Thomson, Andrew, Dd

Thomson, Andrew, D.D.

a Scotch Presbyterianism minister, was born at Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, July 11, 1779, and educated at the University of Edinburgh.. He was pastor of the Church at Sprouston, Roxburghshire, from 1802 till 1808; afterwards of the East Church of Perth till 1810; subsequently of the New Greyr Friars Church, Edinburgh; and finally of St. George's Church, until his death, Feb. 9, 1831. Dr. Thomson was a man of unconquerable zeal, untiring energy, and commanding eloquence. He attacked the British and Foreign Bible Society for circulating the Apocrypha with the Holy Scriptures. He opposed the abuses of lay patronage in the Church of Scotland, effectually denounced British colonial slavery and other evils, and did much to promote education, morality, and evangelical religion in Scotland. Dr. Chalmers says of him, "His was no ordinary championship; and although the weapons of our spiritual warfare are the same in every hand, we all know that there was none who wielded them more vigorously than he did, or who, with such an arm of might, and voice of resistless energy, carried, as if by storm, the convictions of his people." Among Dr. Thomson's works are, Lectures, Expository and Practical, on Select Portions of Scripture (Edinb. 1816, 2 vols. 8vo): —Sermons on Infidelity (1821, 18mo; 1824, cr. 8vo) Sermons on Hearing the Word (1825, 18mno): —TheScripture History (Bristol, 1826, 12mo): —The Scripture History of the New Testament (Lond. 1827,12mo):Sermons on Various Subjects (Edinb. 1829, 8vo): —Doctrine of Universal Pardon, being Sermons with'Notes(1830, 12mo). He also published a number of Catechisms, educational and religious works for children. He originated and edited the Edinburgh Christian Instructor (1810 sq.), and contributed to the Edinburgh Encyclopedia. After his death appeared his Sermons and Sacramental Exhortations, with Memoir prefixed (1831, 8vo; Boston, 1832, 12mo). See Chambers and Thompson, Biog. Dict. of Eminent Scotsmen. (W.P.S.)