The Puritan belief in unconditional election arose most specifically from Romans 8: 29-30 "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." Winthrop's clash with Anne Hutchinson, and indirect undermining of John Cotton expresses how steadfast his views were on this subject. On October 21, 1636 Winthrop says in his journal: "One Mrs. Hutchinson brought over with her two dangerous errors 1. That the person of the Holy Ghost dwells in a justified person. 2. that no sanctification can help to evidence to us our justification" Winthrop fought so strongly against Hutchinson because her dissent presented a major threat to the whole idea of a strictly Puritan utopia in New England. Of course Winthrop felt vindicated when Hutchinson was banished to Rhode Island and delivered a "monstrous birth." Winthrop interpreted this as a sign of the "Will of God." Contrasting views were not to be tolerated, because they undermined the authority in charge of the colony.
In "A Modell of Christian Charity" Winthrop hoped to inspire his companions to build a flawless society, based upon authority and God's love. Immediately, Winthrop states "some must be rich some poor, some high and eminent in power and dignitie; others meane and in subjection." Winthrop feels it is critical that some sort of social hierarchy be established in the colony. After all, he had been a member of the gentry in England, and happened to be one of the wealthier men headed towards New England. However, it is doubtful that Winthrop would make such an appeal for purely selfish reasons, it was probably impossible for him to envision the colony surviving without some sort of class structure.