Responses to John Winthrop's Arbella Sermon

1.) “The definition which the scripture gives us of love is this: ‘Love is the bond of perfection.’ [I]t 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 one 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[.]”

-This quote, to me, is simply a metaphor of the actual church body. Together all parts (or services) performed by each individual in the church form together to make one body or community. Each part compliments the other. If one part or piece was missing then the community would not be "...most perfect and best proportioned...[.]" Just as if a piece was missing from a puzzle it would not be complete. Or if humans were missing a part of their body, like a piece of the brain, our entire bodies would be effected from it. If each person in the body were to contribute in some way then the entire community of people would benefit, thus bringing "commonwealth" to the body.


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.”

-When the puritans lived in England they saw their lives as sinful and of unworthy nature. When they ventured to form a new colony they not only wanted to start fresh but they wanted to make their lives more holy and pure. They planned to do the same things they did when they lived in England but just in a more holy manner. I don't believe that they moved away to a new colony to start a new life, they simply wanted to make theirs undiluted. Obviously by the name "puritans" we know that they wanted to make things pure. Their lives might have been okay back in England, but it was not pure enough in God's eyes.

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.”

-Basically, the puritans only wanted to do what was right and what God had intended them to do. They just wanted the Lord to bring them peace wherever they were to travel. If they were in a predicament I'm assuming they would not act on impulse, but first ask God if what they are about to do is holy enough or in his sight. If they hear an answer to their call upon the Lord then they will act as directed by him. Whether it be to go forth or stay put. Everything had to be "pure" according to the puritans. Living predestined lives meant that all the puritans had to be careful of what they say and do. No one knew who would be chosen as the predestined ones so to play it safe they worked at being pure as a community.

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[.]”

-When Winthrop had the idea of "a city upon a hill" he most likely took into consideration the fact that other colonies would look up to them. The puritans were to set the example of all that is pure and holy to other newly developed colonies. Metaphorically speaking, the city on the hill made the puritans closer to God. Not only in a physical sense, but in a spiritual way also. Living at the top of a hill kept the puritans away from the sinful quality of the world below. They were also kept from temptations and turmoil that commonly brewed between the English and Native Americans. This new territory became a safe haven for the English that allowed them to pursue their holy-driven life.