JANSEN, CORNELIUS, biſhop of Ypres, one of the
moſt learned divines of the 17th century, and principal of the ſect called from his name Janſenists. He was born in Holland of Catholic parents, and ſtudied at Louvain. Being ſent to tranſact ſome buſineſs of conſequence relating to the university, into Spain, the Catholic king, viewing with a jealous eye the intriguing policy of France, engaged him to write a book to expoſe the French to the pope as no good Catholics, ſince they made no ſcruple of forming alliances with Proteſtant ſtates. Janſen performed this task in his Mars Gallicus; and was rewarded with a mitre, being promoted to the ſee of Ypres in 1635. He had, among other writings, before this, maintained a controversy againſt the Proteſtants upon the points of grace and predeſtination; but his Auguſtinus was the principal labour of his life, on which he ſpent above 20 years. See the next article.