Winthrop and Thoreau both have a strong respect for community and strong Christian beliefs.  Winthrop wrote his thesis in order to guide the people to live in a peaceful community under the hand of God: "... true Christians are of one body in Christ (1Cor. 12) .  Ye are the body of Christ and members of their part" (paragraph 26).  The Puritan community resembles the body of Christ, in which all parts of it must work together in order for it to function in harmony.  Thoreau also believes that a community should function under the hand of God: " 'so long as the interest of the whole society requires it, that it, so long as the established government cannot be resisted or changed without public inconveniency , it is the will of God... that the established government be obeyed-- and no longer' " (9).  Thoreau states that God is way more powerful than the established government, and decisions should be made under God, not the government. 

The main difference I can see between Winthrop and Thoreau's writings is that Winthrop uses the Bible to back up his statements, whereas Thoreau focuses more on the individual improving his or her own society under God, rather than the government: "But, to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government" (3.)  He believes that the practice of majority- rule should be overruled and abolished, along with slavery. 

Question: I wonder how people who didn't abide by Winthrop's thesis were punished.
Connection: I remember there was a question about Winthrop on the AP US History test my junior year of high school.