BRUEYS, David-Augustin. – Theologian and dramatist, born in Aix-en-Provence in 1640 into a Protestant family and died in Montpellier on 25 Nov. 1723. After studying law, he turned to theology and became a member of the Consistory of Montpellier. Converted by Bossuet in 1682, after the death of his wife in 1685 he was himself ordained to the sacred orders by him. As a controversialist he defended the most assailed points of Catholic doctrine: the Mass, the Eucharist, the Church, and external worship.
But, a happier imitator of Molière than of Bossuet, he won admiration and survived more as a dramatist, collaborator of Palaprat, as is proved by the repeated reprints, even recent ones, of his best works: *L’Avocat Potelin* (Paris 1902); *Le grandeur* (ibid. 1889). His works before conversion: *Réponse de M. Condom, intitulée Exposition de la doctrine catholique* (Geneva 1681); *Suite du préservatif* [of Jurieu] *contre le changement de religion* (Amsterdam 1682). After conversion: *Traité de la s. Messe* (s.l. 1683); *Examen des raisons qui ont donné lieu à la séparation des protestants* (Paris 1683); *Traité de l’Eucharistie* (ibid. 1686); *Réponse aux plaintes des protestants contre les moyens qu’on emploie pour les réunir à l’Église catholique* (ibid. 1686); *Traité de l’Église* (ibid. 1687); *Histoire du fanatisme de notre temps* (ibid. 1692); *Traité de l’obéissance des chrétiens aux puissances temporelles* (Montpellier 1709); *Suite de l’histoire du fanatisme de notre temps*, vol. II (ibid. 1713); *Traité du légitime usage de la raison principalement sur les objets de la foi* (Paris 1727); *Œuvres de théâtre de M. de Braccis* (Paris 1822).
