THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
Ausiibung der Vernunftlehre (1691); Einleitung zur Sitterdehre (1692); and Ausiibung der Sittenlehre (1696). Between the spheres of revelation and philosophy Thomasius drew a sharp distinction. In his specialty, he further upheld the principle of natural right in Fundamenta juris natures (1705). In a series of works on church law, he recognizes the State as purely secular and the Church as a society within its domain. The power of the sovereign is supreme over the theologians and the Church, limited only by revelation. He opposed certain forms of severity, such as those against Witchcraft (q.v.), which he denied (De crimine magice, 1701), and the rack (De tortura ex /oris, 1705); and he favored the exercise of the right of pardon on the part of the sovereign, in cases of homicide.
(Heinhich Hoffman.)
Bibliography: J. G. Walch, Religionsstreitigkeiten der evangelisch-lutherischen Kirche, ill. 1—78, 10 vols., Jena, 1733-39; H. Luden, Christian Thomasius nach seinen Schicksale und Schriften dargestellt, Berlin, 1805; R. E. Prutz, Geschichte des deiUschen J ournalismus, Hanover, 1845; F. C. Biedermann, Deutschland im 18. Jahrhundert, Leipsic, 1854; A. Tholuck, Das kirchliche Leben des 17. J ahrhunderts, ii. 71-76, Hamburg, 1854; J. C. Bluntschli, Geschichte des allgemeinen Staatsrechts, Munich, 1864; H. Demburg, Thomasius und die Stiftung der Universitiit Halle, Halle, 1865; B. A. Wagner, Christian Thomasius: ein Beitrag zur Wiirdigung seiner Verdienste um die deutsche Litteratur, Berlin, 1872', Klemperer, Christian Thomasius, ein Vorkampfer der VoVcsaufhl&rung, Landsberg, 1877; A. Ritschl, Geschichte des Pietismus, ii. 545 sqq., Bonn, 1884; A. Nicoladoni, Christian Thomasius: ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Aufkldrung, Berlin, 1888; E. Landsberg, Zur Lebensgeschichte des Chr. Thomasius, Halle, 1894; idem, ADB, xxxviii. 93-103; A. Rauch, Christian Thomasius und A. H. Francke, Halle, 1898; R. Kayser, Thomasius und der Pietismus, Hamburg, 1900; idem, in Monatshefte der Comenius-Gesellschaft, 1900.
THOMASIUS, GOTTFRIED: Professor in Erlangen; b. at Egenhausen (circuit of Nagold, Wiirttemberg, 16 m. w. of Tubingen), Bavarian Franconia, July 26, 1802; d. at Erlangen Jan. 24, 1875. He was a lineal descendant of Christian Thomasius (q.v.). He attended the gymnasium in Ansbach, entered the University of Erlangen in 1821, removed to Halle after a year and a half, and finished his academic studies in Berlin, where he was attracted by Schleiermacher, Hegel, Marheineke, and Tholuck. Leaving the university in 1825, Thomasius spent seventeen years in the active work of the pastorate, first in a village between Erlangen and Nuremberg, after 1829 in Nuremberg. Here his preaching attracted the intellectual men of the city and his success as religious instructor in the gymnasium led to his call to Erlangen as professor of dogmatics in Mar., 1842. He had previously published his Grundlinien zum Religionsunterricht an den mittleren und oberen Klassen gelehrter Schulen (Nuremberg, 1839), which met with wide approval (8th ed., 1901). Thomasius contributed his share to a development at Erlangen which combined strict adherence to the standards with the truly scientific spirit and genuine theological progress. The subjects on which he lectured were dogmatics and church history, and he excelled in the deep and lasting character of the impression he made. For almost thirty-three years he exerted an influence equalled by few teachers of his time.
His influence as writer was hardly less than that
as teacher. An early work, Origenes. Ein Beitrag zur Dogmengeschichte des dritten Jahrhunderts (Nuremberg, 1837), helped to pave the way for his transition from the pulpit to the professor's chair. Three preliminary treatises (Beitrdge zur kirchlichen. Christologie, Nuremberg, 1845; Dogmatis de obedientia Christi activa historia et progressiones inde a, confessione Augustana adformulam usque concordiw,, 3 parts, Erlangen, 1845^16; Das Bekenntnis der evangelisch-lutherischen Kirche in der Konsequenzseines Prinzips, Nuremberg, 1848) preceded his; greatest work — Christi Person und Werk. Darstellung der evangelisch-lutherischen Dogmatik vom- Mittelpunkte der Christologie aus (3 parts, Erlangen,. 1852-61), which treats the whole field of dogmatics in comprehensive expositions which are always based on the Scriptural proof and the consensus of the Church. For Thomasius's development of the doctrine of Kenosis (q.v.), see Christology, X., 4, § 4. His exposition of the doctrine of the Trinity was criticized, but his teaching concerning the work of Christ is complete and satisfactory, combining the truth in the view of Anselm and in the old-Lutheran doctrine into the true conception of the atonement. The final treatment of the theme is to be sought in the third part of the Dogmatik; an earlier work, Das Bekenntnis der lutherischen Kirche von der Versohnung und die Versohnungslehre D. von Hofmanns (Erlangen, 1857), treats the same questions less conclusively. Die christliche Dogmengeschichte als Entwickelungsgeschichte des kirchlichen Lehrbegriffs (2 vols., Erlangen, 1874-76; 2nd ed., by N. Bonwetsch and R. Seeberg, Leipsic, 1886-88) was Thomasius's last publication. It combines the enthusiasm of youth and the maturity of age with learning, keen judgment, clearness of presentation,, and thoroughness of investigation. The first volume treats of the ancient Church; the second, comprising the Middle Ages and the Reformation, was not fully completed at the author's death and was published posthumously by G. L. Plitt.
For thirty years from 1842 Thomasius was university preacher. A deep and conscientious dependence upon Scripture, a joyous and powerful faith, a clear and comprehensible form elevated by its content and even poetically inspired, are the characteristics which win attention in his published sermons (5 vols., Erlangen, 1852-60). His confessional point of view and inner development appear most clearly in Wiedererwachen des evangelischen Lebens in der lutherischen Kirche Bayerns. Ein Stiick siiddeutscher Kirchengeschichte, 1800-181fi (Erlangen, 1867). (A. von STAHLixf.)
Bibliography: A. von Stahlin, Lbhe, Thomasius, Harless. Drei Lebens- und Geschichtsbilder, Leipsic, 1887; F. Frank, Geschichte und Kritik der neueren Theologie, p. 244. Erlangen, 1894; G. Frank, Die Theologie des 19. Jahrhunderts, pp. 460 sqq., Leipsic, 1905; ADB, xxxviii. 102 sqq.
THOMASSIN, LOUIS : French cleric and canonist ; b. at Aix (17 m. n. of Marseilles), Provence, Aug. 28, 1619; d. in Paris Dec. 24, 1697. He was educated in the Congregation of the Oratory, entered the congregation in 1632, and taught successively at Lyons, Saumur, and in the Seminary of St. Magloire at Paris. In 1668 he retired and devoted himself to study, supported by the French clergy. His chief
RELIGIOUS encyclopedia
Thotaasins Thomson'
work was the Ancienne et nouvelle discipline de t'eglise touchant les benefices et les beneficiers (3 vols'.* Paris, 1678-79; Lat. transl., by himself, 1688), which is still one of the chief sources for the subject and made so great an impression on Pope InrloGent XL that he would have called the author to Refine arid made him a cardinal had not Louis XIV retoe'd to1 allow so great a scholar to leave France. Besides many minor writings, ThomaMn published Mssefiatidnes in concilia generatda et particukfia (Paris, 1667); Memoirs' Suf la gtdce (160S); Dogmata theologica (3 vols., ±680-§:9; ed, F < Eealle, § v6k; Paris, 1864-70); and a GlossaH-um Uttfc msale Hebrtticiltn (1697), la whieh he tried te peve that the Hebrew was the original language and the) mother tongue. (E. FHiEDBEHGf;)
Bibliography: L. E. Dupin, Nouvelle bibiibih^iCe\ xviii. 187-196, 35 vols., 1689-1711; C. Thomassifl, Louis de Thomassin, der grosse Theologe Frankreichs, Munich, 1892.
THOMPSON, CHARLES LEMUEL: Presbyterian; b. at AUentown, Pa., Aug. 18, 1839. He was educated at Carroll College, Wis., (A.B., 1858), Princeton Theological Seminary (1858-60), and McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago (1860- 1861). He held pastorates in his denomination at Juneau, Wis. (1861-62), Janesville, Wis. (1862-67), First Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati, O. (1867-72), Fifth Presbyterian Church, Chicago (1872-78), Third Presbyterian Church, Pittsburg, Pa. (1878- 1882), Second Presbyterian Church, Kansas City, Mo. (1882-88), and Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York City (1888-98). Since 1898 he has been secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions. He was editor of The Interior (Chicago) in 1877-79, and has written: Times of Refreshing: A History of American Revivals (Chicago, 1877); Etchings in Verse (New York, 1890); and The Presbyterians (1903).
THOMPSON, JOSEPH PARRISH: Congregationalist and Egyptologist; b. in Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 7, 1819; d. in Berlin, Germany, Sept. 20, 1879. He was graduated from Yale, 1838; studied theology at Andover Theological Seminary and at Yale, 1838-40, when he was ordained; was pastor of Chapel Street Church, New Haven, 1840-45; in 1843 was a founder of the New Englander; pastor of the Broadway Tabernacle, New York, 1845-71; in 1848 helped to establish The Independent, of which he was also an editor for many years. He visited Palestine and Egypt, 1852-53, and wrote much on that branch of study. During the whole period of the civil war he labored with assiduity for the maintenance of national unity on principles of universal freedom. Because he found in Germany a state of things which seemed to call for a defense of American institutions, and an exposition of American ideas, he took up that line of work, and became a link between the United States and Germany. During the " centennial " year, 1876, he vindicated his native land against European prejudices by a course of six philosophical lectures on American political history, which he delivered in Berlin, Florence, Dresden, Paris, and London, and published as The United States as a Nation (Boston, 1877). He resided in vermany, 1872-79, where he was active in oriental
studies, political, social, gild scientific discussions, arid in various foreign societies. In 1875 he went to> England i§ explain publicly Germany's attitude in regard id Uitramontanism. His personal influence secuf'64 tfee' insertion, in the Berfin Treaty of 1878, of a clause favoring: religious liberty; and among his last works wm ihe' preparation, tffi the Evangelical Alliance at Bagel (l-SYd), of a memctfiaJ in behalf of religious liberty in Austria?.- He was theauthor of Man in Genesis and Geolofy ((New York,. 1869); Theology of Christ, from his MbW Words' (1870); Home Worship (Boston, 1871); Je^ms of Nazareth: his Life for the Young (1875); m4 Th& Workman (New York, 1879).
THOMPSON, RALPH WARDLAW: English Congregationalist; b. at Bellary (270 m. n.w. of Madras), South India, Aug. 28, 1842. He was educated at South African College, Cape Town, (B.A., University of the Cape of Good Hope) and at Cheshunt College, England (1861-65). He entered the Congregational ministry and was minister of the Ewing Place Congregational Church, Glasgow (1865-70), and of the Norwood Congregational Church,- Liverpool (1871-80). Smee 1881 he has been foreigfi geeretary of the London Missionary Society. In 190S he ws» chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales. He has at various times made official vMts to the society's stations in India, China, ^Otitb Africa, Madagascar, New Guinea, and the South Seag. His publications embrace, My Trip in the John Williams (London, 1900); and Griffith John, Btoru of Fifty Years in China (1906, new ed., 1908).
THOMPSON, ROBERT ELLIS: Presbyterian; bnear Lurgan (19 m. s.w. of Belfast), County Armagh, Ireland, Apr. 5, 1844. He left Ireland for the United States in early life, and was educated at. the University of Pennsylvania (A.B., 1865) and the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Philadelphia (1868). He was licensed to preach by the Reformed Presbytery of Philadelphia in 1867 and was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry in 1874. From 1868 to 1892 he was connected with the University of Pennsylvania, where he was professor successively of Latin and mathematics (1868-71), social science (1871-81), and history and English literature (1881-92). In 1894 he became president of the Central High School in Philadelphia. He was editor of The Penn Monthly (1870-81), and of The American Weekly (1881-92). Since 1892 he has been a member of the staff of The Sunday- School Times. His writings of theological interest are : De civitate Dei: The Divine Order of Human Society (Stone lectures; Philadelphia, 1891); The National Hymn-Book of the American Churches (1893); History of the Presbyterian Churches of America (New York, 1895); The Hand of God in Human History (1902); Harvard University Lectures on Protection to Home Industry (1908) ; The Apostles as Everyday Men (1910); and The Historic Episcopate (Philadelphia, 1910).
THOMSON, ANDREW MITCHELL: Presbyterian; b. at Sanquhar (50 m. s.w. of Edinburgh) July 11, 1779; d. at Edinburgh Feb. 9, 1831. He
Thomson I'hornwell