City upon a hill

I have written about John Winthrop in the past, but I think before an election in which one party has nominated a candidate who made millions of dollars by putting people out of work, Winthrop is worth another look.  

Winthrop was the leader of the Puritan migration to America.  In 1630 he preached a sermon aboard the Arbella before landing in New England.  Republicans often quote from this sermon, adding the word “shining,” as in “shining city upon a hill.”  Reagan even used it in his inaugural address.  

It is a great sermon, but here is the part Republicans leave out.  I have simplified the original spelling.

Now the only way to avoid this shipwreck and to provide for our posterity is to follow the counsel of Micah, to do justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly with our God, for this end we must be knit together in this work as one man, we must entertain each other in brotherly affection, we must be willing to abridge ourselves of our superfluities, for the supply of others’ necessities, we must uphold a familiar commerce together in all meekness, gentleness, patience and liberality, we must delight in each other, make others’ conditions our own, rejoice together, mourn together, labor, and suffer together, always having before our commission and community in the work, our community as members of the same body....

Incidentally, Winthrop used the phrase “city upon a hill” not as self-congratulation, but as a warning, noting that “...the eyes of all people are upon us...,” and if we fail, “...we shall be made a story and a byword through the world.”

Amen.