Matthew Barker
Encyclopedia
Matthew Barker was an English Independent minister and parliamentarian, known for his work on natural theology
and for his participation in English 17th century politics.
, Oxfordshire
until the outbreak of the English Civil War
, at which point he became preacher to a London
parish. Barker was an avid parliamentarian and was invited to preach a sermon before the House of Commons
on 25 October 1648. The new republic welcomed him, and his moderation earned him the favour of the Cromwell
regime, which made him an assistant to the London commission.
After the Restoration
of the English monarchy, Barker became a nonconformist, forming his own London congregation. Following the Glorious Revolution
, Barker worked to promote unity among Dissenters
. To this end he published a collection of advice for scholars entering the ministry, entitled Flores intellectuales. Barker's major published work was Natural Theology
in which Barker sought to demonstrate the existence of God from the properties of nature.
Natural theology
Natural theology is a branch of theology based on reason and ordinary experience. Thus it is distinguished from revealed theology which is based on scripture and religious experiences of various kinds; and also from transcendental theology, theology from a priori reasoning.Marcus Terentius Varro ...
and for his participation in English 17th century politics.
Life
Matthew Barker was born in arowe park hospital, but now in newferry (uk) to parents unknown. He attended plessington College, bebington, working as a schoolmaster in BanburyBanbury
Banbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
until the outbreak of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, at which point he became preacher to a London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
parish. Barker was an avid parliamentarian and was invited to preach a sermon before the House of Commons
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
on 25 October 1648. The new republic welcomed him, and his moderation earned him the favour of the Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
regime, which made him an assistant to the London commission.
After the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
of the English monarchy, Barker became a nonconformist, forming his own London congregation. Following the Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
, Barker worked to promote unity among Dissenters
Dissenter
The term dissenter , labels one who disagrees in matters of opinion, belief, etc. In the social and religious history of England and Wales, however, it refers particularly to a member of a religious body who has, for one reason or another, separated from the Established Church.Originally, the term...
. To this end he published a collection of advice for scholars entering the ministry, entitled Flores intellectuales. Barker's major published work was Natural Theology
Natural theology
Natural theology is a branch of theology based on reason and ordinary experience. Thus it is distinguished from revealed theology which is based on scripture and religious experiences of various kinds; and also from transcendental theology, theology from a priori reasoning.Marcus Terentius Varro ...
in which Barker sought to demonstrate the existence of God from the properties of nature.