A Model of Christian Charity
"A Model of Christian Charity" is a sermon of disputed authorship, historically attributed to Puritan leader John Winthrop and possibly written by John Wilson or George Phillips.[1] It is also known as "City upon a Hill" and denotes the notion of American exceptionalism.[2] The sermon was preserved by the New-York Historical Society, but it was not published until the 1830s.
Date
1630
"City upon a Hill"
Provenance[edit]
Historically, "A Model of Christian Charity" has been attributed to Puritan leader John Winthrop.[3] Francis Bayard Winthrop donated a manuscript titled "A Modell of Christian Charity" to the New-York Historical Society in 1809.[4] According to a headnote written by Bayard Winthrop, the text was written "[o]n Boarde the Arrabella", "On the Attlantick ! Ocean!", and "[b]y the Honrble John Winthrop. Esqr."[5] However, the text includes a note from its scrivener describing the sermon as having been given "heere in England", rather than aboard the Arbella at sea.[6]
Textual scholar Jerome McGann reports that "all of the pertinent contextual evidence" corroborates the sermon as having been given in England and not aboard the Arbella.[6] McGann concludes that "perhaps Governor Winthrop did not write the work. He was a lawyer and an administrator, not a minister, and no lay sermons by Winthrop are extant".[7] McGann hypothesizes that John Wilson or George Phillips, two ministers who sailed with the Arbella, may have authored the sermon.[8] Literary scholar Abram Van Engen states it "is plausible" that Phillips wrote the sermon and calls "McGann's evidence compelling".[9] Historian Matthew Rowley writes that there "is considerable debate about when, where, and if Winthrop publicly delivered this famous discourse, and even if he was the author".[10] Michael Ditmore, a professor of English, summarizes, "its authorship is now disputed".[11]
The sermon begins, "God Almighty in his most holy and wise providence, hath so disposed of the condition of mankind, as in all times some must be rich, some poor, some high and eminent in power and dignity; others mean and in subjection." The speaker then states three reasons why God made people have different positions from one another:
The sermon then explains that there are two overriding "rules" which should govern all interactions within a community, "two rules whereby we are to walk one towards another: Justice and Mercy." He argues that justice and mercy should be exercised by both rich and poor, since both rich and poor have need of them. He summarizes these two rules with an overriding "law," that mankind "is commanded to love his neighbor as himself". He acknowledges that a person is responsible to make provision for one's family[12] and also for the future,[13] but the overriding principle is: "if thou lovest God thou must help [thy brother]."
Winthrop believes that having this "bond of love" for one another would unite the group as they travel to America "to seek out a place of cohabitation and consortship under a due form of government both civil and ecclesiastical"—that is, as they work together to establish a new society based upon this bond of love. To accomplish this, he calls upon his listeners:
However, he then adjures his listeners: "We are entered into covenant with Him for this work [of establishing a new colony]. We have taken out a commission." He warns them that "the Lord will surely break out in wrath against us" if they fail to fulfill that commission by putting the interests of others and of the colony above their own interests:
Winthrop calls upon his listeners to commit themselves to brotherly love and unity, setting the needs of others and of the community above one's own needs.
If the people can commit together to these things, Winthrop concludes, then they can indeed establish a new community that will become a role model for others to follow.
Structure of sermon[edit]
Text: The structure of this sermon is directed toward the Puritans so that they can understand the overall message of serving God as a community.
Doctrine: Laying a foundation of principles drawn from scripture, on which the reasoning is built.
Reason: Puritan listeners are familiar with the question and answer technique used throughout the sermon. This technique enables them to understand and interpret the meaning of the scriptures, and gives an explanation of the sermon's purpose.
Application: Applying the sermon to the Puritans' personal lives and to the "divine world" mentioned in his text, meaning the community which they are going to build in America.
Impact[edit]
“A Model of Christian Charity” conveys the optimistic, confident, community-focused mindset in which the New England colonies were founded. Perry Miller, a historian considered one of the founders of American Studies, writes that the sermon “stands at the beginning of [the] consciousness” of the American mind.[16] Several figures in U.S. politics—beginning as early as John Adams[17]—have referenced this text in public speeches when conveying themes of unity and idealism, most often citing the symbol of “a city upon a hill.”
In his 1980 election eve speech, Ronald Reagan asserted his belief that “Americans…are every bit as committed to that vision of a shining city on a hill, as were those long ago settlers.”[18] More recently, public figures have utilized the sermon to argue how far the United States has strayed from its values. In his critique of presidential candidate Donald Trump, 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney posited that “[Trump’s] personal qualities would mean that America would cease to be a shining city on a hill.”[19]