Winthrop vs Edward

American Literature
7 October 2011
Winthrop VS. Edwards While Winthrop and Edwards are both devoted and faithful Christians, both view Christianity in different aspects. Winthrop viewed and used peaceful ideas of Christianity as a way to convey and teach those the moral standards of Christian values, while Edwards used the element of fear to convey and persuade those from the repentance of sin. In Winthrop’s “A Model of Christian Charity” he describes the ideal Christian society where Christian followers would carrier out the duties and morals standards of God. While on the other hand Edward’s “Personal Narrative” shows his path towards a closer relationship to God and his self-reproach of repentance to sins. In Edwards, persuasive speech he uses the element of fear as a way to persuade his audience in his ideas in finding true salvation thru god. For example, Edwards describes his views on repentance of sin when he refers to his wicked past. “When I look into my heart, and take a view to my wickedness,”…. “but the piercing eye of God’s grace that can pierce even down to such a depth and to the bottom of such an abyss.” (395). He uses it in a way to convey others to follow the right path and expresses his owns sins and flaws as a way to tell his audience that every man can find salvation through God. While Winthrop’s uses more of a logical and reasonable approach by expresses the aspects of love and helping those in need. In his sermon, he greatly express the importance that every individual should help and give all you can to those who need it, and to put one’s own interest aside in the service of God. But he also tells how to observe in how much to lend to an individual; making sure to give to what a person needs rather than what a person wants “Thou must observe whether thy brother hath present or probable, or possible means of repaying thee. If there be none of these, thou must give him according to his necessity, rather than lend him as he requires.”(151). This way people will not over extend themselves but yet still are giving their service to God, their community, and those who need it.
In the sermon “A Model of Christian Charity” Winthrop describes the idea of a peaceful Christian community that’s own laws and government are from and base on Christian values. He wanted to create a society that was not only religiously prosperous but was also economically civil. In doing so, Winthrop believe that his ideal society would be a model society to the entire world. Although Winthrop’s ideas were from positions on what Christian people should do as a whole, Edwards “Personal Narrative”, on the hand, was more for thee individual. Although, Edwards used aggressiveness tactics as a way to express his thoughts he still believe in the idea that you can only finding true salvation thru God and the repentances of your sins.

Works Cited
Rogers, Jay. The Forerunner . March 2008. 7 October 2011.
SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on John Winthrop.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2005. Web. 23 Sept. 2011.
" Jonathan Edwards." 2011. Biography.com 09 Oct 2011, 10:54 " Jonathan Edwards." 2011. Biography.com 09 Oct 2011, 10:54 http://www.biography.com/people/jonathan-edwards-9284916 Edwards, Jonathan. “ Personal Narrative.” The Norton Anthology American Literature 7th Edition Volume A.396-384.
Winthrop, John "A Model of Christian Charity." The Norton Anthology American Literature 7th Edition Volume A.158-147

Cited: Rogers, Jay. The Forerunner . March 2008. 7 October 2011. SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on John Winthrop.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2005. Web. 23 Sept. 2011. " Jonathan Edwards." 2011. Biography.com 09 Oct 2011, 10:54 " Jonathan Edwards." 2011. Biography.com 09 Oct 2011, 10:54 http://www.biography.com/people/jonathan-edwards-9284916 Edwards, Jonathan. “ Personal Narrative.” The Norton Anthology American Literature 7th Edition Volume A.396-384. Winthrop, John "A Model of Christian Charity." The Norton Anthology American Literature 7th Edition Volume A.158-147