The author of this book, whose wand had summoned up such images of terror, was neither a cynic nor a misanthrope, though sickness, which generally brings out these dispositions where they exist, had long been his doom. His attenuated frame and feeble health were joined to genial manners; and, though subject to fits of despondency, he seems generally to have maintained a cheerful temper, so much so that some of his friends believed his ills to be imaginary. Rev. Michael Wigglesworth was born October 28, 1631, probably in Yorkshire, England. He was brought to this country in 1638, being then seven years old, but in what ship we are not informed. His father, Edward Wigglesworth, was one of those resolute Puritans who, with their families, found an asylum where they could enjoy their religion without molestation in our then New England wilderness, the distance of which from their English homes can hardly be appreciated now. Here they suffered the severe hardships of a rigorous climate, the fearful dangers from savage tribes around them, while uniting to build up villages which are now cities, and which still retain some of the characteristics of their Puritan founders. The determined purpose and strength of principle that conquered every obstacle was a school of severe training for the children of that period. It was natural that a father who had endured so much for conscience’ sake should desire to see his only son a clergyman; and, although the father’s means were not large, the son was devoted to the ministry and given a thorough education. Michael, after nearly three years of preparatory studies, entered Harvard College in 1647. Here he had the good fortune to have for a tutor the excellent Jonathan Mitchell, “the glory of the college,” and famous as a preacher. The friendship here begun appears to have continued after both had left the college walls. Probably the eight stanzas “on the following work and its author,” signed J. Mitchel, were written by that tutor and preacher, who was a native of Yorkshire, the county in which Wigglesworth is believed to have been born. In 1651 Mr. Wigglesworth graduated, and was soon after appointed a tutor in the College. Some of his pupils were men of note in their day. Among them were. Rev. Shubael Dummer, of York, Me.; Rev. John Eliot, of Newton; and Rev. Samuel Torry, of Weymouth; but the chief of them, it will be admitted, was Rev. Increase Mather, D.D., pastor of the second church in Boston, and for sixteen years president of Harvard College. That the tutor was faithful to his trust, we have evidence from the sketch of the funeral sermon appended to this work, preached by Rev. Cotton Mather, D.D., son of Increase, who probably derived his information from his father.