John Winthrop

So one of our bookstores in the mall went out of business so of course before it did I had to go check out the deals. I got this really cool book called The Greatest American Speeches. I love hearing speeches because there so inspiring and passionate. Kinda a random book for me to buy but so far I love it.
The first speech in the book is by John Winthrop. In 1645 he was accused of exceeding his power and him and other magistrates were impeached following an incident in which people believed that they had involved themselves unnecessarily in a local election. I thought the speech he gave when leaving office was really quite good.

"When you see infirmities in us, you should reflect upon your own, and that would make you bear the more with us, and not be severe censurers of the failings of your magistrates, when you have continual experience of the like infirmities in yourself and others.
...This liberty is maintained and exercised in a way of subjection to authority; it is of the same kinda of liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free. The woman's own choice makes such a man her husband. Yet, being so chosen, he is her lord, and she is to be subject to him, yet in a way or liberty, not of bondage; and a true wife accounts her subjection her honor and freedom, and would not think her condition safe and free but in her subjection to her husband's authority. Such is the liberty of the church under the authority of Christ, her kinda and husband.
...If you stand for your natural corrupt liberties, and will do what is good in your own eyes, you will not endure the least weight of authority, but will murmur, and oppose, and be always striving to shake off that yoke. But if you will be satisfied to enjoy such civil and lawful liberties, such as Christ allows you, then will you quietly and cheerfully submit unto that authority which is set over you, in all the administrations of it, for your good. Wherein, if we fail at any time, we hope we shall be willing, by God's assistance, to hearken to good advice from any of you, of in any other way of God. So shall your liberties be preserved, in upholding the honor and power of authority amongst you."