Thomas, Samuel (3), an English Congregational minister, was born at Pontreych, Nov. 20, 1815. He graduated at Brecon College in 1843, and was ordained to the pastorate of F^benezer Chapel, Newport. Under his personal superintendence a new chapel was erccte<l, and the Cliurch membership greatly increased. In IStSO he removed to Bethlehem, and labored with the Church there until his death, April 5, 1869. See (Lond.) Cotiff. Year-book, 1870, p. 322.
Thomas, Thomas, a Welsh Congregational minis- ter, was born near Carmarthen in 1822, and was brought up under L^nitarian influence and educated for the med- ical profession; but the love of evangelical truth in- duced him to enter the ministry. He graduated at Homerton College, and accepted the pastorate of Fetter Lane Chapel, London; and labored also at Wellingbor- ough thirteen years. In 1858 he removed to Bethnal Green Chapel, London, and labored with them until his death, March 13, 1861. Mr. Thomas was a worker of the highest type, and his generous nature and vivid imagination endeared him to a large circle of friends. See (Lond.) Con/;/. Year-book, 1862, p. 263.
Thomas, William (1), an English prelate, was born at Bristol, Feb. 2, 1613, and received his primary education in the school of Carmarthen, where his grandfather lived. He entered St. John's College, Oxford, in 1629, and removed, later, to Jesus College, of which he was afterwards chosen a fellow and ap- pointed tutor. His ordination as deacon took place at Christ Church, June 4, 1637, and as priest in the year following. His first preferment was the vicarage of Penbryn, Cardiganshire. He became chaplain to the earl of Northumberland, who presented him to the vic- arage of Laughanie, with the rectory of Llansadwrhcn annexed. In 1644 a party of Parliament horse came into town threatening to kill Mr. Thomas if they found him pfaying for the queen. They did interfere with the service, but were so struck with his composure and patience that they left him without further disturbance. Soon after, the Parliament committee deprived him of his living of Laiigharne, from which time till the Res- toration he endured great hardships, being obliged to teach a private school for his support. At the Restora- tion, Jlr. Thomas was reinstated in his living, and by the king's letters-patent made chanter of St. David's. In 1661 he was presented to the rectory of Llanbedr in the Valley, Pembroke County, and made chaplain to the duke of York, through whose influence he was pro- moted to the deanery of Worcester, Nov. 25, 1665; and was presented to the rectory of Hampton Lovett in 1670. Here he removed his family, quitting the living of Laiigharne. In 1677 he was promoted to the see of St. David's, and held the deanery of Worcester in commen- dam. Having been bishop of St. David's six j'ears, he was translated to the see of Worcester, where he effect- ed several reforms. He died June 25, 1688. Bishop Thomas published. An Apology for the Church of Eng- land (1678-79, 8 vo) : — As»ize Sermon (1657): — The Mammon of Unrighleousness, a sermon. His Letter to the Clergy, and an imperfect work, Roman Oracles Si- lenced, were published after his death. See Chalmers, Biog. Diet. s. v.
THOMAS
373
TIIOMLINSON^
Thomas, 'Williani (2). an English clergyman and antit|iiariaii, was grandson of the preceding, and was born in 1G70. He was educated at Westminster school, w'hence he was elected to Trinity College, Cam- bridge, June 25, 1G8S. Here he took his master's de- gree, and soon went into orders, and had the living of Exhall, in Warwickshire, given him by the interest of lord Somers. Queen Anne was well disposed towards him, but he declined preferment or attendance at court. For the education of his family he removed to Worcester in 1721, and in 1723 was presented to the rectory of St. Nicholas in that city. lie died July 26, 1738. Besides being skilled in the (ircok and Latin languages, he also mastered the French, Italian, and Saxon. Me publish- ed, Antiquitates Prioratus Majoris Malvernce (1725) : — an edition of Dugdak's Wm-wickshire (1730) : — and Sur- vey of the Cathedral Church of Worcester (1746). He intended to have published a history of Worcestershire; and, to gatlicr material for tliis, visited every church in the county. To these labors Dr. Nash owns himself greatly indebted. See Chalmers, Biog. Diet. s. v.
Thomasin of Zirklaria {Zerkldre), in the Italian Tyrol, wrote a lengthy didactic poem between August, 1215, and May, 1216, entitled Der ivdhche Oast {The Foreif/n Guest), by which production he began the ex- tended series of ethical poems that distinguish the 13th centurj'. Thomasin was a layman, and wrote for lay- men, and with him begins the distinction between a re- ligious morality for the people and a theological moral- ity of the Church. His work is characterized by vi- vacity and gracefidness, by clearness of expression and warmth of feeling, though not by iesthetical and lin- guistic beauties. Independence of thought is also a leading quality, and is carried to such a degree as to de- fend the principle that conscience is superior to ecclesi- astical institutions of every kind. Thomasin does not rage against the priesthood and the papacy, but rather esteems them very highly when they "bear the image of good doctrine;" but he does not, on the other hand, hesitate to utter in their ears the most cutting truths. His object, in brief, was to teach a practical morality; and his place is rather among the exponents of the re- ligious and ethical tendencies of his time than among the poets. He teaches that State, an inward and set- tled affinity for the good and the right, is the centre of all virtues. This is not the Constantia of the stoical Seneca merely, but a positive energy which actually gives effect to the impulses of the heart. Evil is Un- stdte, or instability. Among particular virtues, humility is given the first place. The book existed in MS. form only until 1852, when it was issued by Riickert under the title Der wdlsche Oast des Thomasin von Zirklaria (Qiiedlinburg and Leips.), with notes. Comp. the ex- tracts given in Gesch. d.poet. NationaUiteratur, by Ger- vinus, and see Diestel, Der icdlsche Gast it. d. Moral des ]3toj Jahrh. in Kiel, Allgem. Monatsschrift, Aug. 1852, p. 687-714. — Herzog, Real-Encyklop. s. v.