WALCH, villa: A family of German theologians of the eighteenth century.

1. Johann Georg watch: b. at Jena June 17, 1693; d. there Jan. 13, 1775; was educated at the University of Leipsic (1710-13), and at first devoted himself chiefly to classical studies. In 1718 he was appointed associate professor at Jena for philosophy and antiquities, becoming full professor of oratory. in 1719, and professor of poetry in 1721. He took part in the philosophic movements of the time, writing his Gedanken vom philosophischen Naturell (1723), and aiding his father-in-law, Buddeus (q.v.) to attack the philosophy of Christian Wolf. In his Philosophisches Lexikon (1726) the dawning of rationalism may be discerned, and his acceptance of "natural theology," though with adherence to Lutheran doctrines, is also evident in his Einleitung in die Philosophie (Latin ed., 1738) and Observationes in, Novi Testamenti libros, quorum prima pare ea eontinet toes quce ex historic philosophise illustrantur (1727).

In 1724 Watch became associate professor of theology, full professor in 1728, senior professor in 1750, and in 1754 ecclesiastical councilor for SaxeWeimar. He wrote extensively on theology. First editing a compend of Buddeus' Institutiones dog-

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maticæ (1723), he prepared for his own lectures an Einleitung in die christliche Moral (Jena, 1757), and Finleitung in die dogmatische and in die polemische Gottesgelahrheit (2 vols., 1752-57). Further serv ices in behalf of theological literature are his edi tion of Bosius' Introductio in notitiam scriptorzcm ecclesiasticorum (1723); the still important Biblio theca theologies selects (4 vols., 1757-65); and Bib liotheca patristica litterariis adnotationibus instructs (1770). He edited the works of Luther (24 vols., Halle, 1740-52) with valuable introductions and the inclusion of many documents of the Reformation period. Mention should also be made of his Intro ductio in libros symbolicos ecclesise Lutherance (Jena, 1732); and his edition, in German and Latin, of the Christliches Konkordienbuch (1750). Inspired by Buddeus, Walch wrote, in 1724, his Theologische Einleitung in die vornehmsten Religionsstreitigkeiten, etc., which expanded into five volumes, under the title Historische and theologische Einleitung in die Religionsstreitigkeiten, welche sonderlich cosset der evangelisch-lutherischen Kirche entstanden (1733-36). At the same time he began independently his still valuable work, Historische and theologische Einleit ung in die Religionsstreitigkeiten der evangelisch-lu therischen Kirche (5 vols., 1730-39). He was the author also of Miscellanea sacra (Amsterdam, 1744); Historic ecclesiastica Novi Testamenti variis observa tionibus illustrate (Jena, 1744); and Histsrria eon troversice Crrtecorum Latinorumquz de proeessione Spi ritus Sancti (1751). Though in early life inclined toward Pietism, and ever seeking to be just and im partial, he was strongly opposed to the Moravians, whose doctrines were condemned by him in the-opin ion requested by his sovereign in 1747 (ed. J. P. Fresenius, 1751). 2. Johann Ernst Immanuel: Eldest son of the preceding; b. at Jena Aug. 25, 1725; d.ikere Dec. 1, 1778. He was educated at the university of his native city, where he became privet-docent in exe gesis in 1746, which resulted in his Einleitung in die Harmonic der Evangelisten (Jena, 1749). In 3750 he was appointed associate professor and in 1755 full professor of logic and mathematics; in 1759 he be came professor of oratory and poetry, in 1768 senior professor of the philosophical faculty, and in 1770 colic councilor. Walch devoted himself first to philology, though after 1760 his interest in natural science became predominant. He ever retained, however, an active interest in orthodox theology, and in this spirit wrote Dissertationes in Acta APos tolorzzm (3 parts, 1756-66); Antiquitates nauticse ex itinere Pauli Romano (1767); Antiqnitates symboliece, quibzzs symboli apostolici historic illustrator (1772); the posthumous Observationes in Matthceum ex Grsecis inscriptionibus (1779); and the following works on persecutions of the Christians: Marmot Hispanise antiquum, vexationis Christianorum Nersmianec in signe doezzmentum (1750); Christianornm sub Dio cletiano in Hispanic persecutio ex antiquis in seriPtionibus illustrate (1751); and Persequutionis Christianorum Neroniance in Hispanic . . . uberior explanatio (1753). 3. Christian Wilhelm Franz: Younger brother of the preceding; b. at Jena Dee. 25, 1726; d. at, Göttingen Mar. 10, 1784. He was educated at the

University of Jena, where, after lecturing on exegesis, philosophy, and history until 1747; he was appointed associate professor of philosophy in 1750. He now accepted a call to Göttingen as full professor of the same subject, but from 1754 until his death was a member of the theological faculty, first as associate (1754-57) and later (1757-84) as full professor. He was able to find time for voluminous works and numerous occasional academic pamphlets; and he was active in the administration of the university. He became the senior professor of his faculty in 1766, and six years later was appointed British consistorial councilor. In his lectures he used many of his own text-books, among them his edition of his father's Theologies dogmaticce epitome tabulis analyticis expressa (Jena, 1757); Compendium histories ecclesiasticce recentissimce (1757); Crrundsiitze der natiirlichen Gottesgelahrheit (1760); Grundsdtze der Kirchengeschichte des Neuen Testaments (Göttingen, 1761); and Breviarinm theologise symbolicse ecclesice Lzetherance (1765). He was a collector of data rather than an original thinker, but his work is still of value, especially in the domain of church history. His theological attitude was, in general, a moderate Lutheranism. His Geschichte der evangelisch-lutherischen Religion ale ein Beweis, loss sic die wahre sei (Jena, 1753) is little more than the application of a narrow concept of divine providence to the origin and development of the Lutheran Reformation. His accuracy of investigation and his abhorrence of mere hypotheses are better seen in his more noteworthy works on church history, especially the Entwurf einer vollstdndigen Historic der Ketzereien, Spszltungen and Religionsstreitigkeiten bis auf die Zeitender Reformation (11 parts, Leipsic, 1762-85). He maintained that there is no "necessary truth" in history, but only "chance changes of chance things," and that deductions from historical facts are admissible only when "physical or moral necessities" are present, these principles being urged both in his Gedanken von der Geschichte der Glaubenslehre (Göttingen, 1765), and Kritische Nachricht von den Quellen der Kirchenhistorie (Leipsic, 1770). He sought to find causes and sources partly in the tendencies, prejudices, and capabilities of persons, and partly in the external circumstances conditioning them; and his final judgment was based on the problem which side represented the truth and on the moral characters of the personages involved. In presenting his conclusions, moreover, he seldom failed to apply a lesson to the conditions of his time. Similar principles underlie Walch's Entwurf einer vollstcindigen Historic der römischen Päpste (1756; Eng. transl., Compendious Hist. of the Popes, London, 1759); Entwurf einer vollstandigen Historic der Kirchenversamnzlungen (1759); Bibliotheca symbolise vetus (Lemgo, 1770); and Neueste Religions-Geschichte (in collaboration with others; 9 parts, 1771-83). His polemic against Semler and Lessing, the Kritische Untersuchung vom Gebrauch der heiligen Schrift in den vier ersten Jahrhzznderten (Leipsic, 1774), is still of value as a collection of material. Besides his important Monuments medii cevi ex bibliotheca regia Hannoverana (2 vols., Göttingen, 1757-64) and Philologische Bibliothek (1770 sqq.), Walch also wrote among other works: Antiquitates pallii philosophici veterum Chris-

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tiunorum (Jena, 1746); Historic canonisationis Caro li Magni (1750); Wahrhaftige Geschichte der seligen Fratc Katharana. von Bora . . . wider Eusebii Engel hards Morgenstern zu Wittenberg (2 parts, Halle, 1751-54); Historic AdoPtianorum (Göttingen,1755); HisLorLa Protopaschitarnm (1760); De symboli Ath anasiani Partieltlis quib2es necessitas fidei catholiece commendatur (1774); and PseItdoParakleton historic (1781).

(G. Kawerau.)

Bibliography: On 1: A Jubelged�chtnis dedicated to him was published Jena, 1768. Consult: J. E. I. Walch, Le ben and Charakter des . . . Johann Georg Watch, Jena, 1777; J. G. Meusel, Lexikon verstorbener . . Schrift steller, xiv. 360 sqq., Leipsic, 1815; J. M. H. Wring, Die gelehrten Theologen Deutschlands, iv. 630 sqq., Neuatadt, 1835; G. Frank, Die jenaische Theologie in ihrer geachuht lichen EnEunckelung, pp. 71 sqq., Leipsic, 1858; ADB, xl. 650 sqq.; KL, xii. 1182-33. On 2: ADB, xt. 652 sqq. On 3: G. Less, Dem Andenken des . . . C. W. F. Watch, Göttingen,1784; J. N. Potter, Versuch einer akademischen Gelehrtengeschichte der Univeraitdt, Göttingen, i. 121 sqq., ii. 28 sqq Göttingen, (1765; F. C. Baur, Die 9pochen der kirchlichen Geschichteschreibung, pp. 145 sqq., Tübingen, 1852; ADB, xl. 646 sqq.; RL, ail. 1183-$5.