In the same year also died Samuel Parker at Oxford. He was the son of the Bishop of Oxford, whose proceedings in the case of Magdalen College, in the reign of King James, rendered him somewhat notorious. His particular friends were Hickes, Collier, Dodwell, Leslie, Nelson, and Grabe: with whom he was accustomed to associate, being engaged, as they also were, in learned and laborious pursuits. His works were various and valuable, but perhaps the most important is his Bibliotheca Biblica.[1] It is thought that his death was hastened by his great exertions in writing this learned work. To the last volume of his Bibliotheca Biblica, published after his decease, a sketch of his life is prefixed, in which the writer says: "he had from the beginning embraced the principles of the Nonjurors, and as he constantly observed a strict uniformity in his principles and practice, he thought himself obliged to refuse those advantages of preferment, which not only his parts and education seemed to entitle him to, but which were actually offered to him." The same writer, alluding to the Bibliotheca, says, "In short it was the unhappy occasion of his death." The following MS. memorandum is written on the flyleaf of a copy of the Bibliotheca now before me: "On Tuesday, Oct. 1733. Died at Oxon, of the Dropsie, the great and learned Mr. Samuel Parker, son of the Bishop of Oxford of that name, and author of various learned
- ↑ Bibliotheca Biblica. Being; a Commentary upon all the Books of the Old and New Testament. Gathered out of the genuine Writings of the Fathers, and Ecclesiastical Historians, and Acts of Councils, down to the year of our Lord 451, being that of the fourth General Council: and Lower, as occasion may require, &c. 4to. Oxford, 1720. Six Volumes only, including the Pentateuch, were published.
