who was Cotton Mather, this leading citizen of Puritan society who ministered to such vile men?
Born to the Reverend Increase Mather and Maria Cotton Mather on 12 February 1663, their eldest son was given the names of two of New Englands most esteemed families. Not only was his father a minister, but so were both of his grandfathers and five uncles. At the time of his birth, Boston had a population of 3,000, making it the largest city in North America. As a boy, he grew up to believe in hard work and living a godly life, but sometimes serving for the glory of God and coming to terms with the historical events happening in the world perplexed him. Living by Gods word served as the guiding principle throughout his life. He was taught at an early age to pray several times a day, a practice he continued as an adult. His father, Increase, was Gods spokesman, but even this Calvinist minister recognized that he wasnt the perfect father. Cotton immersed himself in religious education. He read daily from the Bible, five chapters in the morning, five at noontime, and five at night. On Sund
… Cotton immersed himself in religious education.He read daily from the Bible, five chapters in the morning, five at noontime, and five at night.On Sundays, twice daily, he listened to or intoned a pastoral prayer that lasted anywhere from thirty to sixty minutes, then came the sermon, which lasted one to two hours. He was not, however, merely a preacher.Before his teenage years, he learned to speak and read Latin, Greek, and Hebrew.Science intrigued him to such a degree that in 1713 he became the first person born in America to become a member of The Royal Society in England.He often corresponded with the leading scientists of his day, although he believed devils, angels, and witches were as real as the force of gravity, yet he saw no incongruity in such thinking.His interest in scientific study came about at an early age because he began to stammer.At age eleven, he was the youngest person admitted to Harvard College, but his father feared “the Hesitancy in his speech should make h
