First Edition Colonial Tract Concerning the Baptism of Children

John Cotton. THE GENERAL PRACTICE OF THE CHURCHES OF NEW-ENGLAND, RELATING TO BAPTISM, VINDICATED: OR, SOME ESSAYS ON THIS IMPORTANT QUESTION, WHETHER THE PRACTICE OF PERSONS OWNING OR RENEWING THE COVENANT, AND HAVING BAPTISM FOR THEIR CHILDREN WITHOUT COMING IMMEDIATELY INTO FULL COMMUNION, BE WARRANTABLE? DELIVERED AT SEVERAL CHURCH-MEETINGS IN PLYMOUTH. WITH SOME LETTERS THAT PASSED ON THE SUBJECT. Boston: Printed and Sold by Ezekiel Russell, next the Cornfield, in Union-Street, [1772]. First edition. Stab-sewn pamphlet. 4to; [A4] B4-K4 (K4v blank); [6], [1]-73, [1]pp. ESTC W12384; Sabin 17100; Evans 12367.

7 1/2 x 4 7/8 in.

Private North Carolina Collection

John Cotton (1712-1789) was an author, minister, and Harvard graduate based in Halifax and Plymouth, Massachusetts. One of several works published by Cotton, this tract consists of three essays and several letters, and argues that children had a right to be baptized even if their parents were "owning or renewing the covenant" but were not in full communion with the church. Chandler Robbins later published his response to Cotton's arguments asserting his opposing stance.

Remnants of old tissue at margins of first and last page; leaves with wear as expected without protective wraps or boards, including fraying with some small chips and tears, with the heaviest wear on first and last leaves (staining and the half-title with a 1-in. tear and corner loss); very light scattered foxing to leaves with an occasional spot of grime, pencil notations, and many early notations and corrections in ink, with text pages overall very clean; corner of half-title blank verso with small typed bio on Cotton tipped in. Good or better, especially for its age.