[3] Francis Bayard Winthrop donated a manuscript titled "A Modell of Christian Charity" to the New-York Historical Society in 1809.

[6] Textual scholar Jerome McGann reports that "all of the pertinent contextual evidence" corroborates the sermon as having been given in England and not aboard the Arbella.

[8] Literary scholar Abram Van Engen states it "is plausible" that Phillips wrote the sermon and calls "McGann's evidence compelling".

[9] Historian Matthew Rowley writes that there "is considerable debate about when, where, and if Winthrop publicly delivered this famous discourse, and even if he was the author".

[11] The sermon begins, "God Almighty in his most holy and wise providence, hath so disposed of the condition of mankind, as in all times some must be rich, some poor, some high and eminent in power and dignity; others mean and in subjection."

He warns them that "the Lord will surely break out in wrath against us" if they fail to fulfill that commission by putting the interests of others and of the colony above their own interests: …if we shall neglect the observation of these articles which are the ends we have propounded, and … shall fall to embrace this present world and prosecute our carnal intentions, seeking great things for ourselves and our posterity, the Lord will surely break out in wrath against us, and be revenged of such a people, and make us know the price of the breach of such a covenant.Winthrop calls upon his listeners to commit themselves to brotherly love and unity, setting the needs of others and of the community above one's own needs.

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.

Application: Applying the sermon to the Puritans' personal lives and to the "divine world" mentioned in his text, meaning the community which they are going to build in America.

[16] Several figures in U.S. politics—beginning as early as John Adams[17]—have referenced this text in public speeches when conveying themes of unity and idealism, most often citing the symbol of “a city upon a hill.” In his 1980 election eve speech, Ronald Reagan asserted his belief that “Americans…are every bit as committed to that vision of a shining city on a hill, as were those long ago settlers.”[18] More recently, public figures have utilized the sermon to argue how far the United States has strayed from its values.