Spiritual Milk for Boston Babes

Spiritual Milk for Boston Babes is a children's catechism by the English minister John Cotton.^[1] The 1656 catechism is the first known children's book published in the United States.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]}

Cover page of 1656 edition, printed in America

Cover page of 1646 edition, printed in London

Cotton's catechism was originally printed in London during 1646. The New England full version of the work was introduced in 1656, printed by Samuel Green of Cambridge, Massachusetts for the bookseller Hezekiah Usher.^[10] This version was an octavo booklet.

Cotton's catechism consisted of fifteen pages, covering 64 questions and answers relating to the teachings of Puritanism and the Church.^[11] The topics covered included morality, manners, religious life, the Ten Commandments, and the last judgment.^[1] The material included references to specific passages of both the Old Testament and the New Testament, with 203 passages identified. The catechism remained in print in both England and New England for some 200 years after its introduction. There were eight known editions during the 17th century.

Content

Cotton's catechism consisted of fifteen pages of 64 questions and answers relating to teachings of Puritanism and the Church.^[11] It discussed morals, manners, religious life, the Ten Commandments, and the last judgment.^[1] In the seventeenth century, many English catechisms had over 100 questions and answers for the student of Christianity to remember.^[11] The 64 questions and answers in Cotton's catechism made reference to 203 passages from the Old and the New Testaments.^[1] "Spiritual Milk for Boston Babes" and other similar catechisms encapsulate for children the good news of Jesus Christ. "Spiritual Milk" is a witness to the transformative work of Jesus and an encouragement to trust in the redeeming work of God.

Versions

Cotton's catechism was originally printed in London in 1646. The full title in Great Britain was Milk for Babes. Drawn out of the Breasts of Both Testaments. Chiefly, for the Spiritually Nourishment of Boston Babes in Either England: But May Be of Like Use for Any Children. It was printed in London, England, by J. Coe for bookseller Henry Overton.^[12] The short title in Great Britain of the prior original work of 1646 is Milk for Babes.^[13]

The New England full version was called Spiritual Milk for Boston Babes in Either England. Drawn out of the Breasts of Both Testaments for Their Souls Nourishment but May Be of Like Use to Any Children. By John Cotton, B.D. late Teacher to the Church of Boston in New England. Cambridge. Printed by S. G. for Hezekiah Usher at Boston in New England, 1656. Samuel Green of Cambridge, Massachusetts, printed it in 1656 for bookseller Hezekiah Usher.^[10] It was an octavo booklet.^[14] A copy of this book was supposedly purchased by the Lenox Library of Massachusetts for $400 in 1895.^[15] Cotton's catechism remained in print in both England and New England for some 200 years after the mid seventeenth century.^[1] Eight known editions have been identified from the seventeenth century alone.^[1]

Legacy

Spiritual Milk for Boston Babes became part of The New England Primer in the mid of the eighteenth century and remained popular into the mid nineteenth century.^[16] Spiritual Milk for Boston Babes was called "The Catechism of New England".^[17]