BA RLOW, THOMAS, was born at Langhill, in Westmoreland, in the year 1607 ; and was descend ed from the ancient family of Barlow-Moore in Lan cashire. He received the first elements of his educa tion at the free school of Appleby ; and, in the six teenth year of his age, removed to Queen's College in Oxford, of which he was chosen a fellow in 1633. Two years afterwards, he was appointed metaphysi cal reader in the university; and his lectures were published in 1637, for the use of the students. In .1652, he was elected head-keeper of the Bodleian Library ; and, about the same time, was appointed lecturer of Church-hill, near Budford. In 1657, he was chosen provost of his college ; and, after the re storation of Charles II., was nominated one of the commissioners, for reinstating the members, who had been ejected by the parliament in 1648. In 1660, he was admitted Margaret professor of divinity ; in the following year was elected archdeacon of Oxford; and in 1675, became bishop of Lincoln. He died at Bugden, in Huntingdonshire, in 1691,in the 85th year of his age. He bequeathed his books partly to the Bodleian Library, and partly to Queen's College in Oxford; and all his manuscripts of his own compo sition to his two domestic chaplains, William Wiley, and Henry Brougham, with a particular request, that they should not be made public. The principal of his works that have been published, are his Me taphysical Lectures, a Treatise on Toleration, the Gunpowder Treason, Advice to a Young Divine, Miscellaneous Cases of Conscience, Genuine Remains,.
a variety of letters and pamphlets, but particularly a. number of powerful attacks upon the system of po pery. Bishop Barlow was a man of the most exten sive literary attainments ; intimately acquainted with the learned languages ; eminently skilled in theology, church history, civil and ecclesiastical law ; and tho roughly master of the controversies between the Pro testants and Papists. He was entirely addicted to the Aristotelian philosophy, and keenly hostile to those improvements in physical science, which were introduced by the Royal Society. He was a rigid adherent to the sentiments of Calvin, and a devoted admirer of the school divinity. In his episcopal cha racter, he has been justly censured for never appear. ing in his cathedral and visiting his diocese ; and his political conduct during the troublesome period,. in which he lived, was of the most timorous and time-serving description. He was possessed, how. ever, of many excellent qualities;" was ever ready to befriend the learned of every country and denomina tion; and displayed more just and liberal sentiments on the subject of toleration than any individual of his time. See Biog. Britannica, and Biog. Dictionary Grainger's Biog. Hist. of England, vol. iv. (q)