A Model of Christian Charity

Nonfiction | Essay / Speech | Adult | Published in 1838

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Introduction

Before Reading

During Reading

After Reading

During Reading

Reading Questions & Paired Texts

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Reading Check

1. What are the “two sorts” that men are “ranked” into?

2. What type of bonds should mankind create with one another?

3. What motivates the soul to give?

4. What word does Winthrop use to refer to the punishment of God if the Puritans fail to fulfill the covenant?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Which two rules must mankind follow to support their fellow believers? How do these rules relate to the laws of mankind?

2. What does Winthrop conclude from the biblical verse “Love is the bond of perfection,” and what does the “body” refer to in relation to this concept?

3. How did the fall of Adam change the nature of love for mankind? What was God’s response?

4. What are the four conclusions that Winthrop makes about the nature of love among Christians?

Paired Resource

“A Model of Christian Charity”

The National Humanities Center’s teacher-facing resource focuses primarily on the understanding of Winthrop’s infamous phrase “a citty upon a hill.”
This information connects with the themes of The Divine Duty of Charity, Charity as an Expression of Christian Love, and Exceptional Piety to Create an Exceptional Society.
What is the significance of Winthrop’s phrase “a citty upon a hill,” and how does this relate to the idea of failure?

Recommended Next Reads

John Winthrop: America's Forgotten Founding Father by Francis J. Bremer

This 2003 biography discusses the role that Winthrop played in the establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Shared themes include The Divine Duty of Charity, Charity as an Expression of Christian Love, and Exceptional Piety to Create an Exceptional Society.
Shared topics include John Winthrop and colonial society and religion as a foundation for community.
John Winthrop: America's Forgotten Founding Father on SuperSummary

“The Gospel of Wealth” by Andrew Carnegie

This 1889 speech encouraged wealthy individuals of the Gilded Age to engage in societal philanthropic pursuits.
Shared themes include Charity as an Expression of Christian Love and Exceptional Piety to Create an Exceptional Society.
Shared topics include rhetorical devices as a source of persuasion, the importance of charity in communities, and the benefit of wealth.
“The Gospel of Wealth” on SuperSummary

Reading Questions Answer Key

Reading Check

1. “[R]iche and poore” (Page 34)

2. “[B]onds of brotherly affection” (Page 34)

3. Love (Page 39)

4. “[S]hipwracke” (Page 47)

Short Answer

1. Winthrop notes that “Justice and Mercy” are the two rules that mankind must follow in order to support the “bonds of brotherly affection.” In this vein, mankind must follow “the law of nature,” which was given from God in the “estate of innocency” and focuses on mankind’s relations with other humans, and the “law of Gospel,” which was given from God in an “estate of regeneracy” to encourage mankind to support fellow believers. (Pages 34-35)

2. Winthrop states that love is a ligament that bonds all parts of the body together, the body being the Church (i.e., believers) as well as Christ. As a result, Christians are united by their love to a single body, which means they must function in tandem to work together. (Page 40)

3. Winthrop notes that prior to the “fall” of Adam, the nature of love was changed from a communal to an individual pursuit. As a result, God sent Christ to reintroduce the love of God once again. (Page 42)

4. Winthrop makes the following four conclusions: One, love among Christians is real (as opposed to imaginary); two, it is essential in the Christian life to maintain this love as a part of the Christian body; three, this type of love possesses a divine essence; and four, Christians are in the care of this love and must continue to cultivate it. (Page 44)