, a French theologian, was at first only a rector in the diocese
, a French theologian, was at first only
a rector in the diocese of Amiens, but afterwards a person
in great confidence with the bishop, and by him placed at
the head of the seminary of that district. He was deeply
skilled in languages, particularly the Oriental. The virtuous bishop de Brou made him also a canon of Amiens;
but when that prelate died, in 1706, he was not equally in
favour with his successor, as they did not agree on the
subject of Jansenism, then an object of great contention.
He was now removed from the seminary, and every other
public function, but consoled himself by his studies, which
he pursued with new ardour. He died in November, 1728,
at the age of sixty-six. His principal works are, 1. “A
Hebrew Grammar,
” according to a new method, in which
the points are discarded, printed in 1716; improved and
reprinted in 2 vols. 12mo, by M. de la Bletterie, in 1730.
2. “Ecclesiastical Conferences of the diocese of Amiens.
”
3. “The Catechism of Amiens,
” 4to. He left also in
manuscript a system of philosophy and of theology, which
would have been published, had they not been thought to
contain some seeds of Jansenism. Masclef was no less
respectable by his character than by his learning.
, a French theologian, was born at Rheims, June 10, 1657, and became
, a French theologian, was born
at Rheims, June 10, 1657, and became a Benedictine
monk in 1674. He studied the scriptures, the fathers, and
ecclesiastical writers, in so masterly a way, that Mabillon
chose him for a companion in his literary labours. He
shewed himself not unworthy of the good opinion Mabillon
had conceived of him, when he published, in 1689, “Acta
Primorurn Martyrum,
” &c. 4to, meaning the martyrs of the
first four centuries. In a preface to this work, he endeavours to refute a notion, which our Dodwell had advanced
in a piece “De paucitate Martyrum,
” inserted among his
“Dissertationes Cyprianicae.
” A new edition of this
work, with alterations and additions, was printed ie 1713,
folio. Ruinart publisnec other learned works, as *' Hist,
persecutionis Vandalicae,“”Jtor Literariinn in Alsatiam et
Lotharingiain,“&c.; and assisted Mabillon, whom he survived,
and whose life he wrote, in the publication of the acts of
the saints, and annals of their order. He gave alsc -in excellent edition of the works of
” Gregory of Tours, it
Paris, 1699, in folio. When Mabillon died, in 1707, he
was appointed to continue the work in which he had jointly
laboured with him; upon which he travelled to Champagne, in quest of new memoirs, but on his return to Pads
died Sept. 24, 1707.