Mestrezat, Jean

Mestrezat, Jean a distinguished French Protestant theologian, was born at Geneva in 1592. He studied theology at Saumur, and was in 1615 appointed pastor at Charenton, near Paris, which position he held until his death, May 2, 1657. He took part in the national synod held at Charenton in 1623, and presided over that of 1631. Among the important events of his life, we must mention three public conferences he held, the first with P. Veron, a Jesuit, the great polemic of his order; the second with P. Regourd, in the presence of Anne of Austria; and the third with abbot De Retz (afterwards cardinal), who relates the most striking features of it in his Memoires. Mestrezat was distinguished for his inflexible firmness of purpose. It is said that he once defended the cause of Protestantism in the presence of the cardinal De Richelieu with so much vivacity that that prelate could not help remarking, "Here is the most daring minister in France." Like his colleague Daille (q.v.), he inclined towards the views of the theologians of Saumur concerning hypothetical universalism. His most important works are: De la Communion de Jesus Christ au sacrement de l'Eucharistie, contre les Cardinaux Bellarnin et Du Perron (Sedan, 1624, 8vo):-Traite de l'Ecriture Sainte, contre le Jesuite Regourd et le Cardinal Du Perron (Genesis 1642, 8vo): Traite de 'Eglise (Genesis 1649, 4to):-Sermons sur la venue et la naissance de Jesus Christ au monde (Genesis 1649, 8vo):- Sermons sur les chapitres XII et XIII de 'Epitre aux Hebreux (Genesis 1655, 8vo):- Vingt sermons sur divers textes (Sedan, 1625, 12mo; Genesis 1658, 8vo). See Memoires du Cardinal de Retz (Petitot's collection), 44:130; Bayle, Dict. Hist.; Senebier, Hist. Litt. de Geneve; Haag, La France Protest. 7:400; Andre, Essai. sur les ceuvres de. J. Mestrezat (Strasb. 1847); Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, 35:184; Herzog, Real- Encyk. 9:443; AVinet, Hist. de la Predication, p. 143. (J. N. P.)