(Lewis Sebastian de), one of the most learned and judicious critics and historians France has produced, was the son of a master of the request, and born at Paris in 1637. At ten years old he went to school at Port Royal, and became one of the best writers of that institution. Sacy, his intimate friend and counsellor, prevailed with him in 1676 to receive the priesthood; which, it seems, his great humility would not before suffer him to aspire to. This virtue he seems to have possessed in the extreme; so that Bossuet, seeing one of his letters to father Damé, with whom he had some little dispute, behooved him merrily, "not to be always upon his knees before his adversary, but raise himself now and then up." He was solicited to push himself in the church, and Buzanval, bishop of Beauvais, wished to have him for his successor; but Nain, regardless of dignities, wished for nothing but retirement. In this he did indeed most effectually bury himself; and, joining the mortifications of a religious life to an indefatigable pursuit of letters, he wore himself entirely out, so as to die in 1698, aged 61, though he was formed for a longer life. His principal works are, 1. Memoirs on the ecclesiastical history of the first ages of the church, 16 vols 4to. 2. The history of the emperors, 6 vols 4to. These works are deduced from original sources, and composed with the utmost fidelity and exactness.

Naim, situated at the bottom of mount Hermon on the north side, was anciently a city of the tribe of Issachar, in the province of Galilee. It was near the gates of this city that our Saviour restored to life the only son of a widow, and where he inspired Mary Magdalen to come and mourn for her sins at his feet. These circumstances alone make this place worthy of notice; for at present Nain is only a hamlet inhabited by Christians, Mahometans, and Hebrews, where there is not a single monument to attract the curiosity of the traveller.