Robert Barclay

Robert Barclay ( born December 23, 1648 Gordon Town, Morayshire, † October 3, 1690 in Ury House near Aberdeen) was a Quaker, Theologian and next to George Fox, Margaret Fell and William Penn one of the most important personalities of early Quakerism.

Life

His education was at first strongly influenced by Calvinism. He learned to 1664 in Paris at the Collegium Scotorum, where he came under Roman Catholic influence. 1667, he joined the Quakers, like his father a year earlier.

On his father's country seat Ury in northern Scotland, he devoted himself to private study and wrote his writings. He undertook a number of trips. 1676 brought him for the first time a trip across Holland to Germany. Here he came in person with Countess Palatine Elizabeth, the abbess of Herford, in contact. They even allowed Quäkerandachten in their abbey and sat down with the king of England for their active connivance one. 1677 he traveled again with William Penn and George Fox for mission purposes.

Barclay, who spent five months in prison, had influence at the court of James II and used this for the Quakers.

For the then young Quaker Barclay was of great value, because he built a self-contained theological building for the first time and wording. His works were, firstly, the foundation for a uniform Quäkeridentität and other outward a defense and last but not least a mission typeface that would convince you. The heavily on the Kabbalistic mysticism of George Keith (1638-1716) influenced apology was long considered a major work of the Quakers.

From Barclay no figures are known.

Works

• Truth cleared of Calumny, Amsterdam 1670
• An apology for the true Christian [ ... ], 1678, German translation 1684 ( download PDF )
• A catechism and confession of faith, 1673
• Universal love Considered and established upon its right foundation, 1677