(Dr Cotton), an eminent American divine, born at Boston in New England in the year 1663. He was educated in Harvard college, and in 1684 became minister of Boston; in the diligent discharge of which office he spent his life, and promoted several excellent societies for the public good; particularly one for suppressing disorders, one for reforming manners, and a society of peace-makers, whose professed business it was to compose differences and prevent law-suits. His reputation was not confined to his own country: for in 1710, the university of Glasgow sent him a diploma for the degree of doctor in divinity; and, in 1714, the Royal Society of London chose him one of their fellows. He died in 1728; and is said to have published in his life-time 382 pieces, including single sermons, essays, &c. Yet several were of a larger size, among which was Magnalia Christi Americana, or an Ecclesiastical History of New-England, from its first planting in 1620 to 1698, folio. But the most remarkable of all his works was that in which, like Glanville, he defended the doctrine of witchcraft. We shall content ourselves with giving the title at large, which is as follows: "The wonders of the invisible world; being an account of the trials of several witches lately executed in New-England, and of several remarkable curiosities therein occurring. Together with, 1. Observations on the nature, the number, and the operations of the devils. 2. A short narrative of a late outrage committed by a knot of witches in Swedenland; very much resembling, and so far explaining that under which New-England has laboured. 3. Some counsels directing a due improvement of the terrible things lately done by the unusual and amazing range of evil spirits in New-England. 4. A brief discourse upon the temptations which are the more ordinary devices of Satan. By Cotton Mather; published by the special command of his excellency the governor of the province of Massachusetts Bay in New-England." Printed first at Boston in New-England, and reprinted at London, in 1736, 4to.