Cotton Mather (1662/3-1727/8) – famous preacher and theologian. The embodiment of Puritanism for American writers of the 19th and 20th cc

On My Dear Grandchild Simon Bradstreet, Who Died on 16 November, 1669, Being But a Month and One Day Old

Puritan consciousness on the individual level

Anne Bradstreet, a Puritan poet from New England (1612-1672)

From “The Flesh and the Spirit”

The city where I hope to dwell,

There's none on earth can parallel;

The stately walls both high and strong,

Are made of precious jasper stone;

The gates of pearl, both rich and clear,

And angels are for porters there;

The streets thereof transparent gold,

Such as no eye did e'er behold;

A crystal river there doth run,

Which doth proceed from the Lamb's throne.

Of life, there are the waters sure,

Which shall remain forever pure,

Nor sun, nor moon, they have no need,,

For glory doth from God proceed.

No candle there, nor yet torchlight,:

For there shall be no darksome night.

From sickness and infirmity

For evermore they shall be free; '

Nor withering age shall e'er come there,

But beauty shall be bright and clear;

This city pure is not for thee,

For things unclean there shall not be.

If I of heaven may have my fill,

Take thou the world and all that will.

No sooner came, but gone, and fall'n asleep,

Acquaintance short, yet parting caused us weep;

Three flowers, two scarcely blown, the last I’th’bud

Cropt by th' Almighty's hand; yet is He good.

With dreadful awe before Him let's be mute, 5

Such was His will, but why, let's not dispute,

With humble hearts and mouths put in the dust,

Let's say He's merciful as well as just.

He will return and make up all our losses,

And smile again after our bitter crosses 10

Go pretty babe, go rest with sisters twain;

Among the blest in endless joys remain.

(An Early American Reader, Washington, D.C., p.222- 23, 228)

Puritan religious intolerance. “Witch-hunting”.

From the book on Salem witchcraft trials “Wonders of the Invisible World” (1693)

XII. To Crown all, John Ely and William Ely Testify'd, That being Employ’d by Bridget Bishop, to help take down the Cellar-wall of the old House, wherein sih formerly Lived, they did in Holes of the said old Wall find several Poppets, made up of Rags and Hogs Brussels, with Headless Pins in them, the Points being outward. Whereof she could give no Account unto the Court, that was Reasonable or Tolerable.

XIII. One thing that made against the Prisoner was, her being evidently convicted of Gross Lying in the Court, several Times, while she was making her Plea But besides this, a Jury of Women found a preternatural Teat upon her Body, but upon a second search, within Three or four hours, there was no such thing to be seen. There was also an account of other people whom this woman had afflicted. And there might have been many more, if they had been enquired for. But there was no need of them.

XIV. There was one very strange thing more, with which the Court was newly Entertained. As this Woman was, under a Guard, passing by the Great and Spacious Meeting-House of Salem, she gave a Look towards the House. And im­mediately a Daemon Invisibly Entring the Meeting-house, Tore down a part of it; so that tho' there were no person to be seen there, yet the people at the Noise run-ling in, found a Board, which was strongly fastned with several Nails, transported into another quarter of the House.

(An Early American Reader, Washington, D.C., p.280- 281)

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