DIODA'TI, JEAN, was born in Geneva in 1576, of a family originally from Lucca. His progress in learning was so rapid that Beza procured him to be appointed professor of Hebrew in the Uni versity of Geneva when he was but twenty-one years of age. In 1603 he was made pastor, or parish minister, and in the following year professor of theology. While travelling in Italy about 1608, he became acquainted at Venice with the celebrated Sarpi and his friend Father Fulgenzio, both antagonists of the Court of Rome, and there appears to have been some talk and correspondence between them about attempting a religious reform in Italy, but Sarpi's caution and maturer judgment checked the fervour of the other two. Diodati afterwards translated into French and published at Geneva Sarpi's History of the Council of Trent.' In consideration of his theological learning ho was sent by the clergy of Geneva on several missions, first to the reformed churches in France, and afterwards to those of Hol land, where he attended the Synod of Dort (1618-19), and although a foreigner, he was one of the divines appointed to draw up the acts of that assembly. He fully concurred in the condemnation of the Arminiana, or Remonatrants as they were called. Diodati was also
distinguished as a preacher; in his sermons he spoke with conscien tious frankness, without any regard to worldly considerations. Ile published an Italian translation of the Bible in 1607, and afterwards a French translation, which was not completed till 1644, having met with considerable opposition from the clergy of Geneva. Diodati died at Geneva in 1649. He wrote also Annotatiozies in Biblia,' folio, Geneva 1607, which were translated into English, and published in London in 1648, and numerous theological and controversial works, among others, De Fictitio Pontificiorum Purgatorio,' 1619; 'De justa Seceasione Reformatorum ab Ecclesia Romana,' 1628; De Ecclesia;' Do Antiehriato; &c. Senebier, in his 'Histoire Litt6rsire de Geneve,' gives a catalogue of Diodatrs works. He also wrote an answer to the ecclesiastical assembly in London, in reply to letters addressed to him by some members of that assembly, and which was published in Newcastle in 1647. Diodati translated into French Edwin Sandy's ' Account of the State of Religion in the West,' Geneva, 1626.