John Winthrop: Charity and Community

I already discussed John Smith and John Winthrop in comparison, but now I'm going to discuss just John Winthrop in a more detailed discussion.
I'm going to discuss Winthrop's idea of Christian charity, and also his idea of a community.
It is human nature to think about oneself more than others. We need the love of Christ to show any act of kindness towards others...it has nothing to do with us. I think about myself a lot, and I'm not proud of it. I think about how I'm feeling more than others, and about how I want to spend "my" time and money. When I pick up my paycheck I instantly think that it's mine and I've earned it. In his writings A Model of Christian Charity Winthrop discusses the matter that we, on earth, are made uniquely different for a purpose--for His purpose. Not only that, but we owe it to God to give Him back what's already His. That doesn't mean just money, but also our thoughts and actions. Our love. I'm not preaching, because this is something I struggle with daily. Winthrop brings up Proverbs 3:9, "Honor the Lord with your wealth, and the first fruits of your crops". Winthrop adds, "...he claims their service as His due...". It's an honor for us to be able to give to the King Almighty, and I want that kind of perspective.
I also admire Winthrop's idea of a community, and how he talks positive about the differences among man. Winthrop discusses that differences in God's creatures are there for a reason, and it's keeping the world preserved and well as a whole. In His writings A Model of Christian Charity he wrote, "...it appears plainly that no man is made more honorable than another or more wealthy, etc...". Not only is it for that benefit, but it gives God glory. His vast imagination could create somethings out of nothing in only seven days.  He also wrote "...that as it is the glory of princes to have many officers, so this great King will have many stewards...". Not that I think God can be compared to earthly princes but I do see Winthrop's point.
Winthrop hopes for a more knitted togethor community. He wrote, "Thirdly, that every man might have need of other, and from hence they might be all knit more nearly together in the bonds of brotherly affection". His argument may suggest that if we rely more on one another than there may be a tighter community. There won't be a perfect community till we get to Heaven, but I think it would be healthy for us, Americans, to stop trying to be so independant and afraid to ask others for help. Not everyone is like that, but I think it would help our country as a whole if we would share our struggles and fears among one another, and grow in love.

Edward Taylor...what a man!

I really appreciate that a lot of Edward Taylor's writings/meditations were not written for the public, or to make himself look better, but they were written during his personal time with the Lord. Specifically, I admire his Meditation 8 (First Series).  He talks about how his soul (Bird of Paradise) is in a cage because it pecked the Fruit that was forbidden. He's wondering what it will do now because the bird has "lost its golden days", and now is condemned. He then concludes with streams of Grace that will end all strife. He wrote, "The Purest Wheat in Heaven His dear-dear son" (21) would be the one to come. Jesus would come and end slavery to sin.
I like that he used the metaphor of the bird in a cage compared to humans bondage to sin. The fact of God sending down His Son to save us sinners is something I'll never be able to grasp, but I need to continually be reminded about the power of it.
He then talks about how the bird is saved and can eat the White Loaf that is in Heaven. He wrote, "It's Food too fine for Angels, yet come, take and Eat thy fill. It's Heaven's Sugar Cake" (29-30). We are not worthy of this gift, but we are welcomed warmly to come and take.
Thank you, Jesus!

Anne Bradstreet

Talk about a role model! Anne Bradstreet is very honest and isn't afraid of discussing about her personal struggles. It's interesting that her father put so much into her education, and that she could have had a very prideful attitude about being very intellectually smart. Especially for that time; when woman were seen as a less of a person than a gentleman.
When she talks about moving to the New World, after marrying. It's interesting how she explains her adjustment to the change. She wrote, "But after I was convinced it was the way of God, I submitted to it and joined the Church at Boston".  She was speaking of the new manners she had to get used to, and it's amazing how she could humble herself enough to admit she was wrong-and proceeded to submit to what the Lord was teaching her.
I also admired her letter to her children. She writes about caring way more about their relationship with Christ than anything else, and doesn't want her letter to be glorifying of herself. I liked reading this letter the most, rather than the other articles, because it wasn't about the rhyming and structure of her poems, it was just a letter that explained her life in a very personal way.

Comparison of John Smith and John Winthrop

John Smith and John Winthrop both had a mission. Even though their goals were similar the way they wanted to accomplish those goals was completely different.  Both of them had the goal to promote a successful New World and for the people of the New World to have a life of fulfillment.  John Smith wanted to get to that goal by focusing on one working hard for oneself to become successful, in a financial way.  John Winthrop focused on Christ’s love binding people together, and by becoming successful with His justice and mercy.  A lot of what John Smith focused on was how to become wealthy and gain the “American dream”. His writings were very self-promoting and had a marketing appeal. It is also said that he milked his stories.  From The General History of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles he wrote, “Captain Smith, who, by his own example, good words, and fair promises, set some to mow, others to bind thatch, some to build houses, others to thatch them, himself always bearing the greatest task for his own share, so that in short time he provided most of them lodgings, neglecting any for himself.” It is hard for me to believe that he did not take any lodgings for himself, and his lack on humbleness perplexes me. In John Winthrop’s writing A Model of Christian Charity he wrote, “Therefore let us choose life, that we and our seed may live by obeying His voice and cleaving to Him, for He is our life and our prosperity”.  His goal was based on relying on Christ for direction rather than humanity.  I definitely agree with John Winthrop, but I also can’t judge John Smith. There have been many times in my life when my inspiration for achieving something is for financial gain, rather than for the glory of God. I also have made many decisions that I’ve made without praying about them first, but I don’t recommend. I hope that I’ll live my life based on John Winthrop’s views rather than John Smith’s, even though I know that I’ll continue to make mistakes.