Benoit, Elie

Benoit, Elie a Protestant French theologian, was born at Paris on Jan. 20,1640. Having studied theology at Paris and Montauban, he became, in 1665, minister at Alencon. Here he had repeatedly theological disputations with Roman Catholic priests, especially the Jesuit La Rue, who tried to excite the mob against the Protestants. In consequence of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes he had to leave France; he went to Holland, and became pastor at Delft, where he died Nov. 15, 1728. He was highly esteemed as a meek, peaceable man, who did not seek controversies, but did not flee from them when forced upon him. His chief work is the History of the Edict of Nantes (Histoire de l'Edit de Nantes, Delft, 1693-95, 5 vols. 4to). This work is distinguished for its accuracy, and still remains a chief source for the history of the Reformed Church of France. Among his other works are the following: Histoire et Apologie de la Retraite des Pasteurs (Francfort, 1687, 12mo; and a defense of this Apology, Francfort, 1688, 12mo); Melange de Remarques critiques, historiques, philosophiques, et theologiques contre deux ecrits de Loland (Delft, 1712, 8vo).Herzog, Supplement, 1, 174; Hoefer, Biog. Generale, 5, 394.