Horne, Thomas Hartwell, Dd

Horne, Thomas Hartwell, D.D.

An English Biblical scholar, born October 20, 1780, was educated at Christ's Hospital. At first he became clerk to a barrister. Devoting his leisure hours to the study of the Bible, in 1818 he published his Introduction to the critical Study and Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures (which has now reached the 11th edition, and is enlarged from 3 to 5 vols. 8vo; it has also been reprinted in this country in 2 vols. imp. 8vo, and 4

vols. 8vo), a work which procured for him admission into orders without the usual preliminaries. Subsequently St. John's College, Cambridge, conferred on him the degree of B.D., and two American colleges that of D.D. In 1824 he found employment in the library of the British Museum as assistant in the department of printed books. In 1833 archbishop Howley appointed him to the rectories of St. Edmund and St. Nicholas, London, which positions he held until his death, Jan. 27,1862. Home was for some years actively engaged in the work of Methodism, numbering among his friends Dr. Adam Clarke and Dr. Bunting. He entered the ministry of the Church of England in deference to the earnest desire of his father with the hope of securing leisure for literary pursuits, but he always maintained a hearty interest in the Church of his early choice, and preserved to the end of his life that simple and earnest godliness which Methodism had taught him to cultivate in his youthful days. He was distinguished as a polemic of considerable ability; his controversial writings alone would have given him a high status among the men of his time; and his versatility is further attested by the variety of his publications, many of which are given to subjects not usually treated by scholars and divines. His researches in bibliography were conducted with amazing industry, and tabulated with great judgment and skill. But he will be best known to posterity by his Introduction to the critical Study of the Scriptures (referred to above), which, at the time of its first appearance, was a marvel of labor and scholarship. Hundreds of Biblical students owe their taste for critical pursuits to the reading of this work; and, though somewhat below the spirit and results of the more recent criticisms, it is yet invaluable to those whose resources will not permit the large outlay, which the collection of a critical library demands. The most important of his other works are, Compend. Introduction to the Study of the Bible, or Analysis of the Introduction to the Holy Scriptures (12mo, 1827) — Deism Refuted, or plain Reasons for being a Christian (12mo, 1819) — Romanism contradictory to Scripture, or the peculiar Tenets of the Church of Rome, as exhibited in her accredited Formularies, contrasted with the Holy Scriptures (12mo, 1827) — Mariolatry, or Facts and Evidences demonstrating the Worship of the blessed Virgin Mary by the Church of Rome (2nd ed. 1841) — The Scripture Doctrine of the Trinity (12mo) — Manual of Parochial Psalmody (18mo, 1829) — Manual for the Afflicted (18mo, 1832), etc. A list of all the productions of Dr. Home is given by Allibone (Dict. of Authors, 1, 889-892). See Reminiscences, personal and bibliographical, of Thomas Hartwell Horne, with Notes by his daughter, Sarah Anne Cheyne, and a short Introduction by the Rev. Joseph B. M'Caul (London 1862); Chambers, Cyclop. 5, 419; Kitto, Bibl. Cyclop. 2, 324; Keil, Introduction to N.T. p. 38; Darling, Cyclop. Bibliog. 1, 154 sq.; Vorth 4 Am. Review, 17, 130 sq.; Journ. Sac. Lit. 5, 29, 250. (J. H. W.)