, those in the Chesapeake region came for the wealth that America promised. They were there to become prosperous or die trying.

Read More
1083 Words | 5 Pages

Winthrop in particular had no patience for women who (as he wrote in his journal) “meddle in such things as are proper for men, whose minds are stronger” (Moore). John Winthrop was afraid of Hutchinson’s influence over the Puritan population. He was scared to have his title taken from him if Hutchinson grew more popular. More importantly, Anne Hutchinson set a pattern of separatists to come: “In daring to think differently from the colonial autocrats who would brook no disagreement, she took an early place of prominence in the development of

Read More
1029 Words | 5 Pages

They both left their country for their religious freedom and came to the New World. Both the Puritans and Pilgrims made promises to one another in a written doctrine to do what they felt was for the betterment of one another in their society which is shown in both of their covenants the Mayflower Compact and the Arbella Covenant. The Mayflower Compact and The Arbella Covenant are what the laws of today are shaped by and the remnants of it live in today’s Constitution. John Winthrop and William Braford are the writers of what shaped American history into what it is today.

Read More
124 Words | 1 Pages

King Charles’ execution speech is saturated with religious references, particularly regarding the divine will of God and belief in the afterlife. In prayer, King Charles beseeches God to “take those courses that are best for the good of the Kingdom and your own Salvations.” This reflects the religious landscape at the time as it was believed that it was God’s providence that sanctioned the regicide as well as the later declaration of England as a commonwealth and the moving away from a monarchic system. As a king, Charles would have been expected to uphold religious ideals, therefore his beliefs shown in his speech give insight into that aspect of the religious landscape; however, this information does not cover the religious beliefs of wider

Read More
1394 Words | 6 Pages

The ideas constructed by the Puritans were not simply a principal starting point for American culture because they were the first in the country, but because they offered distinct ways of thinking that are still deep-seated in our culture today. Although many of the ideas of Puritans have evolved or vanished over time, it is important to give credit to the Puritan writers and thinkers such as John Winthrop and John Cotton who offered ideas that were new at the time and that stayed with the American consciousness—culturally, socially, and politically. “John Winthrop's legacy can be seen primarily in the fields of government, commerce, and religion. It was religion that would most impact John's life; his religion would ultimately impact the

Read More
393 Words | 2 Pages

The subject of this sermon is the ideology of success in the colonies. Winthrop used various emotions to create imagery of the ideal society. He presented the subject through the ideals of God: unity, community, and self-pleasure under the

Read More
877 Words | 4 Pages

The New England colonies were first founded in the last 16th to 17th century as a sanctuary for differing religious groups. New England was made up of the Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. New Hampshire, however, was formed for economic reasons instead of religious ones. The Chesapeake region, which is made up of the colonies of Maryland and Virginia, was founded by the British colonies for the purpose of farming. However, by the 1700’s, despite both being settled by Englishmen, New England and the Chesapeake region had developed differently.

Read More
1050 Words | 5 Pages

The arrival of the first Europeans in the Americas is dramatically captured through the many writers who attempted to communicate what they saw, experienced and felt. What is more, the very purposes of their treacherous travel and colonization are clearly seen in their writings; whether it is poetry, history or sermons. Of the many literary pieces available today, William Bradford and John Winthrop’s writings, even though vary because the first is a historical account and the second is a sermon, stand out as presenting a clear trust in God, the rules that would govern them and the reason they have arrived in the Americas. First of all, William Bradford provides an in-depth look into the first moment when the Puritans arrived in the Americas. In fact, he chronicles the hardships they face on their way to Plymouth, yet he includes God’s provision every step of the way.

Read More

More about John Winthrop's Role In A Christian Society

Related Topics

Open Document