Samuel Parker (bishop of Oxford) facts for kids

Samuel Parker (1640 – 21 March 1688) was an English church leader. He held strong beliefs that the government should control the church. He was also a strong opponent of religious groups who disagreed with the official church.

People often compare his political ideas to those of Thomas Hobbes. However, there were also clear differences between them. During the time of King James II, Samuel Parker became the Bishop of Oxford. King James II saw him as someone who was fair towards Catholics.

Who Was Samuel Parker?

Early Life and Education

Samuel Parker was born in Northampton, England, in 1640. He was the second son of John Parker, a judge. He went to Northampton Grammar School. Then, he studied at Wadham College, Oxford, starting in 1656.

At Wadham, he lived a very strict Presbyterian life. He earned his first degree in 1659. After the Restoration (when the monarchy returned), his views were not popular. So, he moved to Trinity College. There, his ideas became more moderate. He was ordained as a priest the next year.

Career as a Church Leader

In 1667, Parker became the rector of Chartham, Kent. A rector is a type of priest in charge of a church. In 1670, he became the Archdeacon of Canterbury. Two years later, he was appointed rector of Ickham, Kent. In 1673, he was chosen to lead the Eastbridge Hospital in Canterbury.

He also became a member of the Royal Society in June 1666. This was a group for scientists and thinkers.

Samuel Parker's Ideas and Writings

Views on Philosophy and Science

In 1665, Parker published an essay called Tentamina physico-theologica de Deo. He dedicated it to Archbishop Gilbert Sheldon. Sheldon then made Parker one of his personal assistants.

In 1666-1667, Parker wrote two short books. These books were against a group of thinkers called the Cambridge Platonists. Parker had just joined the Royal Society. He wanted to show that the Society's focus on experiments was different from these thinkers' ideas. His work also criticized other mystical thinkers.

What Was A Discourse of Ecclesiastical Politie?

His most important work was A Discourse of Ecclesiastical Politie (1670). In this book, he argued that the government should control religious matters. It was seen as a very strong attack on religious groups who were not part of the official church.

Parker believed that these groups caused problems for the government. He wanted the government to use strict laws to make them obey. He fully agreed with Thomas Hobbes that the government should have absolute power. Parker said that religion needed the government's care and influence more than anything else.

He also argued that people could not use their conscience to go against public authority. This book caused a lot of debate. John Owen wrote a reply to Parker's book. John Locke also wrote comments on it, but they were not published.

The book also led to a public argument with Andrew Marvell. Marvell wrote two books to respond to Parker's ideas. Marvell was very successful in making Parker look bad. Because of this, Parker did not write about church arguments again until after Marvell died.

Parker's Stance Against Hobbes

Even though Parker's ideas on government power were similar to Hobbes', he strongly attacked Hobbes. Parker accused Hobbes of being an atheist (someone who does not believe in God). This was a common accusation against Hobbes.

In his book A Demonstration of the Divine Authority of the Law of Nature (1681), Parker disagreed with Hobbes. Hobbes believed that human nature was selfish. Parker argued that our understanding of natural law comes from understanding nature itself. It does not need to be something we are born with.

Samuel Parker as Bishop of Oxford

Becoming Bishop and President

King James II made Parker the Bishop of Oxford in 1686. Parker then supported the king's policies. He especially defended the king's right to appoint Roman Catholics to official positions.

In 1687, the Ecclesiastical Commission forced Parker to become the president of Magdalen College, Oxford. The college members had refused to choose any of the king's preferred candidates. This event became a famous reason why King James II eventually lost his throne.

The Magdalen College Dispute

Parker knew early on that the king wanted to use university appointments to help Catholicism. When the president of Magdalen College died, Parker said the king wanted someone who supported his religion.

After the king failed to force another person on the college, he nominated Parker himself. Parker was ill at the time. The college members refused to elect him. They had already chosen John Hough. The king visited Oxford, but it did not help.

Finally, the Ecclesiastical Commission came to the college. They forced Parker to become president by the king's order. They entered the college buildings and put him in charge.

Parker moved into the college on November 2. Over the next four months, he allowed Catholic members into the college. This included several Jesuits, following orders from the king. Parker tried to get the college members to accept him as president, but they refused. He even expelled some students who did not obey.

There were rumors that Parker had suggested giving one college in Oxford to Catholics. But then, the king ordered him to admit nine more Catholics as members. Parker became very angry and his health got worse. He died on March 21, 1688.

Samuel Parker's Beliefs

People often thought Samuel Parker was a Roman Catholic. This was because of his actions at Magdalen College. However, his actions were also in line with a strong belief in "passive obedience." This idea meant that people should always obey the king, no matter what.

When Catholic priests tried to convince him to join the Roman Church on his deathbed, Parker refused. He said he had never been and would never be of that religion. He died as a member of the Church of England.

Family Life

Samuel Parker died in Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1688. He was buried in the college chapel. His second son, also named Samuel Parker (1681–1730), became a writer.

Works by Samuel Parker

• Tentamina Physico-Theologica de Deo. London: 1665.
• An Account of the Nature and Extent of the Divine Dominion & Goodnesse. Oxford: 1666.
• A Free and Impartial Censure of the Platonick Philosophie. Oxford: 1666.
• A Discourse of Ecclesiastical Politie. London: 1670.
• A Defence and Continuation of the Ecclesiastical Politie. London: 1671.
• A Discourse in Vindication of Bp Bramhall and the Clergy of the Church of England. London: 1673.
• A Reproof to the Rehearsal Transprosed. London: 1673.
• Disputationes de Deo et Providentia Divina. London: 1678.
• A Demonstration of the Divine Authority of the Law of Nature and of the Christian Religion in Two Parts. London: 1681.
• The Case of the Church of England. London: 1681.
• An Account of the Government of the Christian Church for the First Six Hundred Years. London: 1683.
• Religion and Loyalty. London: 1684.
• Religion and Loyalty, the Second Part. London: 1685.
• Reasons for Abrogating the Test Imposed upon All members of parliament. London: 1688.
• A Discourse Sent to the Late King James. London: 1690.
• History of His Own Times. London: 1727.