John Cotton and John Winthrop were two of 17th century New England’s most influential figures. They are remembered through history for their contributions to the Massachusetts bay colony; Winthrop as one of its political leaders, and Cotton as one of its primary church leaders. Both of these men made various references to the old testament as it relates to the emigration across the Atlantic to the New World.

A sermon delivered by John Cotton in 1630 entitled Gods Promise to His Plantation is one of his most notable, particularly with respect to Puritan emigration interests. In this sermon, Cotton makes his case in defense of the perilous journey into the still-unknown lands of North America, offering them godspeed. As was common of Puritan sermons from that era, Gods Promise was a well-structured sermon containing many complicated chains of reasoning, as well as plenty of numbered lists. Cotton refers to the Old Testament of the Bible during several different points throughout the message.

Toward the beginning of the sermon, Cotton presents his first justification from the Old Testament. He refers to an Old Testament story found in 2 Samuel chapter 7, in which God makes a promise to David. The sermon specifically highlights verse 10, which reads as follows:

Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime.

Cotton notes a “double blessing promised” in this verse; firstly, God’s place of appointment for his people, and secondly, his providing “a plantation of them in that place.” From here, he proceeds into yet another numbered list; this one about the implied blessings of this promise, which include peace and security. This story aligns with his perception of God’s providence in directing the emigrants to the New World.

The sermon continues with further references to the Old Testament. Near the end, Cotton refers to God’s ordinances, stating the following:

Have speciall care that you ever have the Ordinances planted amongst you, or else never looke for security. As soone as Gods Ordinances cease, your security ceaseth likewise; but if God plant his Ordinances among you, feare not, he will maintaine them.”

He then makes mention of Psalm 122:6, a verse of instruction to pray for Jerusalem, stating that those with love for her would prosper, whereas those with hatred would fall to destruction. Cotton equates this to the situation at hand, instructing those to whom the sermon was directed–that is, those departing from England –not to completely forsake their home land, proceeding to make several further analogies to prove his point.

John Winthrop, early leader of the colonists of Massachusetts Bay Colony, likewise referred to the Old Testament in relation to the emigration. He is commonly remembered for his iconic message entitled A Modell of Christian Charity–quoted in centuries since by political figures including Kennedy and Reagan for its “city upon a hill” analogy, terminology borrowed from Jesus’ sermon on the mount in the New Testament–which he delivered shortly before the emigrants’ embarking. However, he is also responsible for Reasons for the Plantation in New England, a document defending the emigration.

Within Reasons, Winthrop’s references from the Old Testament include God’s commandment in Genesis to multiply and replenish the Earth, citing this among eight other reasons of encouragement and justification of the undertaking. Additionally, he mentions in his section on “diverse objections” to the plantation the right to possess and improve land which was not already replenished and subdued, quoting terminology found in Genesis 1:28. He justifies this with further Old Testament principles, mentioning stories of Ephron and Jacob.

In conclusion, both Cotton and Winthrop made numerous references to Old Testament stories and principles in defending the colonists’ emigration from England to the New World. These can be found all throughout both of their notable works.