In “God’s Promise to His Plantations,” John Cotton presents us with a more in depth look at the beliefs of the Puritans. He tells us of promises God makes to his people and the various ways in which his people will benefit from said promises. This piece is infused with reminders of the consequences of not following God. “But if you rebel against God, the same God that planted you will also root you out again,” (pg. 16) and “Every Plantation his right Hand hath not planted, shall be rooted up but His Own Plantation shall prosper and flourish” (pg. 19) are two quotes that indicate God’s ability to be wrathful towards those who are not followers in good faith; a key factor in the Puritan lifestyle.
The most interesting thing about this reading for me is that it, like “Christian Calling,” provides the reader with a “checklist” of warrantable reasons for conducting oneself; in this case the Removal from one’s current location to another. Some warrantable reasons were: to obtain knowledge, to obtain goods, to plant a colony, to “imploy one’s Talents and Gifts better elsewhere” (pg, 8) and for the liberty of the Ordinances. It was also warrantable to Remove to avoid Evils, if it were commanded by “Soveraign Authority” or if “some Special Providence of God leads a man unto such a course” (pg. 10). Seeing that there were a number of warrantable causes for Removal, is it fair to say that any reason could be deemed warrantable so long as it meets the criteria listed in Cotton’s “checklist,” and thus making it prosperous for God? It is possible that this checklist may serve to provide future generations with an outline of how to create a plantation in the name of God as well as provide the individual Puritan with a greater sense of purpose in times of distress or questioning. Questioning and challenging the Puritan way would have been viewed as a potential for deviation or weakening of the strength of the community. Therefore the individual must be convinced that the way they (the Puritans) are living is the best way to insure salvation.
“God’s Promise to His Plantation” can also be viewed as a means to validate journeying to the New World. The Puritans were escaping persecution and sought to establish a colony devoted to God; which meets two of the points Cotton raises in the first portion of his writing. Upon creating the new colony, they must discern that they have come in the name of God “or else we are but intruders upon God” (pg. 7). These people who leave must also “go forth with a publick spirit” and have “universal helpfulness” unto others (pg. 18). This universal helpfulness reinforces the belief that a close-knit community was essential to better serve God. The idea of placing the community above the individual is something that is hard for many of us to imagine today when we live in a society that stresses individualism, but are we hurting ourselves and our future by not taking care of our neighbors?
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“Go forth, every man that goeth, with a publick spirit, looking not on your own things only, but also on the things of others.” (p 18) is saying that people shouldn’t be ashamed to spread Christ word. “Forget not the womb that bare you, and the breast that gave you suck” this is a reminder to the Christians, if they neglect Christ on earth, He will neglect them in heaven. I believe we are hurting the community by not helping our neighbors. We are suppose to love our neighbors as ourselves. In my church we are taught to reach out to those in need, just like Christ did. Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”. It takes a faithful and dedicated person/group of people to make a difference; if the community sees that dedication, it could start a chain reaction.
ReplyDeleteCurtrina, I think that is much of what John Winthrop thought as well, that they had a responsibility to help out their fellow man as much as was possible. They truly believed that they would do anything to help out others, and that in doing so would be giving their thanks to God by not asking Him to perform miracles for the people they are capable of helping themselves. The idea that one should be willing to part with all posessions and give all for another really shows the generosity of spirit that is celebrated by the Puritans. It is also a way to show that they really did have a synedochic society, sacrificing the comforts of the self for the greater good. There did seem to be a limit to this, however. If you think of the treatment of groups outside their own community (ie. the Indians) then you see there do seem to be exceptions to the rules they choose to live by.
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