  robert abbot (1588? - 1662?) was an english theologian who promoted puritan doctrines. he is sometimes mistakenly described as the son of the archbishop of canterbury, george abbot, but this is generally considered to be incorrect. the misunderstanding probably stems from a passage in robert abbot's work a hand of fellowship to helpe keepe out sinne and antichrist, in which he thanks the archbishop for "worldly maintenance," "best earthly countenance" and "fatherly incouragements." ==biography== robert abbot received his education at cambridge university, and later at oxford university. the details of abbot's ecclesiastical career are somewhat unclear, and can only be pieced together from fragmentary evidence, but based on something he wrote in his work bee thankfull london and her sisters, it is probable that he began his church service with a posting as "assistant to a reverend divine". a note in the margin indicates that the reverend in question was "master haiward of wool church", in dorset. in 1616, it is known that he was appointed by george abbot to the vicarage of cranbrook in kent. his ministry at cranbrook was regarded as successful, but he was noted for his lack of tolerance towards nonconformists. in 1643, abbot left cranbrook, becoming vicar of southwick, hampshire. later, he became pastor at the "extruded" udall of st austin's, in london, where he apparently still served in 1657. between 1657 and 1658, and in 1662, abbot appears to vanish from record, and his activities are unknown. ==written works== robert abbot's books are conspicuous amongst the works of his time by their terseness and variety. in addition to those mentioned above he wrote triall of our church-forsakers (1639), milk for babes, or a mother's catechism for her children (1646), and a christian family builded by god, or directions for governors of families (1653). ==references==  ;attribution  cited authorities: *brook's puritans, iii. 182, 3; *john walker's sufferings, ii.183; *anthony wood's athenae (editor philip bliss), i.323; *samuel palmer's nonconformist's memorial ii. 218, which confuses him with one of the ejected ministers of 1662.   
1580s_births 1660s_deaths 16th-century_English_people 17th-century_Anglican_priests 17th-century_English_people 17th-century_English_writers 17th-century_theologians Alumni_of_Jesus_College,_Cambridge Alumni_of_the_University_of_Oxford Church_of_England_priests English_Christian_theologians English_religious_writers People_of_the_Stuart_period People_of_the_Tudor_period Puritans