John Winthrop's Arbella Sermon, 1630 (Q & A)

1. “The definition which the scripture gives us of love is this: ‘Love is the bond of perfection.’ [I]y is a bond or ligament…. There is no body but consists of parts and that which each part so contiguous to others as thereby they do mutually participate with each other, both in strength and infirmity, in pleasure and pain….Christ and his church make on body. The several parts of this body, considered apart before they were united, were disproportionate and as much disordering as so many contrary qualities or elements, [however, when united], it is become the most perfect and best proportioned body in the world[.]”
• For Winthrop, what is the benefit of a well coordinated(social, spirituak, political) body?
Everyone does their part to make everything work. He wants team work and the end result is everyone and everything prospering together and evolving together.
• Why might the metaphor of the body make sense to Winthrop’s audience?
Because they are altogether Catholics and they together they form one religious body (or religious community). And to do things in a religious form would be more righteous then to go by their own wants and greed.
• How might this union of separate parts create a genuine COMMONWEALTH?
Together, with all the talent and things they they are good at, it creates a stronger and more perfect whole. Everyones combined effort pulls together as something great.


2. “Whatsoever we did or ought to have done when we lived in England, the same must we do, and more also, where we go.”
-what is in the word new? What did it mean to name the colony New England? What not come up with some kind of name that denoted compete newness and separation from the Old World?
I think it’s because the quotes basically says even when they start fresh, they still want to keep their same values and do things in the same manner as when they were in England. They wanted to keep their roots and improve from there. So it makes sense to call it New England because they are keeping many aspects of when they were England, but making it more advance and better, making it the new.

3. “Thus stands the cause between God and us. We are entered into covenant with him for this work. We have taken out a commission, the Lord hath given us leave to draw our own articles. We have professed to enterprise these actions…. Now if the Lord shall please to hear us, and bring us in peace to the place we desire, then hath he ratified this covenant and sealed our commission, [and] will expect a strict performance of the articles contained in it.”
- How did the Puritans, and Winthrop, view their charter for colonization as a spiritual mandate to purify the world of Christendom (or at least the Church of England)?
They believe that god is guiding them and in return, god wants the people to glorify him. He expects them to keep up with their religious values, especially since god has helped them to prosper and kept them safe.

4. “[W]hen he shall make us a praise and glory that men shall say of succeeding [colonies], ‘the Lord make it like that of New England.’ For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us[.]”
- How did Winthrop view the MA Bay Co. as an example for future colonists and colonial efforts?
Basically, they follow god will as they are supposed to, in a strict and right manner, they will be successful, and other later colonies can see this to be a true fact.
- What does it mean, or what did Winthrop mean, to be a “city upon a hill”?
What he meant is that they are being watched as the first and an example to follow by, especially if they did well and had much success. They are also being watched by god to makes sure that his will is being done. It’s almost saying an eye for an eye.