“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[.]”
>For Winthrop, what is the benefit of a well coordinated (social, spiritual, political) body?<
If your society or community is well-coordinated, there will consequently be a sense of unity. This unity produces mutual participation and allows the community members to strengthen each other. Winthrop makes a reference to the body. Each part of the body is of one body, yet are still all unique and proficient in performing various and specific tasks. Likewise, in a community, there is a diversity of people that are of the same flesh. But each person has different giftings, talents, and insights, and can make diverse contributions toward the community.
>Why might the metaphor of the body make sense to Winthrop’s audience?
In the Christian Bible, there's a lot of figurative talk about the body of Christ. The writer in the Bible compares the body of Christ (which is the church) to the human body, using analogies that are similar to what Winthrop says in his sermon. And since the Puritans were a Bible-believing Christian group, they probably had a decent knowledge of this content in the Bible.
>How might this union of separate parts create a genuine COMMONWEALTH?<
If there was a bond of love that Winthrop was talking about, then the citizens in the community would look out for each other, contribute to the society, and look out for the greater good of those around them. In an atmosphere like that, it would be a lot easier for a new colony to create a good foundation and prosper.
"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? Why not come up with some kind of name that denoted complete newness and separation from the Old World?<
The Puritans didn't want to necessarily separate from their old England and heritage, but they wanted to purify the old England and make it better. They couldn't achieve the reform that they wanted in England, so they decided to create a "New" England that was reformed, purified, and made right.
“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)?<
Winthrop seemed to believe that he and his fellow Puritans were blessed by God to successfully colonize the New World and prosper. In doing so, God expected them to be responsible stewards of His blessings, and to fulfill His plans.
“[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?
What does it mean, or what did Winthrop mean, to be a “city upon a hill”?<
Winthrop believed that the Lord was going to make their Puritan colony prosper and succeed. Then, all of the other colonies would see their prosperity, and want to "imitate" the Puritans. In other words, different colonist will want to adopt the same doctrines of Puritanism. It would be a city upon a hill because they would prosper so much, that all other colonies would see them and the success of their ways.
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