Volume 6

General biography, or, lives, critical and historical of the most eminent persons of all ages, countries, conditions, and professions / chiefly composed by John Aikin and the late Rev. William Enfield.

  • Aikin, John, 1747-1822.
Date:
[1799-1851]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: General biography, or, lives, critical and historical of the most eminent persons of all ages, countries, conditions, and professions / chiefly composed by John Aikin and the late Rev. William Enfield. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    meeting of the Boston freemen, and by his persuasions determined them to reject a mo- tion for that purpose, without a dissenting voice, and to leave the issue to Providence, rather than become the degraded instruments of voluntarily sacrificing their liberties. This act of the Bostonians had no little influence in prevailing on the country in general to imitate their example. Judgment, however, was en- tered in the court of King’s Bench at London against the colony ; and tn 16S6, king James sent a governor with a commission that en- abled him, with three or four others, to make what laws, and to levy what taxes they pleased. Upon the publication of king James's se- cond declaration for liberty of conscience, some of the ministers of New-England and their churches drew up addresses of thanks to him for the benefits which they enjoyed in consequence of it ; and Mr. Mather was pre- vailed upon to-take a voyage to England, for the purpose of presenting them. This com- mission he executed in 1(188, and was favour- ably received by James, before whom he laid the state of the country. While he conti- nued in England the Revolution took place ; upon which he waited on the Prince of Orange, and was instrumental in preventing letters front being sent to New-England, in common with the other colonies, confirming theirotd governor till further orders, which would have been followed by pernicious con- sequences. After the coronation of king William, he frequently waited upon him ; and was assisted by lord Wharton and others, in an attempt to obtain the re-settlement of the Massachusets colony upotl their chartered foundation by an act of parliament, which was frustrated hv its dissolution. After other negotiations, heal length obtained from his majesty a new charter, containing thewhole of the old one, with the addition of new and more ample privileges. Having rendered this essential service to his country, he set sail for it in Ma ch I6p2, in company with sir Wil- liam Phipps, whom I11S majesty sent over governor; and soon after his arrival, at a meeting of the general assembly of the pro- vince, the speaker of die house of represen- tatives returned him public thanks for his faithful and indefatigable endeavours to benefit liis country. Mr. Mather now returned to the care of bis*church; and of Harvard-col- lege. of which he had been chosen president in- 1684, and soon afterwards lie was created doctor of divinity. In the year 1701, the 7. general assembly having very properly deter- mined that the president should in future re- side at Cambridge, he resigned that post, but continued the exercise of his ministerial func- tions till near his death, which took place in 1/23, when his intellectual faculties retained their vigour, and he had arrived at the great age of eighty-four. He was the author of, “ The first Principles of New-England, re- specting the Subject of Baptism and Commu- nion of Churches,” 1675, 4to ; “ A Brief History of the War with the Indians, in New-England, from June 24, 1676, to Au- gust 12, &c16?6, 4to ; “The Divine Right of Infant Baptism, asserted and proved from Scripture and Antiquity,” 1680, 4to; “ Practical Truths, tending to promote God- liness in the Power of it,” 1682; “Diatribe de Signo Fiiii Hominis, et de Secundo Mes- siae Adventu,” 1682, 8vo ; “ De Stic- cessu Evangelii apud Indos, in Nova Anglia, Epist. ad Clar. Vir. D. Job. Leusdenum,' 1688, 8vo; “An Essay for the Recording of Illustrious Providences, wherein an Ac- count is given of many Remarkable and Me- morable Events which have happened in this- last Age, especially in New-England,” 1684, 8vo; “A Discourse concerning Comets,” 1683, 8vo ; “ A Discourse concerning Earthquakes and a variety of “ Sermons,” “ Dissertations,” “ Practical Pieces,” &e. of which a long list may be seen in Calami/’s- Account of ejected Ministers, vol. 1L and Continuation, vol. 1. Wood's Athen. Oxon. vol. II.—M. MATHER, Cotton, son of the prece- ding, and like him a celebrated divine at Bos- ton in New-England, was born at that town, in the year 1662-3. He received his early education at the free school of his native place, under learned and able masters, and: made such an uncommon progress in acquir- ing the Latin and Greek languages, with some knowledge of the Hebrew, that at twelve years of age he was judged to be sufficiently qualified for entering on academical studies. Accordingly, be was admitted to Harvard- college, where he distinguished: himself by his diligence and proficiency in the different branches of literature and science, and per- fected his acquaintance with the Hebrew tongue. It wits- his practice to draw up sy- stems of the sciences, as he studied them, in order to impress them the more deeply on his mind ; and to write remarks on all the books which he read : both excellent m ans of im- provement. At the age of sixteen, he wai.