Puritans: A Study of Primary Sources

Puritans: A Study of Primary Sources

Source: ‘City upon a Hill’ (Modified)

John Winthrop (1588–1649), lawyer and leader of the 1630

migration of English Puritans to Massachusetts Bay Colony, delivered

this famous sermon aboard the Arbella to settlers traveling to New

England.

Open Ended

Who was John Winthrop speaking to in this sermon? What do you think is the purpose of this sermon?

City Upon a Hill (modified)

The only way to provide for our posterity (future generations) is to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. We must be knit together in this work as one man; we must take care of each other with brotherly affection.

We shall be united in the bond of peace, the Lord will be our God and delight to dwell among us, so that we shall see much more of his wisdom, power, goodness and truth.

We shall be as a City upon a Hill, the eyes of all people are upon us; so that if we shall [behave badly] and cause God to withdraw his help from us, we shall [invite] the mouths of

enemies to speak evil of the ways of God, and cause their prayers to be turned into curses upon us.

Therefore let us choose life, that we, and our [children], may live; by obeying his voice, for he is our life, and our prosperity (wealth).

Multiple Choice

What do you think was of most importance to the Puritans?

• following the laws of England

• worshipping God they way they believed was right

• obeying God

• gaining wealth

Open Ended

What do you think John Winthrop means when he says, "We shall be a City upon a Hill?"

Poll

How do you think Puritans would have reacted to someone who strayed from the religion?

• They would be understanding.

• They would take it very seriously.

• They wouldn't care.

Source: ‘The Divine Right to Occupy the Land’

(Modified)

Puritan leader John Cotton gave the following sermon to

members of his congregation who were immigrating to America in

1630. Cotton became a respected and influential clergyman in the

Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Open Ended

Who was John Cotton speaking to in this sermon? Why is he speaking about settling in a new land?

‘The Divine Right to Occupy the Land’

(Modified)

The Bible says: “I will appoint (assign) a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more.”

The settling of a people in this or that country is the Lord’s decision.

Now, God makes room for a people in three ways: First, He

drives out the heathens (people who do not believe in God) before them by waging war on the inhabitants (people who live in a place).

Second, He gives a foreign people favor in the eyes of any native people to come and sit down with them.

Third, He makes a country empty of inhabitants where the people will live. Where there is an empty place, the sons of Adam and Noah are free to come and live there, and they neither need to buy it nor ask permission.

Multiple Choice

In this sermon, who are the "foreign people?"

• Puritans

• Native Americans

• Spanish

• settlers of Jamestown

Multiple Choice

What argument did the Puritans use to take Native American land?

• We tried to make peace. Since the Natives refused, we will take it by force.

• God gives Christians the right to occupy land of anyone who is not a Christian.

• God blesses those who obey him.

• Either accept English rule or be killed.

Open Ended

Based on these documents, how do you think the Puritans reacted to the Native Americans they encountered?

Open Ended

How do you think the Native Americans would have felt toward the Puritans? Why?