A Model of Christian Charity

Nonfiction | Essay / Speech | Adult | Published in 1838

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Sermon Analysis

Key Figures

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Literary Devices

Biblical Citation

Winthrop frequently includes Biblical passages within the text of his sermon to explain, justify, or deepen his points. For example, early on in his sermon when explaining the origin of wealth disparity, Winthrop notes that in truth all property belongs to God: “God still reserves the propperty of these gifts to himself as Ezek. 16. 17. he there calls wealthe, his gold and his silver, and Prov. 3. 9. [where] he claims theire service as his due, honor the Lord with thy riches” (34). This frequent effect is natural in sermons, which focus on the interpretation of scripture and its applications for congregations. In this sermon’s particular case, these citations serve not only to authorize Winthrop’s arguments, but also to allow his sermon’s listeners to see their acts as a divinely predestined project. This is particularly evident in Winthrop’s citation of the Sermon on the Mount and discussion of the Covenant (see Themes, and Symbols & Motifs).

Rhetorical Questions

Throughout his sermon Winthrop employs rhetorical questions as a framework to predict his reader’s thoughts on his arguments. This device comes to particular use in Winthrop’s explanation of the role of mercy in giving, lending, and forgiving. In a series of sequential rhetorical questions, Winthrop asks and then answers the following: “What rule shall a man observe in giueving in respect of the measure?” (36); “What rule must wee observe in lending?” (38); “What rule must we observe in forgiuing?” (38); “What rule must wee observe and walke by in cause of community of perill?” (38). The effect of rhetorical questioning is to expand specific lines of argumentation in a way that seems to exhaust their critiques by others. Notably, however, these questions may not necessarily have been the actual questions Winthrop’s audience was most likely to ask.

Simile and Metaphor

Winthrop uses a range of similes and metaphors to communicate his points on the value of love and charity within a Christian community. Similes use “like” or “as” to compare two different concepts, while metaphors make a direct comparison without the use of “like” or “as.” Two of the clearest examples take place consecutively—the comparison of the expression of charity to the chiming of a clock (39), and the extended equation of Christian community to the body of Christ and its ligaments (40-41) (on this, see Symbols & Motifs). Other metaphors include the comparison of a mother’s love for her child and Eve’s love for Adam with Christians’ love for other Christians (42), and the comparison of the charitable individual’s role in a community to the role of the mouth within the body (43-44).