Contents vi
SAMUEL SEWALL (1652-1730) 51
The Diary of Samuel Sewall 52
[Customs, Courts, and Courtships] 52
EDWARD TAYLOR (1642?-1729) 62
The Preface 63
Meditation 1, First Series 64
Upon Wedlock, and Death of Children 65
Huswifery 66
Meditation 8, First Series 67
The Glory of and Grace in the Church set out 68
Upon a Spider Catching a Fly 69
[Two Meditations on the ÒSong of Solomon,Ó Canticle VI]
Meditation 142, Second Series 70
Meditation 146, Second Series 71
COTTON MATHER (1663-1728) 72
The Wonders of the Invisible World 73
Enchantments Encountered 73
The Trial of Bridget Bishop 75
A Third Curiosity 79
WILLIAM BYRD (1674-1744) 79
The History of the Dividing Line 80
[Indian Neighbors] 80
A Progress to the Mines 82
[Reading a Play in the Backwoods] 82
JONATHAN EDWARDS (1703-1758) 85
Sarah Pierrepont 86
A Divine and Supernatural Light 87
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God 92
Personal Narrative 102
Dissertation: Concerning the End for Which God Created the World 111
Chapter 1: What Reason Teaches Concerning Creation 111
JOHN WOOLMAN (1720-1772) 114
The Journal of John Woolman 116
1720-1742 [Early Years] 116
1757 [Evidence of Divine Truth] 122
1755-1758 [Taxes and Wars] 122
ST. JEAN DE CRéVECÎUR (1735-1813) 126
Letters from an American Farmer 127
What Is an American? 127
Description of Charles-Town; Thoughts on Slavery; On Physical
Evil; A Melancholy Scene 135