Thomasius, Gottfriko, a German Protestant di- vine, was born in the year 1802 at Egenhausen, in Fran- conia. In 1821 he graduated at the gymnasium in Ans- pach, and prosecuted his theological studies at the uni- versities of Erlangen, Halle, and Berlin. In 1829 he was preacher at the Church of the Holy (iliost in Nuremberg, and in 1830 religious instructor, also, at the g3'mnasium there. In 1842 he was called to Erlangen as professor (if dogmatics and university preacher. For more than thirty years he filled that chair, and died as senior of the faculty, Jan. 24, 1875. He published, Ortyenes; ein Bei- trafi zur Dogmengeschichte des 3ten Jahrh. (Nnremb. 1837): — De Controversia HoJ'manniana Commentatio (Erlangfe, 1844): — Beitrdge zur kirchlichen Christologie (ibid. 1845): — Dogmatis de Ohedientia Christi Actira Jlistoria el Progressianis inde a Covfessione A ugustnnu ud Formulam usque Cojicordia; (ibid. 1846) : — Das Be- kenntniss der evaiig.-luth. Kirche in der Covsequenz seines Prinzipes (Nuremb. 1848) : — Christi Person und Werk:
DarsteUring der luther. Dogmatik vom Mittelpunkt der Christologie aus (Erlang. 1853-61, 3 vols.; 2d ed. 1857) : — Das Bekenntnifs der luther. Kirche von der Versohnung und die Verso hnungslehre Dr. Chr. K. v. Hofmanns (ibid. 1857). He also published several vo'lumes ol' Sermons : — a practical Commentai-y on Paul's Epistle to the Colos- sians (Erlang. 1860), etc. See Zuchold, Bibl. Theol. ii, 1337 sq. ; Theologisches U nicer sal- Laxikon, s. v. ; Tyite- rarischer llandweiser fur das kathol. Deutschland, 1868, p. 119; Herzog, Real-Encyklop. s. v. (R P.)
Thomassin, Louis de, a learned French divine, was born at Aix, in Provence, Aug. 28, 1619. At the age of fourteen he was admitted into the Congregation of the Oratory, where he remained as professor of moral philos- ophy initil he was appointed to the chair of divinity at Saumur. He removed to Paris in 1654, to hold confer- ences in positive theology in the Seminary of Sainte- Magloire, which he continued till 1688. From that time he was engaged principally with his writings until his death, Dec. 25, 1695. His principal works are. Ecclesi- astical Discipliuc (reprinted 1725,3 vols. fol. in French): —Theologind Dogmas (1680, 3 vols. foL in Latin):— Tracts on the Divine Office; on the Feasts ; on the Fusts; on Truth and Falsehood; on Alms; on Trade and Usury (all 8vo) : — Tr.. Dogmatique dee Moyens dont on s'est sei'vi dans tons les Temps pour maintenir V Unite de, PEglise (1703, 3 vols. 4to) : — also Directions Jor Study- ing and Teaching Philosophy in a Christian Manner (8vo) : — A Universal Hebreiv Glossary (Louvre, 1697, fol.) : — Dissertations on the Councils^ in Latin (1667, 4to) : — Memoires sur la Grace (1682, 4to). His life, by Bordes, is prefixed to his Hebi-ew Glossary. See Chalmers, i?iw/. Diet. s. V. ; Hook, Eccles. Biog. s. v. ; Herzog, Reid-Ency- klopi. s. v. ; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s. v.
ThomLsts, a name often given to the followers of Thomas Aquinas, who, besides adopting the Aristotelian philosopliy, in opposition to Duns Scotus, who held the Platonic, also taught the doctrines of Augustine on the subject of original sin, free grace, etc. He condemned the dogma of the immaculate conception, in opposition to Scotus. The two sects were also divided on the question of the sacraments, as to whether grace was conferred by them physically or morally ; the Thomists holding the former, the Scotists the latter. Dens, who was a Thomist, in his theology, explains what is meant by the view of his party. He says, "The sacraments possess a phj'sical causality, as the instruments of di- vine omnipotence, and truly and properly concur to- wards the production of their effects on the mind by a supernatural virtue from the principal agent, communi- cated to and united with it in the manner of a tran- sient action ; and, moreover, such a causality is more conformable to the declarations of Scripture, and dem- onstrates more fully the dignity of the sacrament, and the efficacy of the divine omnipotence and of tiie mer- its of Christ. Besides, they saj' that this is also more conformable to the sentiments of councils and fathers, who, as they explain the causality of the sacraments, use various similitudes which undoubtedly designate a causality more than moral." On the contrary, the Scotists teach that " the sacraments do not cause grace physically, but morally; that is, they do not produce grace as physical causes do, but as moral causes ; inas- much as they efficaciously move God to produce the grace which they signify, and which God himself prom- ises infallibly to give as often as they are rightly ad- ministered and worthih' received," etc. The Thomists were Realists, while the Scotists were Nominalists; and although the Roman see naturally inclined to favor the doctrines of the Scotists, the prestige of Aquinas was so great that the Thomists ruled the theology of the Church up to the time of the controversy between the Molinists (q. v.) and the Jansenists, when the views of the Scotists substantially prevailed. See Aquinas, Thomas a.
Thonilinson, Joseph Smith, D.D., a minister of
TIIOMOI
374
THOMPSON"
the Methodist Episcopnl Church, was horn in George- town, Ky.. !March 15, l.so-J; and, after serving- a time at the saddler's trade, entered Transylvania I'niversity, ivhere he lield a liigli rank as a sidiolar. When Lafay- ette visited tlie insiitntion,Tlu)mlins()n was the person choseu to tender him the {jreetinjijs of his fellow-stu- dents. He graduated in 1825, and became i)rofessor of mathematics and natural philosojjhy in Augusta College. In the same year he was admitted to tlie travelling con- nection, and in due lime was ordained to the offices of deacon and elder. Having served as professor for some time, he was chosen president of the Augusta College, anil held that office till KSlft, when the institution was broken down by a withdrawal of the patronage of the Kentucky Conference, and the repeal of its charter by the legislature of the State. He was subsequently elect- ed to a professorship of the Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware. O., but declineil to accept it, though he acted as agent for the institution for two years. He accepted an election as professor in the university at Alliens, 0., and, having served in this capacity for a year, was chosen president, which latter position he declined on account of ill-health. His mind was so affected by the sudden death of a favorite son that he never fully re- covered; and although elected to the presidency of the Springfield High-school and of the State University of Indiana, he declined both. He died at Neville, O., .June 4, 1853. See Sprague, .1 iniiils of the A iiwr. Pulpit, vii, 706.