Of Plymouth Plantation Summary

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Religious persecution and historical accounts of abuse of power paint the pages of world history. In the early 17th century the Puritans fled England in exile to escape the religious persecution and corrupt rule of King Henry VIII. During the first large-scale migration from England to the new world, John Winthrop gave his sermon “A Model of Christian Charity” to share his (and God’s) vision of a colony built on a foundation of purity, goodness, and most importantly Godliness, where all of mankind may live in harmony. In “Of Plymouth Plantation” William Bradford recounts the events of Puritan life in early New England, along with dealings in indiscretion, discrimination, brutality, and torture that bring to question the true religious integrity …show more content…

John Winthrop made his voyage to America as part of the Great Migration in 1629. As governor of the new Massachusetts Bay Company, Winthrop had a cohesive moral plan which “…clearly and eloquently set out the ideals of a harmonious Christian community” (166). He advertised their religious pursuits comparing them to those of the Israelites, convinced they were chosen by God to set an example for the world. Their “city on a hill” was to be the ideal model of a rightful and just way of life, in which all men could be free from judgement and persecution from one another. During their long journey to America, Winthrop shared his vision with the migrants in the form of a sermon, explaining the ideals and authority of his model Christian vision for the community. His sermon laid forth the foundation on which the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the Puritan community were …show more content…

They must flex with each other’s strength and deficiency to in turn strengthen the whole. In an attempt to appeal to the fears, concerns, and rebuttal of his fellow travelers, he was careful to select biblical passages that would exemplify his convictions throughout his sermon as infallible proof of Gods true will and faith in his elect followers. With hopes high and the dawn of a new day, God’s holiest people set out on a righteous mission to settle their new colony. Although a steadfast foundation had been paved for the Puritan community, Bradford’s accounts reveal a remarkable absence of Winthrop’s pious convictions. With the influx of new settlers and steady growth of the community, prosperity was on the rise. Bradford claims it was this new-found potential for affluence that truly divided and thus weakened the

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