Essays to Do Good Addressed to All Christians Whether in Public or Private Capacities

by Cotton Mather

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christianity

236 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1710

About the author

Cotton Mather A.B. 1678 (Harvard College), A.M. 1681; honorary doctorate 1710 (University of Glasgow), was a socially and politically influential New England Puritan minister, prolific author, and pamphleteer. Cotton Mather was the son of influential minister Increase Mather. He is often remembered for his connection to the Salem witch trials.

Mather was named after his grandfathers, both paternal (Richard Mather) and maternal (John Cotton). He attended Boston Latin School, and graduated from Harvard in 1678, at only 16 years of age. After completing his post-graduate work, he joined his father as assistant Pastor of Boston's original North Church (not to be confused with the Anglican/Episcopal Old North Church). It was not until his father's death, in 1723, that Mather assumed full responsibilities as Pastor at the Church.

Author of more than 450 books and pamphlets, Cotton Mather's ubiquitous literary works made him one of the most influential religious leaders in America. Mather set the nation's "moral tone," and sounded the call for second and third generation Puritans, whose parents had left England for the New England colonies of North America to return to the theological roots of Puritanism.

Reviews

[Kimberly McCollum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Earlier this year, I read Ben Franklin's autobiography and this book was mentioned as being influential on Franklin's career of public service. Having now read this book and Franklin's, I can clearly see the influence. There are sections of Mather's book that I found well written, thought-provoking and even inspiring. At the same time, I found much of the advice given to specific professions in the latter parts of the book to be repetitive and no longer applicable to modern circumstances.

[Mike Lisanke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because the latest American history I read, How the Nation was Won, concerns our founding fathers And in particular Ben Franklin who told us he read and was taken by Cotton Mather's work, Essays to Do Good. Some said the Letters from Silence Dogood to Franklin's brother in Newspaper publishing were a self-reference. But the history told us that Franklin and Mather were at odds with the Hell-Fire group advocating satanic lifestyle and in particular they hated Mather as he advocated Small Pox vaccination at the time (which were effective in reducing the virulence of the disease when properly administered). It's amazing how much context adds to history!

My 3 stars simply indicated, this being primarily a religious sermon, that it was well written but not outstanding to me in message! QED