Thomas, a learned critic and divine, was born at London in 1574, and studied at St John's college, Cambridge. He was afterwards chosen preacher at Lincoln's Inn; which he quitted in 1611, for the rectory of Rotherhithe in Surrey. In 1620, he made a tour through the Low Countries; and in 1624, published at London a book, entitled, Transubstantiation declared by the confession of the Popish Writers to have no necessary foundation in God's Word: he wrote likewise a defence of this discourse. In 1642, he was appointed one of the assembly of divines, and was engaged with them in writing annotations upon the Bible. He died in July 1654, in the 80th year of his age. Besides the above works, he published,

1. A Dissertation upon the Style of the New Testament. 2. De Nomine Tetragrammata. 3. De Diphtongis, sive Bivocalibus. 4. An Edition and Translation of the Emperor Marcus Antoninus's Meditations. 5. A Collection of Sermons, in folio; and many other works. His piety and charity were very exemplary; and his modesty so great, that he declined all ecclesiastical dignity and court preferments. His extensive learning was admired by Salmasius and other great men abroad; his house was a private seminary for young gentlemen of this nation, and many foreigners resorted to him to receive advice in their studies.