Newcomen, Matthew, Ma

Newcomen, Matthew, M.A., an English Nonconformist divine, was born near the opening of the 17th century, and was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge. He became vicar of Dedham, Essex, from which he was ejected, in 1662, for nonconformity. He then retired to Leyden, where he was minister of a congregation, and died in 1668 or 1669. He was a member of the Westminster Assembly of Divines, and assisted in drawing up their Catechism, and was also present at the Savoy Conference. He was one of the authors of the celebrated answer to bishop Hall on Episcopacy (Lond. 1641, 4to). He wrote also, The Duty of such as would walk worthy of the Gospel to endeavor Union, not Division nor Toleration (a sermon on Php 1:27 [Lond. 1646, 4to]): — Sermon on Revelation 2:3: — Farewell Sermons. See Darling, Cycl. Bibliographica, 2:2173; and Sermons on his death by J. P. (Lond. 1679, 4to); Stoughton, Eccles. Hist. of England (Church of the Restoration), 1:156, 165, 170. (J. N. P.)