Cotton Mather on Extraordinary Spiritual Gifts

I have just finished Lovelace's biography of Cotton Mather. I am still digesting it and will post a few more quotes and thoughts. For today, just a brief post on Cotton Mather's continuationist view of the Holy Spirit. Mather operated prophetically and recognized many others who did as well. Lovelace says the following on p. 184 of his book:

"Mather records in the Magnalia instances of actual prophecy (in the sense of premonitions of coming events) in the ministries of Thomas Hooker, and John Eliot; serveral instances of supernatural guidance by means of "sudden impressions" of "impulses"; and even a case of a vision given in a dream. Mather also records a number of instances in the Diary when he felt himself directly guided under the Spirit's impulse. He also had premonitions concerning the future fate of an Indian slave, the emergence of scandals in his congregation, and certain additions to his library. "¹

And Mather seemed to, for the most part, keep the operation of the gift of prophecy in its proper place.

"A soul sanctified with the Love of God, and of Christ, and of our neighbor, is altogether to be preferred before all the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit."²

"It is best not being too fond of enthusiasms, that may carry you beyond the dispensation of the day."³

More to come...


1. Richard Lovelace, The American Pietism of Cotton Mather, CUP, 1979, 184
2. Richard Lovelace, The American Pietism of Cotton Mather, CUP, 1979, 185
3. Richard Lovelace, The American Pietism of Cotton Mather, CUP, 1979, 185