OSTERVALD, JOHN FREDERIC, a famous Protestant divine, was born at Neufchattel in 1663; and made such rapid progress in his studies, that he became master of arts at Saumur before he was 16 years of age. He afterwards studied at Orleans and at Paris. At his return to Neufchattel in 1699, he became pastor of the church there; and contracted a strict friendship with the celebrated John Alphonse Turretin of Geneva, and the illustrious Samuel Werenfels of Basel. The union of these three divines, which was called the Triumvirate of the divines of Switzerland, lasted till his death. Mr Ostervald acquired the highest reputation, by his virtues, his zeal in instructing his disciples, and restored ecclesiastical
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fiastical discipline. He wrote many books in French; the principal of which are, 1. A Treatise concerning the Sources of Corruption, which is a good moral piece. 2. A Catechism, or Instruction in the Christian Religion; which has been translated into German, Dutch, and English; and the Abridgement of the Sacred History, which he prefixed to it, was translated and printed in Arabic, in order to be sent to the East Indies, by the care of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel; and that Society established in London, paid him a high compliment, by admitting him an honorary member. 3. A treatise against Impurity. 4. An edition of the French Bible of Geneva, with Arguments and Reflections, in folio. 5. Ethica Christiana. 6. Theologie Compendium, &c. He died in 1747, regretted by all who knew him.