Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather
#### Full Name and Common Aliases
Cotton Mather was born Increase Mather's son, but he is more commonly known as Cotton Mather due to his adoption by a wealthy merchant named John Cotton. He also went by the alias Cotton.
#### Birth and Death Dates
Born on February 12, 1663, in Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony; died on August 13, 1728, in Boston.
#### Nationality and Profession(s)
American theologian, minister, and writer of Puritan descent. Mather was a member of the Congregationalist Church and served as its pastor at the Old North Church in Boston for over three decades.
#### Early Life and Background
Cotton Mather's early life was marked by his family's strong connection to theology. His father, Increase Mather, was an influential minister and theologian who advocated for a more moderate approach to Puritanism. Cotton's mother, Maria Ballard Mather, came from a respected Congregationalist family. This environment instilled in him a deep understanding of the Bible and its teachings.
As a young man, Cotton pursued his education at Harvard College (now Harvard University), graduating in 1678. He went on to study theology under his father's guidance, eventually becoming ordained as a minister in 1685.
#### Major Accomplishments
Mather achieved several significant milestones throughout his career:
He was one of the earliest American proponents of smallpox inoculation, advocating for its use as early as 1706.
As a scholar and writer, Mather produced numerous works on theology, including The Wonders of the Invisible World, which chronicled the Salem witch trials.
Quotes by Cotton Mather
The New-Englanders are a People of God settled in those, which were once the Devil’s Territories; and it may easily be supposed that the Devil was exceedingly disturbed, when he perceived such a People here accomplishing the Promise of old made unto our Blessed Jesus, That He should have the Utmost parts of the Earth for his Possession.
Wrestle with the Lord. Receive no denial. Earnestly protest, Lord, I will not let thee go, except thou bless this poor child of mine, and make it your own! Do this, until, if it may be, your heart is raised by a touch of heaven, to a particular faith; that God has blessed this child, and it shall be blessed and saved forever.
If we admit instrumental musick in the worship of God, how can we resist the imposition of all the instruments used among the ancient Jews? – yea, dancing as well as playing, and several other Judaic actions? or, how can we decline a whole rabble of church-officers, necessary to be introduced for instrumental musick, whereof our Lord Jesus Christ hath left us no manner of direction?
Ye monsters of the bubbling deep, Your Maker’s praises spout; Up from the sands ye codlings peep, And wag your tails about.
The Spirit of Slumber which the Poison of the old Serpent has brought upon the children of Men is to be deplored exceedingly.
That there is a Devil is a thing doubted by none but such as are under the influence of the Devil. For any to deny the being of a Devil must be from ignorance or profaneness worse than diabolical.
The Word of God must be Read and Heard with Diligence that so you may arrive to the Knowledge that is needful for you.
