‘A Model of Christian Charity’ is a sermon delivered by John Winthrop to the Puritan settlers who are on board the Arbella ship in 1630. The sermon explores themes of unity, love, faith in God, social responsibility, and humility. The tone of the sermon is moralistic and urges the colonists to remain united in their project and develop community spirit.
A Model of Christian Charity | Summary
The sermon ‘A Model of Christian Charity’ by John Winthrop, begins with three reasons as to why God has made some people rich and some poor, some high in power and dignity, and others mean and submissive. The first reason being it shows the variety and differences of the creatures and the glory of God’s power and greatness. He further states that just like it is the pride of the princes to have many officers, in a similar way God who is the great king, will have many stewards.
The second reason is that God will have more occasion to manifest the work of his Spirit on the rich in mercy, gentleness, and temperance and the poor in faith, patience, and obedience. The third reason is to make monetary differences between the rich and the poor so that people will need one another and establish “bonds of brotherly affection” that will bind them together. Men will therefore discover from these bonds that all things truly belong to God and that their wealth is not indicative of their glory but that of God.
The speaker then offers two rules why men should create these connections and need one another- Justice and Mercy. These behaviors correspond to the law of nature or the moral law and the law of grace or the law of the gospel. The moral law requires man to love his neighbor like himself, and it forms the basis for all the principles of moral laws which are related to dealings with men. It was offered to man “in the estate of innocency”. To apply the moral law to the acts of mercy, two things are required – every man should provide help to another in times of want or distress and this act of helping another should be performed with the same affection that makes man careful of his goods. He further states that the law of nature is different from the law of grace or the law of gospel and commands to do good to one another and the household of faith, while giving love to an enemy. The law of the gospel propounds a “difference of seasons and occasions”, which means that during times of danger and perils, one must give liberally to the community and help beyond one’s ability, according to different times and historical periods.
The next section deals with exercising the law of mercy through giving, lending and forgiving. Winthrop outlines a structure through which Christians need to engage in charitable acts of service. First, man should give out of one’s abundance i.e., those who have more should give more. The giving should be in proportion to the needs of one’s own family and children, and should not result in piling up goods that are intended to be donated to the community. One must provide for his family while also considering that all Christians are his family.
While lending, one must be aware of whether the other person can repay, and if the other person cannot repay one must give according to necessity. If they do have means of repaying, one must not look at it as acts of mercy but commerce and govern the act by the rule of justice. If people cannot repay concerning commerce or mercy, one must forgive, unless in case of surety or lawful pledge. Winthrop reminds us that in the primitive Church, people sold all of their possessions and neither did anyone claim their possessions as their own.
The speaker moves to the meaning of love between Christians. He explains that as the chiming of a clock occurs through its inner workings rather than by striking its chimes directly, God places love as a driving force in the soul that finds its external manifestation in giving. Defining love from the scriptures – “Love is the bond of perfection”, the speaker compares love to a ligament that knits and unites the body parts together, resulting in perfection to the body. He gives the example of Christ and his church, which symbolize one single body. The disproportionate body parts were united in harmony with the arrival of Christ and his spirit. Thus, Christ is the ligament that makes the body function as one being and the speaker concludes that the love of Christ unites his people to the church and himself.
Further, he discusses love’s inspiration in Christians. God created Adam who was a perfect model of mankind and the love in him was perfect. However, the fall of mankind through Adam made love an emotion that one seeks for himself and not the community at large. Thus, upon the arrival of Christ, the human soul was filled with the love of God and the community. Christ regenerated humanity to its original kind and filled people’s hearts with love: “It gathers together the scattered bones, or perfect old man Adam and knits them into one body again in Christ”. He contends that when we recognize the similarities between ourselves and others, love develops organically. A couple should treat each other with affection while they continue to be legally united because:
“to love and live beloved is the soul’s paradise both here and in heaven”
The speaker draws four conclusions: first, love among Christians is real and not imaginary. Second, love is essential to the Christian being. Third, love is divine, and spiritual and undervalues everything beneath its proper object. Fourth, love rests in the welfare of its beloved, and Christians must be knit together by the bond of love. He applies this equation of love to the colony project that by the end of the project the colonists must aim to improve their lives and be of more service towards God. They must bear each other’s burdens and not be individualistic.
He continues that the only way to avoid this shipwreck and provide for our future generations is to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with the lord. It requires them to be knit together as one man, resulting in being with each other through good times and bad. Doing this, the lord will be delighted to live among them and bless them in his ways.
A Model of Christian Charity | Analysis
In the early 17th Century, which was a period of political and religious upheaval in England, many Puritans attempted to purify the church of England from corrupt practices and doctrines. They embarked on a migration to North America, to establish a new colony which is present-day Massachusetts. They desired to build a community that is centered around God and his religious principles, promoting their interpretation of Christianity. It is is in this socio-historical context in which John Winthrop delivers the sermon to the Puritan settlers aboard Arbella in 1630.
The speaker highlights that the Puritans have a responsibility to act as God’s stewards to distribute his gifts to the community, indicating the need to build interconnectedness among the colonists. He further explains that man’s circumstances and challenges are meant to test his character and virtue. Thus, the hardships faced by new settlers will strengthen their faith and commitment to religious ideals. Further, Winthrop recognizes the variations among God’s creations as an advantage and emphasizes using this difference for the greater good. He highlights the need for the rich members of society to support and uplift the weaker and poorer members while fostering community bonds and social harmony.
The speaker establishes that Justice and Mercy are two core principles for the colonies, in maintaining an equitable society. Through justice, the moral law and the law of the Gospel will be followed and mercy allows compassionate treatment of others, particularly the ones in need, which helps in maintaining a balance in the society. He continues that giving, lending and forgiving are central aspects of Christian charity and Christians should be selfless without expecting anything in return. The act of giving without expecting to receive returns is at the heart of Christian Charity.
The sermon underlines the value of love, harmony, and togetherness within the Christian community. The speaker promotes the need for selflessness and support for fellow humans. Winthrop asserts that the colonists must work together, share in each other’s joys and sorrows, and support one another when they are burdened in order to foster the spirit of unity necessary for their mission to find a new colony. He says that the Puritans were selected by God for a specific reason and alludes to the biblical image of a “city upon a hill,” which implies that their society should serve as a beacon of hope for other nations to look to for guidance. As a result, it increases the settlers’ sense of accountability and duty.
Lastly, the sermon symbolizes the importance of faith in God and the power of prayer. The settlers need to have trust in God in the process and seek his wisdom in their endeavors. He strongly emphasizes communication through prayer as a beneficial factor for achieving success in their mission. Hence, it represents a guide for the colonists and highlights the values and behavior required to lead a righteous life and build a harmonious community through Puritan beliefs.
