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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56905	Synodicon in Gallia reformata, or, The acts, decisions, decrees, and canons of those famous national councils of the reformed churches in France being I. a most faithful and impartial history of the rise, growth, perfection and decay of the reformation in that kingdom, with its fatal catastrophe upon the revocation of the Edict of Nants in the year 1685 : II. the confession of faith and discipline of those churches : III. a collection of speeches, letters, sacred politicks, cases of conscience, and controversies in divinity, determined and resolved by those grave assemblies : IV. many excellent expedients for preventing and healing schisms in the churches and for re-uniting the dismembred body of divided Protestants : V. the laws, government, and maintenance of their colleges, universities and ministers, together with their exercise of discipline upon delinquent ministers and church-members : VI. a record of very many illustrious events of divine providence relating to those churches : the whole collected and composed out of original manuscript acts of those renowned synods : a work never be extant in any language.	Quick, John, 1636-1706.; Eglises réformées de France.	1692 (1692)	Wing Q209; ESTC R10251	1,424,843	1,304

Pastors and Elders as they be obliged by that Article of our Discipline otherwise they shall have no power of Voting in that Synod XIII In explaining the fifth Article of the tenth Chapter of our Discipline concerning Funerals it was decreed That Ministers should hinder the distribution of the Deceased's Alms at their Interrments that so those inconveniences which would otherwise fall out may be prevented XIV That Article of the Synod of Saumur concerning the Administration of Baptism after Singing the last Psalm before the Blessing shall be inserted into the eleventh Chapter of our Discipline XV. Having read and carefully examined the Memoirs sent from the Provinces concerning the fifth Article of the thirteenth Chapter of our Discipline about the Form in which Promises of Marriage are to be conceived and uttered this Assembly ordereth That both that Article of the Discipline and of the last Synod of Saumur shall be amended and that the Churches be left to their own liberty and discretion either to use the words de praesenti or de futuro XVI In explaining the tenth Article of the same Chapter this case was propounded by the Colloquy of Foix A Man espoused the Widow of the Deceased who was married to his own Sister in a former Marriage The Synod judgeth That such a Marriage is not incestuous nor comprised in the said Article forasmuch as Affinity ceaseth by Death and proceedeth not beyond the Persons conjoyned by that said Affinity XVII A Question was moved upon reading the 16th Article of the 13th Chapter Whether it were lawful to give them a Certificate to be married out of their own Churches Who desired it for this reason only that they might avoid Bewitching and Impotency procured by tying the Point This Assembly ordaineth That it shall not in the least be granted them and adviseth them not to give way unto such fears proceeding from their weakness and unbelief and the Faithful are exhorted to arm themselves against such Attempts by an entire confidence in God's Holy Word and by fervent Prayers to vanquish such Illusions and to come unto the Ordinance of Marriage when blessed in our Churches with more Reverence Attention and Devotion than is usual XVIII The Assembly decreed about the 23d Article of the same Chapter concerning Widows Marriages That they shall not be admitted to contract Marriage till seven Months and fourteen days be fully expired after their Husbands Death XIX The 21st * * * It 's the 20th Article Article of the same Chapter being examined the Church in the House of her Highness the King's Sister craved Advice for their Conduct in that great Concern of her Royal Highness's Marriage with the Prince of Lorrain because althô she had employed the Authority of the Provincial Synod and of divers famous Persons both within and without the Kingdom yet she cannot any longer hinder it This Synod approving their Duty judgeth this Marriage utterly unlawful nor shall it be permitted in any of our Churches and Letters to this purpose shall be written to her and all Ministers are enjoyned carefully to observe this Article otherwise they shall be suspended and deposed from their Ministry And this Injunction shall be annexed to the Articles of our Discipline N.B. She would not be married after the Popish way and could not after the Protestants Henry IV. her Brother found out a temper got the Archbishop of Roven his Natural Brother to pronounce only the formal words of Marriage in his Cabinet the King himself joyning their Hands and the Duke of Barr went immediately to Mass and she to a Sermon at Court See the 28th Artic. of Part. Matters of the Nation Synod of G●rg●a● XX. A Case was propounded upon the Article of Incests A Maid was married in her Nonage to one who in his first Marriage had espoused her Aunt by Papal Dispensation and had Children by her now she is since come to the knowledge of the Truth embraceth and makes open profession thereof but not her Husband she also hath born him Children may this Woman be received into Communion with our Churches This Assembly distinguishing between Affinity and Consanguinity and considering the time wherein the said Marriage was contracted and that the Dispensation such as it was is reputed a Law in this Kingdom and because the Husband is of the contrary Religion adviseth That without approving the said Marriage she be received unto Communion with us in the Sacraments And this shall be published unto the People XXI On the Article of Publick Penance for Scandals the Province of Higher Languedoc moved Whether a Man convicted and condemned by the Civil Magistrate for a certain Crime which yet he pertinaciously denieth may be received to the Peace and Fellowship of the Church without undergoing Publick Penance This Assembly judgeth That in the first place the past Life of this condemned Person be revised and examined and then the Accusations brought in against him the Witnesses attesting them and the Judges passing Sentence on him and then to ponder all Circumstances and Proofs over and above what were produced before the Magistrate and if alter the greatest diligence used herein and Adjurations made him in the Name of God to confess the Truth he still persists in his denyals he may be received unto the Lord's Table provided that the Church be publickly acquainted in his presence that the Judgment of the whole Process lieth between God and his own Conscience XXII Instead of those words in the beginning of the * * * It is now the 23th Art 26th Article of the same Chapter Who shall have dwelt there shall be inserted Who being espoused shall have dwelt together XXIII A Case being moved Whether Lands might be purchased on these Terms That you keep up Divine Service as 't is called in the Church of Rome This Assembly is of Opinion That we should make a difference between those who purchase upon Terms of paying such and such Suits and Service unto a Bishop Abbot or Curate and those who in downright Terms scruple the causing Mass to be said or sung the former of these be not liable to Church Censures but the latter must be informed that they cannot with a safe Conscience neither possess nor acquire such Lands or Leases XXIV Proctors and Advocates i. e. Attorneys and Counsellors professing the Reformed Religion may not take of their own accord Monitories out of the Popish Ecclesiastical Courts But Judges being Publick Persons and having Authority to declare what is Law and ought to be done may order what they shall do in such Cases XXV The last clause of the 13th Article in the Chapter of Ministers shall be struck out because 't is comprised in the 15th Article of the last Chapter of our Discipline concerning Particular Orders XXVI Divers Provinces complaining of the Licentiousness of Printers in publishing all sorts of Books Cities and Churches having Printers in them are advised to suffer no Book to get into the Press

Rochel The Provinces of Higher and Lower Vivaretz and their Synod shall be censured for neglecting to send their Deputies unto this Assembly and Masters Brunier and Chamier are appointed to declare in their next Synodical Meeting this very Censure by word of mouth unto them Bourbonnois Auvergne and the Province of Burgundy having at present but one constituted Church in it are excused for this time and Monsieur de Serres is ordered to write unto the scattered Churches of those Dukedoms that they rally and re-unite again together and encourage the Faithful which are among them to re-assemble Monsieur de la Touche was chosen by common Suffrages Moderator and Monsieur Pacart Assessor and Master Vincent and Chalmot Scribes to Collect and Register the Acts of this Synod The Assembly ordered That the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper should be celebrated in this Church on the Lord's Day June the 16th of this present Year 1596. CHAP. II. Observations upon the Confession of Faith THE Confession of Faith was Read Approved and Sworn to by all the Deputies of this present Synod Once again the Printers shall be required to put the word Vnion instead of that of Vnity in the 26th Article As also Synod of Montauban Observat upon the Confess art 4. 〈◊〉 6. That in the close of the Eight and thirtieth Article these words of Institution in the Lord's Supper Take eat and drink ye all of it shall be added according as it had been decreed by the last National Synod of Montauban CHAP. III. Observations upon the Church-Discipline The Discipline of our Church was read and all the Deputies approved it and sware to see it carefully observed I. THE Provinces are advised to see that the Sixth Eleventh and Twelfth Articles of the first Chapter especially the Twelfth be punctually observed according to the Decree of the Synod of Montauban II. The One and twentieth Article in the Second Chapter beginning with these words Forasmuch as shall be wholly removed from the Body of our Discipline III. The First Article in the Third Chapter of Elders shall be strictly observed And the word Especially in the Sixth Article of this same Chapter shall remain IV. The Provinces are exhorted to maintain as great a number of Proposans as possibly they can and Princes Lords Gentlemen Corporations and such as to whom God hath given fair Estates in the World and especially such as enjoy Impropriations are bound in Conscience to employ a considerable part of their Revenues in so pious a work V. In reading the Chapter of Schools it was decreed That the Provinces should be advised to do their utmost that a Colledge be erected in each of them and that by them all joyntly at least two Academies the places of the Colledges and Academies shall be named by the Provinces And the present Synod judgeth this City of Saumur a most convenient place for a Colledge and whenever God shall bless us with ability for an Academy also and entreateth the Lord du Plessis Governour of this place to continue the Tokens of his good-will and kindness to this Noble and most Godly Design which he hath so much affected and the Deputies of this Assembly are intreated to excite their respective Provinces to promote it vigorously VI. The 8th Article in the Chapter of Elders and Deacons shall remain as it is leaving the Consistories at liberty to make what changes they in their prudence may judge to be most expedient VII The 8th Article in the Chapter of Consistories recommending the reading of the Discipline shall be better observed VIII On the 22d Article of the same Chapter it was decreed That in Publick Confessions made by Penitents before the whole Church those Crimes which would expose them unto Death or brand them with Infamy shall not be specified IX The Provinces are advised to see that the last Article of the same Chapter be most exactly observed X. The Fifth and Last Article of the Sixth Chapter The Provincial Deputies of Guyenne Xaintonge and Normandy craved That this Article might be moderated because of its very great rigour Whereupon it was advised that after those words Continued and maintained there shall be these added And in case any Churches or particular Persons refuse to contribute to the defraying of their Expences who are to meet in those Ecclesiastical Assemblies they shall be severely censur'd as Deserters of that holy Vnion which ought to be upheld among us for our mutual preservation And Ministers neglecting this Ordinance shall be liable unto the sharpest Censures XI On reading the first Article of the Eighth Chapter those Churches which have divers Pastors are advised to send as many of them as they can alternatively unto their Provincial Synods XII The Second Article of the same Chapter shall be most strictly observed In the last Article of the said Chapter the Deputy of Champagne declared unto the Synod That the Church of Chaloons is the only one in that Province Wherefore it was decreed That the Church of Chaloons for the present shall be annexed unto the Isle of France and there being left in the Province of Brittany none other than the Church of Vitré that also shall be joyned unto Normandy XIII The Deputy of Higher Languedoc demanding That other Ministers present in our National Synods though not deputed might have their Votes in Consultations unless in those Matters wherein they were personally concerned it was decreed that the third Article of this eighth Chapter should not be changed in the least tittle XIV The fifth Article of the tenth Chapter The Deputy of Normandy read the Memoirs of the Colloquy of Constantine moving that Exhortations might be permitted at the Interring of the Dead The Synod past this Decree That there should be nothing innovated in that Article XV. On reading the fifth Article of the eleventh Chapter about baptizing of Gypsies Children it was decreed That the said Article should remain in its full force only with the addition of these words That the Surety do bind himself to maintain and educate the said Child in the fear of God XVI It was decreed That the sixth Article of the same Chapter shall abide unaltered to wit That no Baptisms shall be performed but in those places and at those hours when and where the Churches do ordinarily meet together for God's Publick Worship However in Churches where there is no Sermon this Sacrament may be administred according to their conveniency but yet not without some kind of Exhortation And in case a Parent should through infirmity urge the baptizing of his Child before Sermon the Pastors shall advise what will make most for the edification of the People and inform the Parent of it And where Churches have their Meetings only on the Lord's Day they are exhorted also to appoint some other Day of the Week for Publick Christenings On the eighth Article of the same Chapter Parents shall be advised to choose such Sureties for their Children as are Persons

that they conform for the future unto this Order 9. On the 15th Article of the 8th Chapter in the distribution of the Provinces those of the Isle of France of the Land of Chartres of Picardy Champague Brie and the Soveraignty of Sedan petitioning that this Assembly would approve of the Dividing the said Province into two Synods This Assembly did not think it convenient to authorize that Separation and commands them to remain United as before notwithstanding what had been decreed by them in their Provincial Synod and the repeated Instances of their Provincial Deputies in this present Assembly Advice about Bapusm 10. On the 6th Article of the 11th Chapter a Question was propounded by the Province of Higher Languedoc Whether in case of grievous sickness and the Child being in apparent danger of death he might be baptized on Lecture-days before Sermon began and whether Baptism might be administred at such times when as there is no Sermon preached but only publick Common-prayers It was answered that if the Consistory or any of the Elders did attest the Malady of the Infant the Pastor might do it And if the observation of this Article should beget new difficulties the Provinces were intreated to come prepared unto the next National Synod for their assoiling of them 11. On the twelfth Article of the thirteenth chapter The Provinces are exhorted to bring their thoughts unto the next National Synod whether any alterations may be made in it or not 12. A motion was made about the 20th Article of the same Chapter whether something might not be relaxed of its rigour out of respect to a great Lord who had chosen a Popish-Lady that consented to be Married by one of our Ministers provided he would not compel her to an open profession of our Religion Upon which it was decreed that the said Canon should be exactly and equally observed towards all persons whatever their quality or condition might be as to the world 13. Instead of these words That he may able to protest with a good Conscience in the same 20th Article of the said Chapter these shall be inserted And shall with a good Conscience publickly protest before the Church of that place where his said party is well known that she hath renounced And whereas the Province of Lower Languedoc requested that to obviate the levity of such persons they might not be Married in our Churches till such time as they had communicated at the Lords Table This Assembly not altering that Canon leaves the affair unto the prudence of the Consistory 14. On the twenty second Article of the same chapter it was wholly left to the prudence of the Consistory to judge and determine in what space of time a Widdower might decently Marry a second Wife after the death of his first 15. The Deputies of Vivaretz demanded upon the thirteenth Article of the fourteenth chapter whether it would not be expedient to fix a set time for their Excommunication who send their Children unto the Schools of the Jesuits This Assembly left it wholly to the prudence of Consistories 16. On the twenty seventh Article of the fourteenth chapter although the Province of Xaintonge had demanded it yet the Synod did not approve their inserting of those words to set up May-poles However the Churches are charged to proceed by all censures against those who do it out of superstition and commit Insolences and Debauches before them 17. The Church Discipline having been read was approved by all the Deputies together with the aforesaid observations on it and they all promised and swore for themselves and Provinces to procure to the utmost of their power that it should be carefully and diligently observed CHAP. IV. Observations upon the National Synod of Rochel See the third Synod of Rochel 1. THE first Article of general matters which did not permit the Deputies to carry with them the Acts of Appeals and of particular matters was for divers considerations revoked 2. The Lords our General Deputies are again charged to require of his Majesty a Declaration for the Naturalizing the poor Fugitives of the Marquisate of Saluces 3. The excuses made by the Churches of Bearn for not sending their Deputies unto this Synod were accepted and approved and Letters of thanks were ordered to be writ them and to exhort them not to suffer such persons to be Married in their Temples who wander from the Neighbour Provinces without attestations Concerning Monks quitting their Convents See the third Syn. of Rochel g. m. 16. 4. The Province of Poictou requesting that some course might be taken to prevent that great abuse committed by Monks who having quitted their Convents did rove up and down hither and thither from one Church unto another This Assembly answered that there could not be any better Expedient found out than the exact observation of that Canon made in the Synod of Rochel which sends them back to the Province where they were born nor did we judge it convenient to comply with the Province of Berry who would have a publick Stock erected and set apart for the maintenance of such fellows 5. Letters shall be dispatcht from this Assembly unto Monsieur Tilenus Professor at Sedan about the matters relating to him proposed in this Synod 6. U on hearing the report made by the Deputies of Dolphiny concerning the Labours of Monsieur Chamier on the controversies of these times This Assembly applauded his great diligence and gave him advice to pursue the finishing of his whole work that it may be published to the World intire Promising that the next national Synod shall take notice of his great charges and expences and seal their acknowledgments to him with a pledge and character of their respects and bounty 7. Letters were sent from Monsieur Perrin accompanied with others from the Province of Dolphiny informing us of the progress made by the said Perrin in his History of the Albingenses and Vaudois whereof the rude draught was now pr●sented This Assembly approving his method exhorts him to continue his labour and to finish it as soon as possible And Messieurs Ferrier Durant Benoist Castelfranc and Vignier are intreated to transmit unto him whatever Memoirs they have found out or can get that so it may be published suddenly And this Synod will assist him with their bounty to help to bear his great expences in books and for its impression 8. The Children of poor Ministers are exempted from the rigour of that Article which had ordered that no Schollars should be maintained out of the Moneys of the Kings bounty See the 43d Artic. of g. m. in the third Syn. of Rochel Moderation in favour of the Children of poor Ministers untill such time as they have finished their Studies of Humanity and begun their course of Philosophy And 't is left unto the discretion of Synods and Colloquies at what age and capacity they shall judge fit to enroll them in the Catalogue of Pensioners 9. Monsieur Vignier

Magistrate will in some Cases oblige us to hold them separated whom God had once joyned together in this holy ordinance 'T is true that Betrothed Persons in Scripture are called Husband and Wife not that they be so already in very truth and deed but only because the Scripture oftentimes styleth things shortly to be done as if they had been already done And though a Betrothed Wife committing Whoredom be by the Law of Moses as severely punished as a Married Woman that commits adultery yet it doth not thence follow that she is an Adultoress For in the same Chapter a Daughter playing the Whore in her Fathers House is also punished with death Therefore for these and other causes and for that the Laws of the Kingdom do decree that Promises of Marriage shall be made in express words de futuro This Assembly ordaineth that from henceforward All the Members of our Churches shall Universally and Uniformly conform to the Laws and Customs of this Kingdom not only as to the bare words but also as to their sence and meaning and that the words de futuro shall not be reckoned by the parties as obliging and dissolvable as words de praesenti So then for time coming the fifth Article in the Chapter of Marriges shall be Couched in these words Henceforward in Promises of Marriage the words de futuro shall be used as also in all Espousals nor shall those words be taken as indissolvable as the words de praesenti because words de praesenti do not Promise but effect and perform Marriage yet those words and Promises de futuro shall never be dissolved without very great and lawful causes And therefore that Custom of divers Churches celebrating the Espousals by the Ministry and Benediction of the Pastor and gift of bodies with words de praesenti is expresly condemned For this Synod reckoneth that by this Ceremony the parties be truly and actually joyned together in Marriage and that consequently all Banes are preposterous and useless because done after Marriage and the Blessing of the Church thereby render'd altogether needless Yet we don't count it ill for Ministers to assist at Espousals nor that they should by prayer implore the Divine Blessing on the intended Marriage nor that they should exhort the Betrothed Persons to mutual Love Unity Faithfulness and the fear of God only that they ought to forbear those other formallities which sometime render a bond indissolvible which we be afterwards necessitated to break and untye because of those oppositions which are made at the publishing of the Banes and for divers other Causes that may then happen And the Churches of Rouen and Dieppe who solemnize Espousals in the Temple after the same manner as publick Marriages are exhorted to abandon this usage and to conform unto the received Custom in the Churches and Provinces of this Kingdom Article 15. Whereas formerly the 16th Article of the eighth Chapter of our Discipline contained the distribution of the Provinces it shall be henceforward the 15th and the Provincial Synods shall be thus distributed 1. The Isle of France 2. Normandy 3. Brittany 4. Berry 5. Anjou 6. Poictou 7. Xaintonge 8. Lower Guyenne 9. Higher Languedoc 10. Bearn 11. Lower Languedoc 12. Provence 13. Dolphiny 14. Sevennes 15. Vivaretz 16. Burgundy Article 16. The Church-Discipline being read was unanimously approved by all the Deputies then present who promised to observe it and see it observed in their respective Provinces And this Assembly gave an express charge to Monsieur Valleton Pastor of the Church of Privas to get the Confession of Faith and the Book of Discipline transcribed that so the Copies of them might be signed and subscribed by all the Deputies of this Assembly and the subscribed Copy shall be deposited in the hands of the Deputies of that Province which is appointed to summon the next National Synod CHAP. VI. Observations made on Reading the Acts of the next National Synod of St. Maixant 1. IN pursuance of the Decree made by the National Synod of St. Maixant in their Observations on the 11th Canon of the first Chapter of our Church-Discipline all the Provinces are strictly enjoyned on pain of Censure to have a very careful Eye over their Ministers that they preach not up any new Doctrines and that they affect not in the Pulpit nor in Writing nor in any other Discourses any phrases or modes of speech which be strange and forreign to the Sacred Scriptures and that they intersperse not Latine Greek nor Hebrew sentences in their Sermons nor surcharge them with many prophane Histories And those Deputies who shall be sent by the Provinces unto the next National Synod are charged to bring their Memoirs with them whether this Decree had been observed or not 2. Monsieur Chamier having presented his Controversial Writings unto this Synod according as he was enjoyned by the last National Synod he received the thanks of the whole Assembly for the great progress he had made in them and he was earnestly intreated and encouraged to finish his designed Labours and that he would be pleased to print the three first Tomes at once and to assist him in the great and necessary Charges he must needs be at the sum of two thousand Livers is ordered to be paid him now in hand 3. Monsieur Perrin also presenting his History of the Albingenses and Waldenses it was put into the hands of Messieurs Roussett Cuville de Preaux Petit and Joly Ministers of the Gospel who were ordered to bring in their Opinion of it and in consideration of his Charges this Synod orders him the sum of three hundred Livers 4. The Provinces which have not observed that Decree of the above-mentioned Synod which forbad all additions to be made at the close of Propositions and Colloquies are exhorted conscientiously to obey it 5. In the observations made by the same Synod upon the Acts of the former National Synod held at Rochell in which there was great discourse and debate about Monks who quitting their Cloysters did joyn themselves to the Communion of the Reformed Churches but Information being now given of divers Scandals arriving from the publick declaration made by these Monks in our Churches This Assembly judged that it was in no wise expedient for the said Monks to make any declarations publickly until such time as we have good experience of their abilities sincerity and discretion However their simple and unfeigned Abjurations shall be admitted either publickly or in the Consistories 6. That Article of the same National Synod about those Remonstrances which should have been made in the Chamber of Nerac shall be razed 7. Nothing shall be altered in that Article of the aforesaid Synod which had approved the administration of Baptism before Sermons and at the ordinary publick Prayers excepting in that clause which specifies the lawfulness of this Action in case there be apparent danger of death and that the Consistory do attest it or at least some of the Elders because this

Treasure constantly defended which God also will cause her evermore to defend so as no Counsel nor Force shall be ever able to prevail against it Now to this one God Father Son and Holy Spirit be Honour and Glory for ever and ever Amen Errors Rejected The Orthodox Doctrine having been Explained the Synod Rejects their Errors CANON I. WHO teach that the Perseverance of True Believers is not an effect of Election nor a gift of ●od purchased by the Death of Christ but it s a Condition of the New Covenant which Man before his Election and peremptory Justification as they call it must of his free will accomplish for the Sacred Scriptures witnesseth that it floweth from Election and is given unto the Elect by vertue of the Death Resurrection and Intercession of Jesus Christ Rom. 11.7 The Election hath obtained it and the others are hardned Also Rom. 8.31 32 33 34. He that hath not spared his only Son but given him for us all how shall he not also give us with him all other things Who shall lay any thing to the charge of ●ods Elect It is God that will justifie Who will condemn It is Christ that is dead yea rather who is risen again from the Dead and who sitteth at the right hand of God and who also maketh Intercession for us Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ Shall it be Oppression Or Tribulation Or Famine Or Peril or Sword Yea in all these things we are more than Conquerors through him who hath loved us CANON II. Who teach That God doth indeed provide for the Believer strength enough and power sufficient for perseverance and that in case he do his Duty God will preserve him However let all things be supposed which may be needful to perseverance in Faith and which God will make use of for his preservation yet still it depends upon the Liberty of Mans Will whether he will persevere or not This Opinion is bare-fac't Pelagianisme and whilst the Professor of it would make Man free they make him Sacrilegious Besides it is against the perpetual consent of the Gospel-Doctrine which removes from Man all grounds of boasting and ascribes the Glory of this benefit to the Grace of God only And it thwarteth the Testimony of St. Paul who saith 1 Cor. 1.8 that God will confirm us unto the end that we may be blameless in the day of Our Lord Jesus Christ CANON III. Who teach that the Faithful and Regenerate may not only fall totally and finally from Justifying Faith and from Grace and Salvation but also that they often do so and perish Everlastingly for this Opinion doth not only annihilate the Grace of Justification and Regeneration but also the perpetual keeping of the Lord Jesus Christ contrary to the express words of the Holy Apostle St. Paul Rom. 5.9 10. If Christ died for us when we were Sinners much more than being now justified by his Blood shall we be saved from Wrath by him And against the Apostle St. John 1 Ep. 3.9 Whosoever is born of God sinneth not for the Seed of God abideth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God and against the vvords of Jesus Christ John 10.28 29. And I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish nor shall any pluck them out of my hand my Father vvho hath given them unto me is greater than all and no one can take them out of my Fathers hands I and my Father are one CANON IV. Who teach that Believers and Regenerate Persons may sin the sin unto Death that is they may commit that unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost Although the beloved Apostle and Disciple of Our Lord in the fifth Chapter of his First Epistle after that he had spoken in the sixteenth and seventeenth verses of those vvho commit the Sin unto Death and forbidden all Prayers for them added in the eighteenth verse We knovv that vvhosoever is born of God sinneth not but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself and that vvicked one toucheth him not CANON V. Who teach That none can have in this Life without special Revelation any certainty of their perseverance For by this Doctrine the faithful are deprived of the most solid substantial comfort which is to be had in this Life and are abandoned to the diffidence and wavering floating opinions and doubts of the Romish Church But the Sacred Scriptures every where deriveth this Assurance not from any special or extraordinary Revelation but from the proper marks of the Children of God and from his infallible Promises especially from the Apostle St. Paul Rom. 8.38 No Creature can separate us from the Love of God which he hath shown us in Jesus Christ our Lord 1 John 3.24 He that keepeth his Commandments abideth in him and God in him And by this vve knovv that he abideth in us by his Spirit vvhich he hath given us CANON VI. Who teach That the Doctrine of Assurance of Perseverance and Salvation is a Pillovv for the Flesh to sleep on more securely and is in and of it self injurious unto Godlyness Good Works Prayers and all Holy Duties and Religious Exercises And on the contrary it is a laudable thing to be diffident and doubtful But such Persons bevvray their Ignorance and are mere Strangers to the efficacy of Divine Grace and to the operation of the Holy Ghost dvvelling in the Elect and contradict the Apostle St. John vvho doth in express terms assert the contrary 1 John 3.2 Beloved novv are vve the Children of God but vvhat vve shall be is not yet knovvn But this vve knovv that vvhen he shall appear vve shall be like unto him for vve shall see him even as he is And they must be more abundantly convinced by the Examples of Gods Saints both in the Old and New Testament who although they were assured of their Perseverance and Salvation did not thereupon neglect dayly Prayers or other Acts Duties and Exercises of True Piety and Religion CANON VII Who teach That there is no difference between a Temporary Faith and that which is Saving and Justifying excepting the duration of it For the Lord Jesus himself doth manifestly remark three other differences between those who believe but for a time and true Believers when as he saith Matth. 13.20 and Luke 8.13 and the verses following That those are they who receive the Seed in stony ground and these in good ground or in an honest heart that the former had no root but these have a firm root the one brought no fruit but these produced their fruits constantly and perseveringly in divers degrees and measures CANON VIII Who teach that it is no absurdity to say that when as the first Regeneration is extinct a Man may be born again yea he may be often new born For by this Doctrine the Seed of God by which we be new born is made corruptible directly contrary to the Witness of St. Peter Ep. 1. cap. 23. Being

your Majesties Service as often as we shall have the Honour of your Commands and Summons 'T is in this posture Sire that we desire to Live and Die being not only by our Birth and Obligations but by our most Ardent Affections From Charenton December 28th 1644. Sire Your Majesties most Humble most Obedient and most Faithful Subjects and Servants the Pastors and Elders Assembled by Permission of your Majesty in the National Synod at Charenton and in the Name of them all Garrissoles Moderator Banage Assessor Blondel Scribe and Le Coq Scribe A Copy of the Letter Written by the Synod unto the Queen Regent Madam WE cannot but esteem this Day in which we lie prostrate at your Feet in the Persons of our Deputies as one of the most Happy Days of our Life No sooner had God intrusted your Majesty with the Government of this Kingdom but you may well remember how very diligent our Churches were to obtain this Honour whereof we stand now Possessed to signify in your Majesties Presence that exceeding Joy with which we were transported to see how the Providence of God was particularly concerned for the Weal of France and that when we had so sad an Occasion of Weeping and Mourning at the Death of our late King of Glorious Memory yet even then our Sorrows were Converted into Joys for your Majesties most Happy Exaltation unto the Regency which hath made us almost forgetful of our Loss the Sun now shining forth with greater Brightness than ever Only some cross Accidents interposed and deprived us of this Honour at that time and it was Madam the Will of God that before we appeared in your Majesties Presence we should joyn our then Hopes and Prejudices to those Experiences we all now have of the Blessings of God upon your most prudent and prosperous Government that so the Testimonies of our Joy might be the more Stately and Expressed in Terms far more Magnificent And that our Thankfulness might be Combined with our most Loyal most Humble and Dutiful Submissions Therefore Madam have we deputed unto your Majesty the Sieurs Vincent and Chabrol Pastors and de Panieure and de Clesles Elders to assure your Majesty on behalf of all the Churches of our deep Sense and Gratitude for all your Majesties Favours to us You have Madam continued to us his Majesty's Favours and those of his Royal Predecessors you have confirmed the Edicts granted us by your own Royal Declaration and which is more Madam 't is from your great Bounty that we now have the Liberty and Priviledge of this Assembly which we beseech your Majesty to repute as the most Vniform Meeting and most Harmonious Concourse of all the Hearts of your Subjects professing The Reformed Religion for the Service of your Majesties We Madam shall Love and Obey your Majesty Eternally nor shall any one be your Rival or Competitor with you for our Affections and we shall transmit this our Loyalty unto our Posterity after us as a most Essential part of our Religion And we beseech the Great God by whom Kings Reign and who hath hitherto caused the Lilies of your Crown to flourish so Gloriously that he would Madam be pleased to preserve you for the King our common Master and the King for your Majesty and both of you a long time for France and our Churches that so in the meeting and perpetual Conjunction of both those Luminaries this Kingdom may injoy the most Auspicious and most Beneficial Influences And that Madam your Regency may raise an Emulation in the most Accomplish'd and Consummate Monarchie's and that hereafter it may he a Domestick Pattern unto our King whereunto he may conform his Glorious Actions These Madam are the Vows and most ardent Prayers of your Majest's From Charenton December 28th 1644. Most Humble most Obedient and most Faithful Subjects and Servants the Pastors and Elders Assembled by your Majesties Permission in the National Synod at Charenton and for them all Garrissoles Moderator Banage Assessor Blondel and Le Coq Scribes CHAP. V. The Return of the Deputies with the Kings Answer 8. ON Thursday the Fifth of January the Sieurs Vincent Chabrol de Panieure and de Clesses returned unto the Synod with Letters from his Majesty and acquainted us with that favourable Audience and Reception they had from the King the Queen Regent his Royal Highness the Duke of Orleans the Lord Cardinal the Lord Chancellor the Lord Treasurer the Comptroller and from the Secretary de la Vrilliere Which obliged all the Churches to bless God for the good Success of their Deputation and seemeth to promise us a speedy Redress of our Grievances yet nevertheless according to our Bounden Duty all the Churches are enjoyned to offer up their most Ardent Prayers unto God for their Majesties Preservation in Health and Life for his Royal Highness the Duke of Orleans and for our Lords the Ministers of State And whereas the said Deputies had not the Honour of Waiting upon the Prince he being then out of Town the Synod ordred them immediately to return to Paris as soon as they had News of his Arrival and to deliver him his Letters and to assure his Highness that our Churches were his most Humble Servants A Copy of the King's Letter unto the Synod By the King Dear and Well-beloved 9. WE have Received your Letters of the Eight and Twentieth Day of the last Month and understand by them to our great Contentment and by your Deputies the Good and Sincere Intentions of your Assembly held by our Permission at Charenton to continue in that inviolable Fidelity and Obedience to us which is your indispensable Duty the which hath given all desirable Satisfaction both to us and to our most Honoured Lady and Mother the Queen Regent Wherefore we were willing you should be informed by this our Letter and we exhort you to persist in this your Resolution and that you would upon all Occasions render us the undeniable Tokens of it by your good Conduct and by your strict Observance of those Orders we have prescribed you about the holding if your National Synod and on all other occurrences whatsoever which may offer themselves for upholding the publicly Tranquillity of this Kingdom And thus performing your Duty to us as we trust you will you may be assured that you shall receive from our Bounty and from that of our most Honoured Lady and Mother the Queen Regent all sort of Protection and favourable Entertainment and shall be supported and preserved under the benefit of our Edicts your Enjoyment of which in all Liberty and Safety under our Reign as during that of our most Honoured Lord and Father the late King will be a singular Pleasure and Delight unto us Of which your Deputies who are now returning to you from us will give you a more full and particular Knowledge Given at Paris this Fourth Day of January 1645. Signed in the Original Louis And a little lower Phelippeaux The Superscription