The Wonders of the Invisible World: Being an Account of the Tryals of Several Witches:
The Authors Defense
Item
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Identifier
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Husain 5
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Title
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The Wonders of the Invisible World: Being an Account of the Tryals of Several Witches:
The Authors Defense
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Description
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Cotton Mather's observations on the trials of witches in New England. In the account of the trials, Mather aligns them to be devils. The evils the witches seek to spread are brought to a halt by the people of New England. Mather maps out the reaction of the Counsel to the activities of witchcraft, and sets out for improved action against the evil spirits that seek to bring down the English settlers.
John Cotton was a puritan preacher. Cotton originally gave this sermon in England, specifically Southampton, when John Winthrop and other settlers of Massachusetts were set to leave for the new world in 1630. In 1632, Cotton was summoned to the high court, and instead of appearing, he went into hiding until he was able to travel to travel to Boston in 1633. Cotton distanced himself from Anne Hutchinson and her supporters (Henry Vane, John Wheelwright) in order to stay in power. Cotton later married into the Mather family and his grandson is Cotton Mather, a prominent figure in New England for years to come. Cotton’s sermon was particularly important in justifying Winthrop’s adventure to New England. In a way, it was a justification of Winthrop’s venture, and it was an argument for English presence in the Americas. The sermon was also an encouragement for other people to emigrate as well.
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Creator
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Cotton Mather
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Date Created
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1693
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Publisher
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Salem, Mass. : Printed in London in the year 1700. Re-printed in Salem, Massachusetts, 1796, by William Carlton. Sold at Cushing & Carlton's Book-Store, at the Bible and Heart, Essex-Street
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Bibliographic Citation
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Calef, Robert et al. More Wonders of the Invisible World: Or, The Wonders of the Invisible World, Displayed in Five Parts : To Which Is Added, a Postscript, Relating to a Book Entitled, “The Life of Sir William Phips.” Collected by Robert Calef, Merchant, of Boston, in New-England. Salem, Mass: Printed in London in the year 1700. Re-printed in Salem, Massachusetts, 1796, by William Carlton. Sold at Cushing & Carlton’s Book-Store, at the Bible and Heart, Essex-Street, 1797. Print.
