Model Of Christian Charity

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Harry Lee #9255 AP Language and Composition Mrs. Pelletier, Period 5 4 September 2014 Analysis of “A Model of Christian Charity” In “A Model of Christian Charity” (1630 on board the Arbella), John Winthrop underscores that those aboard are chosen by God to save the Christian faith from the corruption of the Anglican Church, and to be successful the members must act accordingly to his model. Winthrop establishes his thesis by emphasizing the need for lawfulness amongst the colonists, inducing the fear of divine retribution in the audience, and juxtaposing the possible outcomes of their colony (whether they choose to follow God’s commands or not). He does this in order to comfort and reassure the colonists despite their circumstances, and establish the unity and religious conformity that is required for the colony to succeed. Winthrop reaches to all in his sermon, as stated that he needed all of his colonists to work together for the establishment of his colony, and partly because they are all on a boat. Winthrop uses imagery of bonds and togetherness to strengthen his belief that harmony amongst the Puritan colonists is required for the success of the colony. Winthrop needed to create such a model of behavior that all the colonists would follow to prevent the…show more content…
If the colony were to succeed, “men shall say of succeeding plantations, ‘may the Lord make it like that of New England’”(9). If the colony dealt falsely with God, “We (they) 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” (9). At the end, he finishes with, “Therefore let us choose life, that we and our seed may live, by obeying His voice and cleaving to Him, for He is our life and our prosperity” (9). Essentially, Winthrop leaves us with the choice of life or
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