MORIN (John), a very learned Frenchman, born at Blois, of Protestant parents, in 1591; but converted by cardinal de Perron to the catholic religion. He published, in 1626, some Excerptions upon the original of patriarchs and primates, and the ancient usage of ecclesiastical censures; dedicated to pope Urban VIII. In 1628 he undertook the edition of the Septuagint Bible, with Nobilius's version; and placed a preface before it, in which he treats of the authority of the Septuagint, and prefers the version in the edition made at Rome by order of Sixtus V. to the present Hebrew text, which he affirms has been corrupted by the Jews. About the same time he gave a French history of the deliverance of the church by the emperor Constantine; and of the temporal greatness conferred on the Roman church by the kings of France. He afterwards published Excerptions upon the Samaritan Pentateuch; and took the care of the Samaritan Pentateuch, for the Polyglot then preparing at Paris. He was greatly carefess at Rome; where, after living nine years, at the invitation of cardinal Bar-
Morinus barini, he was recalled by cardinal Richlieu, and died at Paris in 1659. His works are very numerous; and some of them as much valued by Protestants as Papists for the oriental learning they contain.