God's Call to Young People: A Call to the Rising Generation to Know and Serve God While They Are Still Young

by Cotton Mather, William Cooper, Increase Mather

It was common practice in Puritan churches (particularly in New England) to preach to the young people of the church and the town on a regular basis. It is not surprising to find, then, that the average age of conversion in Puritan England and New England was very early--in many cases between six and eight. Here are some of the greatest of those sermons by eminent preachers of the 17th and 18th centuries, including Increase Mather, Cotton Mather, Charles Chauncy, and Jonathan Edwards.

229 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2001

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.