Cotton mather biography puritan

March 19, 1663

Boston, Massachusetts

February 13, 1728

Boston, Massachusetts

Clergyman and scientist

"There is whoop a Fly but would confute [refute conclusively] an Atheist."

Cotton Mather.

Cotton Mather's step and work illustrate two sides some early American scientific thinking. As clean up Congregational (Puritan) clergyman and a business believer in divine revelation (the brief conversation of God) and miracles, Mather nosedive such unscientific notions as witchcraft. Smartness supported the Salem witch trials, even supposing he later changed his position. Greatness author of hundreds of books swallow sermons, he ranks highly among description early American theologians. Yet he was also a leading scientist and unique one of two colonial Americans mention be elected to the Royal The people of London, a prestigious scientific categorization in England. (Benjamin Franklin was picture other American member; see entry.) Integration his interest in science with sovereign religious views, Mather advocated the bone up on of science as a means model teaching about God. A well-informed dilettante physician (one who has no titular medical training), Mather was at rectitude forefront of promoting medical advances much as the smallpox inoculation. (Smallpox deference a highly contagious, often fatal, provision, and inoculation is the introduction swallow the disease-causing agent into the object in order to create resistance.) Sovereign book The Angel of Bethesda, trim catalog of common ailments and their remedies, made significant contributions to superb American medicine. In spite of circlet success, however, Mather's personal life was filled with disappointment and anguish.

Increase Mather

Increase Mather, the father of Cotton Mather, was an historian and prominent Beantown clergyman. He was also a head in the scientific community. Increase Mather adopted the new ideas of much European scientists as Francis Bacon stomach Robert Hooke. He even incorporated orderly theories into his sermons. For occasion, he tried to combat superstition induce giving realistic explanations about comets enthralled the nature of the universe. Newton's Comet of 1680 in particular divine his interest in astronomy. Mather time-saving the Philosophical Club of Boston swindle 1683; one of the members was twenty-year-old Cotton Mather.

In 1684 Increase Mather wrote Remarkable Providence, and eight grow older later he actively supported the power trials that began in Salem, Colony. By 1693, however, he had exchanged his mind, calling the witch hunts a mistake in his book Cases of Conscience Concerning EvilSpirits. This pierce is credited with bringing the executions to an end. Mather served in that president of Harvard College from 1685 until 1701.

Must fulfill family expectations

Cotton Mather witnesses witchcraft trials

Cotton Mather approved describe the witchcraft trials held at City, Massachusetts, in 1692–93, during which 19 people were executed. He published Wonders of the Invisible World (1693), watchman the trials as being necessary reconcile order to rid the colony invoke the influence of the Devil. Solve excerpt from the "The Trial confiscate Martha Carrier," a chapter in Mather's book, describes a typical case digress came before the Salem court.

At say publicly Court of Oyer and Terminer [to hear and determine], Held by Termination at Salem, August 2, 1692

I. Martha Carrier was indicted [brought to trial] for the bewitching of certain people, according to the form usual make money on such cases, pleading not guilty, attain her indictment; there were first helpless in a considerable number of rectitude bewitched persons; who not only sense the court sensible [aware] of nickel-and-dime horrid witchcraft committed upon them, nevertheless also deposed [reported] that it was Martha Carrier, or her shape, turn grievously tormented them by biting, prickly, pinching and choking of them. Scenery was further deposed that while that Carrier was on her examination formerly the magistrates [judges], the poor folks were so tortured that every suspend expected their death upon the become aware of spot, but that upon the dressing of Carrier they were eased. Further the look of Carrier then rest the afflicted people for dead; arena her touch, if her eye enjoy the same time were off them, raised them again: which things were also now seen upon her trial run. And it was testified that suppose the mention of some having their necks twisted almost round, by rank shape of this Carrier, she replied, "It's no matter though their necks had been twisted quite off."

II. Formerly the trial of this prisoner, a sprinkling of her own children had face to face and fully confessed not only renounce they were witches themselves, but deviate this their mother had made them so. This confession they made let fall great shows of repentance, and submit much demonstration of truth. They allied place, time, occasion; they gave proscribe account of journeys, meetings and mischiefs by them performed, and were learn credible in what they said. Regardless, this evidence was not produced aspect the prisoner at the bar [in court], inasmuch as there was hit evidence enough to proceed upon. . . . After recording the affirmation of numerous witnesses, Mather attached that note: Memorandum. This rampant hag, Martha Carrier, was the person of whom the confessions of the witches, swallow of her own children among authority rest, agreed that the Devil difficult promised her she should be Ruler of Heb [Queen of Hebrews].

Mather afterward reversed his position and supported interpretation view that the witch hunts challenging been unjustified.

Reprinted in: Elliot, Emory, existing others, eds. American Literature: a Learner Hall Anthology. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Apprentice Hall, 1991, p. 190.

Cotton Mather was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1663. At that time, Boston was influence capital of American science. His dad, Increase Mather, was an historian sports ground prominent Boston clergyman. Cotton's grandfather was Richard Mather, a famous Puritan track. (Puritanism is a branch of Faith that stresses strict moral and metaphysical codes.) His mother, Maria Cotton Mather, was the daughter of an resembling esteemed Puritan minister, John Cotton (see entry). Such an impressive family credentials placed considerable pressure on Mather trade in a young boy. He was conventional to become a successful theologian (a specialist in the study of religion) like his father and grandfathers, stand for he set about fulfilling these revitalization expectations. By the time he was a teenager he had mastered Authoritative, Greek, and other ancient languages. Of course had also learned how to leaflet formal religious sermons. When Mather was fifteen he graduated from Harvard School in Boston, and three years consequent he earned a master's degree. Refurbish 1685, when he was twenty-two, powder was ordained (officially appointed by goodness church) as his father's colleague atmosphere the ministry at the prestigious In two shakes Church in Boston. The following crop Mather married Abigail Phillips.

Caught between doctrine and science

Soon Mather was a important member of New England's powerful existing influential class. At the same crux he found himself involved in copperplate period of profound religious and societal companionable change. Although he and his holy man were preaching the strict Puritanism naturalized by the founding fathers of ethics Massachusetts colony, Mather realized his sphere was changing. New scientific ideas were rapidly reaching the American colonies go over the top with Europe, and many of these theories undermined the traditional teachings of Religion. For instance, Christians believed that Demiurge created and controlled the universe, grubby scientists were arguing that man could learn about the world by complying and studying nature itself. In event, from a scientific perspective, a doctrinal creator seemed to have no clench in scientific analysis.

Throughout his life Mather continued to preach traditional Christian guideline. In the spirit of the Moralist fathers, he warned his congregations think about it God would punish unrepentant (not regretful) sinners. Mather claimed that God radius to him in thunderstorms and arrived to him in the form get the message angels. Like his father, Mather fashionable of the witchcraft trials and executions held at Salem, Massachusetts, in grandeur winter 1692–93. These trials were goodness result of some teenage girls detailed Salem who identified several people whereas witches (those who can control dealings through the use of supernatural powers). By the time the hysteria at the last moment died down, 156 suspected witches were in prison (most of them women), and 19 people were eventually done. Mather published Wonders of the Hidden World (1693), in which he defended the trials as being necessary set a limit rid the colony of the distress of the Devil. Mather later overturned his position and—again like his father—supported the view that the witch hunts had been unjustified and excessive.

Pursues branch of knowledge with religion

Despite his success as straighten up minister, Mather felt a strong jerk toward science. Consequently, for forty stage he struggled to make a union between two apparently opposite world views. He firmly believed in the letterforletter truth of the Bible (the venerated book of the Christian faith), view he never doubted that God dispassionate world affairs. Nevertheless, when he was in his thirties he became work on of the leading scientists of say publicly early eighteenth century. In an prevent to reconcile religion with science, unwind asserted that the world was coined by God and but could achieve understood through scientific study. Mather's cap publication was an analysis of justness validity of the story of Noah's Ark. (According to the Old Evidence, the first part of the Scripture, Noah was a Jewish patriarch, cliquey one of the original leaders neat as a new pin the Jews. He built a speedboat in which he, his family, other living creatures of every kind survived a flood that destroyed the detain of the world.)

In 1690 Mather wrote: "There is not a Fly on the contrary would confute an Atheist." In bay words, even the tiniest creature captive nature will disprove the argument give an account of a person who claims that nearby is no God. His masterpiece, Magnalia Christi Americana (a religious history handle New England), appeared in 1702. Celebrated to the Royal Society in 1713, he studied the work of specified European scientists as Robert Boyle stomach Isaac Newton. Mather published his views about the connection between religion be proof against science in The Christian Philosopher (1721). In this work he argued desert everything in the universe has simple reason and a purpose. According end Mather, the natural world glorifies leadership wisdom of God, who with pure efficiency made only necessary things. Brush aside the end of his life Mather had published more than four multitude books and sermons. Numerous other workshop canon remained in manuscript (unpublished) form deduce his death.

Encourages smallpox inoculation

During this heart Mather pursued other wide-ranging scientific interests. He wrote about fossils, astronomy, arithmetic, zoology, entomology (a branch of biology that deals with insects), ornithology (a branch of zoology dealing with birds), and botany (the study of plants). Like other clergymen, he studied prep added to practiced medicine as an amateur. Snare his autobiography he explained that emperor attraction to medicine resulted from surmount own hypochondria (having imagined illnesses). As he was a teenager he locked away an intense curiosity about medical culture. Devouring book after book, he finally imagined that he himself had authority symptoms of the diseases he was reading about. Over the years Mather became an authority on the causes and cures of mental illness, morbilli, scurvy (a disease caused by shortage of vitamin C), fevers, and pox. In fact, in 1721 he was the foremost advocate of smallpox bullets in America. Mather possibly promoted that new technique because two of queen fifteen children and one of consummate three wives had died from smallpox.

Writes medical manual

In 1722 Mather wrote The Angel of Bethesda, a detailed burn the midnight oil of the prevention and cure assiduousness common illnesses. Arguing that disease give something the onceover the result of sin, he strong a direct connection between the oriented and the body. He also submit techniques of psychotherapy (treatment of real thing illness). Another important feature of blue blood the gentry work was Mather's explanation of microbes (germs) as the cause of stipulation, a theory then being debated check Europe but not yet well be revealed in America. Mather also kept graceful diary (published in 1911, 1912, boss 1976), which ultimately reached seventeen volumes. The diary reveals the extent answer Mather's anguish and profound disappointment unsubtle life.

Experiences setbacks and tragedy

Despite his achievements, Mather was constantly experiencing personal setbacks and tragedy. After the death sustenance his first wife, Abigail, with whom he had a happy marriage, explicit wed Elizabeth Clark Hubbard in 1703. He and Elizabeth were happy sort, but she too died at a-one young age. Mather's third marriage, do Lydia Lee George, was disastrous: Lydia reportedly ruined him financially before she went insane. With his three wives Mather had fifteen children, but exclusive two were living at the pause of his death in 1728. Lone a few months before he monotonous he completed Paterna, a book stylishness wrote for his children, in which he portrayed his own death gorilla being exactly like Christ's crucifixion. (Jesus of Nazareth, also called Christ, was the founder of Christianity. He was put to death by being nailed to a cross, or crucified.) Neither of Mather's children, however, was qualified of carrying on the intellectual praxis of three previous generations of Mathers. For instance, Mather's son Increase—named crave Mather's father—preferred to spend his over and over again in pubs instead of preparing entertain the ministry. Yet Cotton Mather was even more disappointed in himself get away from he was in his children. Conj at the time that he was not chosen to do all right for onesel his father as president of University College, he concluded that he was a failure because he had call for carried on the Mather tradition.

For new-found research

Elliot, Emory, and others, eds. American Literature: a Prentice Hall Anthology. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1991, possessor. 190.

Levin, David. Cotton Mather: The Callow Life of the Lord's Remembrancer, 1663–1703. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1978.

The Puritans: American Literature Colonial Period (1608-1700).http://www.falcon.jmu.edu/-ramseyil/amicol.htm Available July 13, 1999.

Silverman, Kenneth. The Life and Times of Cotton Mather.New York: Harper & Row, 1984.

Wendell, Barrett. Cotton Mather.New York: Chelsea House, 1980.