On Witchcraft: Being, The Wonders of the Invisible World, First Published at Boston in Octr. 1692 and Now Reprinted with Additional Matter and Old Wood-Cuts

by Cotton Mather

What makes "The Wonders of the Invisible World" particularly intriguing is how it reflects Mather's attempt to rationalize these events through a lens of faith and reason. He believed that witches existed—entities aligned with Satan—and their eradication was essential for societal salvation.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Classics, Religion, American History, Witches, Occult

172 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1692

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

[Paige Fletcher · Rating 1 out of 5]

New England was a mistake.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

A difficult book to read for a variety of reasons. The language is a bit archaic and confusing, with lots of run-on sentences and an incredible number of commas. The first half of the book is a lengthy screed on biblical values vs. the influences of Satan. The second half, an actual accounting of some of the trials and the supposed crimes of the witches, moves a little more quickly and is a bit more engrossing. Definitely a compelling historical document, but ... not exactly a page turner.

[Dorado Finn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mathers states in his preface, that his critics are simply siding with the devil. I entered this invaluably informative book already feeling slighted, should I dislike his work.

The first chapters provide entertaining perspective, but then the chapters mid-book go on and on about the biblical devil, and the interpretation of his actions. Most of the sentences here read blah, blah, blah.

The final chapters feature court proceedings, and level the evidence against the accused. Mathers states that most readers are here for these chapters, which he calls "entertainment". He's right, concerning this reader.

Other than the blatant one-sidedness with which he views the accused, Mather's also displays double standards and contradicts his own points a few times.

Concerning the accused, whereas Hale believed that it was better to let ten witches free than to hang an innocent, Cotton Mather believed the opposite.

I've wanted to read this book since childhood, after reading about Ichabod Crane's obsession with the Mathers. Now I understand his character a bit more.

[M.W. Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

First let me say: I skimmed a lot of this book. It becomes redundant after a time, notably all the recounts of the trails are about the same. And most of his explanations are similar: in the trails, the bewitched were afraid and fell into fits, everyone was scared who saw it, but when they bind ed the accused the bewitched calmed down; in his explanation about witches: they are real, Satan is behind it, happens in Europe too, Satan is attacking us because we are good people.

However, I think this is an important book as it gives insights into the mind of the Puritan. Mather is utterly convinced of that witches exists and are trying to harm good people. This book should not be read as a novel, but more of a resources for us today. I find the writing difficult at times to follow his meaning. Still, I think it was a good experience for me to read. I recommend this (or sections of it rather) for anyone interested in American History, in Puritan life and world view, or in the Salem Witch Trials.

[Noran Amin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of the worst books I have ever read. Although I like Cotton Mather's rhetorical strategem, and his use of multiple persuasive tools to support his arguments against witches and their alliance with Satan, the narrative is full of false claims. It is also very repetitive, redundant, and wordy.

[Danielle W]

I read this as research for a writing project. It really shed some light on the common beliefs and psychology of Puritans in this period, so it helps. The issue is that it's full of hogwash and the writing is almost indecipherable.

[Willow · Rating 3 out of 5]

How do you even rate a primary source? This man was awful, but he wrote all his awful thoughts down so that we can be less awful in the future.

[Brian Carney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this little treasure in the dark corner of a very old rundown bookstore in rural Wisconsin almost 20 years ago, and it still has that intoxicating old library book smell. 😊 The illustrations in this are so beautiful too! It's unfathomable the level of defense Cotton Mather took in his position to justify the witch trials. Wow! Highly recommended.

[Amanda Castagnoli · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this for research and I don’t even know what to say. Just a bunch of weird rambling.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an amazing example of an unreliable author and poor argumentation. Mather uses gossip, ridiculous coincidences, and obvious lies from the Salem trials to justify witch hunting.

[Ed Walker · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read a download of part of Mather's Wonders of the Invisible World. It is very frightening that the thinking that went into the idiocy depicted in this work detailing the Puritan witch trials continues to influence the American character.

[Per · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly interesting.

[Trevor Woodhouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to see the thinking of people back then and read what happened. A bit too preachy at times and hard to understand due to the old language but intriguing nonetheless.

[Lily Beeson-Norwitz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ughhhhhhh