Lenglet-dufresnoy, Nicolas

Lenglet-Dufresnoy, Nicolas a French writer, was born at Beauvais, October 5, 1674. He studied theology at Paris, and took holy orders, but soon exchanged his clerical dress for that of a politician and diplomatist. He died January 16, 1755. Of his numerous works we mention the following, bearing upon theology: Novaum Jesu Christi Testamentum Notis Historicis et Criticis Illustratum (Paris, 1703, 2 volumes; reprinted 1735): — Imitation de Jesus Christ, Traduite et Revue (1771): — Traite Historique et Dogmatique du Secret Inviolable de la Confession (1713 and often): — Refutation des Erreurs de Spinosa, avec sa Vie a la Tete (Amsterdam, 1731): — Traite Historique et Dogmatique des Operations, des Visions et des Revelations Particulieres (1751, 2 volumes): — Recueil des Dissertations Anciennes et Modernes sur les Apparitions, les Visions et les Songes (1752, 4 volumes). He also edited Lucii Caecilii Lactantii Opera Omnsia (1748, 2 volumes), the most complete edition of Lactantius's works. See Michault, Memoir es pour Servir a Histoire de la Vie et des Ouvrages de l'Abbe Lenglet; Lichtenberger, Encyclop. des Sciences Religieuses, s.v. (B.P.)