BERNARD (James), professor of philosophy and mathematics, and minister of the Walloon church at Leyden, was born September 1st, 1658, at Nions in Dauphine. Having studied at Geneva, he returned to France in 1679, and was chosen minister of Venterol, a village in Dauphine. Some time after, he was removed to the church of Vinsobres in the same province. But the persecutions raised against the Protestants in France having obliged him to leave his native country, he retired to Holland, where he was received with great civility, and was appointed one of the pensionary ministers of Ganda. In July 1688, he began a political publication intitled Histoire abrégée de L'Europe, &c. which he continued monthly till December 1688, and makes five volumes in 12mo. In 1692, he began his Lettres Historiques, containing an account of the most important transactions in Europe, with necessary reflections. He carried on this work, which was also published monthly, till the end of the year 1698. It was afterwards continued by other hands, and consists of a great many volumes. Mr Le Clerc having left off his Bibliothèque universelle, in 1691, Mr Bernard wrote the greatest part of the 20th volume, and by himself carried on the five following to the year 1693. In 1699, he collected and published Actes et négociations de la paix de Ryswic, in four volumes 12mo. In 1698 he began the Nouvelles de république des lettres, which he continued till December 1710. Mr Bernard having acquired great reputation by his works, as well as by his sermons at Ganda, and the Hague, the congregation of the Walloon church at Leyden became extremely desirous to have him for one of their ministers; and a vacancy happening in 1705, he was unanimously chosen. About the same time, Mr de Volder professor of philosophy and mathematics at Leyden having resigned, Mr Bernard was appointed his successor; and the university presented him with the degrees of doctor of philosophy and master of arts. His public and private lectures took up a great part of his time; yet he did not neglect his pastoral function, but composed his sermons with great care: he wrote also two excellent treatises, one on a late repentance, the other on the excellency of religion. In 1716, he published a supplement to Moreri's dictionary in two volumes folio. The same year he resumed his Nouvelles de la république des lettres; which he continued till his death, which happened the 27th of April, 1718, in the 60th year of his age.
BERNARD the Great (St); a mountain in Savoy and Switzerland, between Valais and the valley of Aoust,
at the source of the rivers Drance and Doria. The top is always covered with snow, and there is a great monastery seated thereon, where the monks always entertain travellers without distinction of religion for three days.