Vois, Reni$ de, a French ecclesiastic, was born in Poitiers in 1665, and entered the Order of the Carmel- ites under the name of Theodore of St. Rene, by which he is chiefly known. After fulfilling the charge of com- missary-apostolic in England, and that of commissary- general of the Carmelites in France, he resigned his dignities to give himself to study and devotion, until his death, which occurred at Paris in 1748. He left some religious pieces of a historical and practical charac- ter, for which see the Biographic Universelle, s. v.
Voi.senon, Claude Henri Fusee de, a French abb(', was Ijorn at the Castle of Voisenon, near Melun, Jidy 8, 1708. He was early destined for the Church, and, although of a worldly temperament, he received orders in consequence of feeble health and some pri- vate misfortunes. In 1740 he became grand vicar of Boulogne, and on the death of his relative the bishop he declined the offer of the see, but accepted the abbacy of Jard. He gave himself to secular literature, especial- ly the drama, and died at his native place, Nov. 22, 1755, leaving nothing of religious importance. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s. v.
Voisin, Joseph de, a learned French Hebraist, was born at Bordeaux, about 1610, of an ancient and honorable family. At the age of twenty he was placed in public position in his native city, but he was led b}' his taste for study to embrace the ecclesiastic life, and was made almoner of the prince of Conti. In 1660 he produced a French translation of the Roman Missal, which, although issued under authority of the vicars- general of the diocese of Paris, was finally condemned and placed in the Index. Voisin continued, neverthe- less, to defend himself; but on the death of his protector he retired into privacy, and died in 1685. Of bis writings, we notice Theologia Juda>orum (Paris, 1647, 4to) : — De Lege Divina (ibid. 1650, 8vo): — De Jvbilceo (ibid. 1655, 8vo) : — Commentarius in Now Test. (ibid. 1659, 2 vols. 8vo), from St. Augustine, and extending only over Matt, i. For others, see the BiograjMe Universelle, s. v.
Volanus, Andreas, a Polish Protestant author and controversialist, was born in the province of Posen in 1530. He lived chiefly at Wilna, where he was pas-
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tor of the Reformed Church. He acquired great celeb- rity by his controversy with the Jesuits, by whom he was attacked with the most bitter violence. He also wrote against the Sociuians, and had theological dispu- tations xvith the Lutherans, in which he displayed great talent and learning. His object was to unite the Augus- tinian and Helvetian confessions in i'oland, but in this he failed. He ]niblished numerous controversial works, which were popular in their day, and he is also favor- ably known as a political writer by his work De Liber- ta/e Politica seu Civili (Cracow, 1582). He died at Wilna in 1610. See English Cyclop, s. v.
Volition (Lat, volo, " to will") is that act of the mind by which it knowingly exerts that dominion which it possesses over any part of the man, by em- ploying it in, or withholding it from, any particular ac- tion. See Will.
Volk {qnict), in Irish mythology. The elves are named the quiet people by the Irish, and are supposed to be fallen angels banished to the earth for their sins; others having committed greater sins were condemned as devils.
Volkel, JoiiANN, a Socinian theologian ot Germany, was born at (Jrimma, studied at Wittenberg, and in 1585 joined the Socinians. He became rector at Wen- grow, and died as preacher at Smigla, in Poland, in 1618. Socimis, whose amanuensis he had been for some time, was his special friend. He took part in the composition of the Catechismus Racoviensis ; his own work, De Vera Religione, was supplemented by John Crell and published at Rakov, 1630 (reprinted in Maresii Hydra Sociniaiiismi Expugnata^, Gron. 1651- 52). See Fock, Der Socinianismiis (Kiel, 1847); The- olog. Universal- Leocikon, s. v. ; Winer, Handbuch der theolog. Literatur, i, 308 ; Biogvaphie tiniverselle, s. v. (B. P.)
Volkmar, Gustav, a German doctor and professor of theology, was born in 1810 at Hersford, in Kurhesse, and died in 1872 at Zurich, as professor of Old-Test, exegesis. He published, Das Evangelium Marcians, Text mid Kritik, niit Riicksicht avf die Evangelien des Mdrtyrers Justin, der Clementinen u. der apostolischen Voter (Leips. 1852) : — Die Quellen der Ketzergeschichte bis zuni Nicdiium (Zurich, 1856) : — Die Religion Jesu (Leips. 1857): — Ueber die romische Kirche, ihren Ur- spriing mid ersten Co»//irf, etc. (Zurich, 1857) : — Das vierte Buck Esra und die apokalypiiscken Geheimnisse uberhanpt (ibid. 1858) : — Handbuch der Einleitmig in die Apokryphen (Tiib. 1860-63): — Commentar zur OJf'en- barung Johannis (Zurich, 1862). See Zuchold, Bibl. Theol. ii, 1400 ; Fiirst, Bibl. Jud. iii, 485. (B. P.)
Vollborth, JoHANx Kakl, a Protestant theologian of Germany, was born at Nordhausen, Nov. 24, 1748, and died Aug. 29, 1796, as doctor of theology and super- intendent at Gifhorn. He published, Commentatio in Mat. a, 16, Verani esse hifanticidii Bethlehemi Histori- am, non Obstante Josephi Silentio (Gott. 1788) : — Eze- chiel uuf's Neue aus dem Hebrdischen iibersetzt und mit kurzen Anmerkungen (ibid. 1787) ■.—Commentatio The- ologico-exegetica de Sacrijicio Farreo Hebrceorum, etc. (ibid. 1780) -.—Die 12 kleinen Propheten aiif's Neue aus dmi Hebrdischen iibersetzt, etc. (ibid. 1783) : — ErUdrung des Propheten Hosea (ibid. 1787) : — Daniel avf's Neue