His book, bonifacius, or essays to do good 1710, instructs others in. Although cotton insists the book is not written in an evil spirit or with any prejudice, he writes of the trials of accused witches such as bridget bishop saying there was little occasion to prove. Those who can find this book will not be disappointed. Yet, the book makes it clear why so many of cotton mathers books are still available in modern editions, as the goodreads list clearly shows. Cotton mather wrote and published more than 400 works. I originally bought this book to explore the mentality that lead to some of the strangest behaviors. Cotton mather has 193 books on goodreads with 3882 ratings. His manuductio ad ministerium 1726 was a handbook of advice for young graduates to the ministry.
Cotton mather was a brilliant, erudite, accomplished and charitable man. Cotton s father increase, was a respected judge in the same community. A religious fanatic who approved of and condoned the salem witch trials and executions, he was also a scientific literate who urged adoption of vaccination at a time when smallpox epidemics were. Besides his involvement with the witch trials in salem during the 1690s, cotton mather is remembered as one of the most influential puritan ministers of his day. Never achieving his fathers success as a political leader or president of harvard, cotton made his mark through his efforts as a master of the pen. Cotton mather has 193 books on goodreads with 3885 ratings. List of books and articles about cotton mather online research. It is a highly intelligent, keenly insightful, and scholarly yet readable account of a very remarkable man. Cotton mather has 194 books on goodreads with 3909 ratings. On witchcraft by mather, cotton author aug 2005 paperback cotton mather isbn. Cotton mather american religious leader britannica. They made unlikely bedfellows, yet when franklin was eleven, he read mathers book, essays to do good. This book contains the first account of these trials written by cotton mather 1663 1728, one of the leading religious authorities of the second generation of puritan settlers in boston. Salem witchcraft and cotton mather english edition ebook.
Cotton mathers has been harshly misjudged by many historians. Although cottons words describe, and to some degree justify the trials and deaths in salem that year, the book is anything but resolved with regards to mathers true feelings about the trials. His magnum opus was magnalia christi americana 1702, an ecclesiastical history of america from the founding of new england to his own time. Yet, the book makes it clear why so many of cotton mather s books are still available in modern editions, as the goodreads list clearly shows.
Books by cotton mather author of on witchcraft goodreads. A religious fanatic who approved of and condoned the salem witch trials and executions, he was also a scientific literate who urged adoption of vaccination at a time when smallpox epidemics were recurrent catastrophes in new england. This treatise is a fair and extremely valuable account of the events of 1692. Cotton mather mather, cotton, 16631728 the online books page. Essays to do good deusnet book project apr 12, 2017.