"If you want to stand for your natural corrupt liberties, and 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 you quietly 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 hearten to good advice from any of you, or in any other way of God; so shall your liberties be preserved in upholding the honor and power of authority amongst you"
According to this excerpt from John Winthrop's essay, liberty to do as you please will make you a corrupt being who is never able to listen to authority. If you give up your liberty, and shackle yourself, and listen to authority, will make you less corrupt. It will allow you not to be selfish and to be closer to God in the process, instead of acting as if you have your own set of rules.
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