Belin, John Albert

Belin, John Albert a learned French prelate, was born at Besancon about 1610. He took the Benedictine vows at the Abbey of Faverney, Dec. 19, 1630. Having completed his studies, he was sent to the Abbey of Cluny, to the Priory of Charite-sur-Loire, then to Paris and other places, where he distinguished himself as a preacher. Having secured for the son of Colbert the vote of all the monks for the election to the Priory of Charite, he obtained of this minister the bishopric of Belley in 1666. He died in his diocese in 1677. He wrote, Les Emblemes Encharistiques (Paris, 1647): Les Fideles Pensees del'Ame pour la Porter a son Devoir —Pierre Philosophale (ibid, 1653): — Les 'Aentures dut Philosophe inconnsu la Recherche et Invention de la Pierre Philosophale (Paris, 1664); an interesting work directed against the alchemists: — Preuves Convaincantes des Virites du Christianisme (Paris, 1666). See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, S V.