Charles Drelincourt (10 July 1595 in Sedan – 3 November 1669) was a French Protestant divine.

Charles Drelincourt
Personal
Born(1595-07-10)10 July 1595
Sedan
Died3 November 1669(1669-11-03) (aged 74)
ReligionChristian
NationalityFrench
ChildrenLaurent Delincourt
Charles Delincourt
Pierre Delincourt
DenominationProtestant
Notable work(s)Anti-Catholic writings
Organization
ChurchReformed Church
Senior posting
PostMinister at Langres
Minister at Charenton

Life

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His father, Pierre Drelincourt, fled from Protestant persecution in Caen and became secretary to Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Duke of Bouillon at Sedan, Ardennes. In 1618, Charles undertook the charge of the French Protestant church at Langres, but failed to receive the necessary royal sanction, and early in 1620 he removed to Paris, where he was nominated minister of the Reformed Church at Charenton.[1]

Works

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Drelincourt was the author of a large number of works in devotional and polemical theology, several of which had great influence. His Catechism (Catéchisme ou instruction familière, 1652) and his The Christian's Defence against the Fears of Death (Consolations de l'âme fidèle contre les frayeurs de la mort, 1651) became well known in England by means of translations, which were very frequently reprinted. It has been said that Daniel Defoe wrote his 1706 pamphlet of Mrs Veal ( A True Relation of the Apparition of Mrs Veal), who came from the other world to recommend the perusal of Drelincourt on death, for the express purpose of promoting the sale of an English translation of the Consolations; Defoe's text is added to the fourth edition of the translation (1706). Another popular work of Drelincourt was Les Visites charitables pour toutes sortes de personnes affligés (1669).[1] Drelincourt's controversial works were numerous.[1] Directed entirely against Roman Catholicism, they did much to strengthen and consolidate the Protestant party in France.[1]

Family

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He married the only daughter of a wealthy Parisian beer brewer. Several of his sons were distinguished as theologians or physicians:

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e   One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Drelincourt, Charles". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 8 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 573.
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