his Holy Spirit thereunto the Churches of this Kingdom do injoy that great Blessing of Peace and yet nevertheless there remain in the hearts of many Persons very deep resentments of their past Sufferings which may prove hereafter the Seeds of new Broils and Dissensions whereby the Honour of God and of our King and the Publick Tranquillity of the Nation may be exceedingly prejudiced and endammaged It exhorteth in the Name and Authority of God Almighty all the faithful to suppress and stifle those bitter Animosities which the unhappyness of our late Civil Wars may have enkindled in them and that none of Our Members do trouble their Neighbours for Matters done during those Troubles sith the Remembrance of them is abolished by His Majesties Edicts and Declarations of Peace and that they would embrace each other with a Cordial Love and Affection and live for the future as Members of one and the same Body contending mutually and mostly who shall do His Majesty the best and greatest Service and repair the woful breaches in the House of God And in particular the Inhabitants of this populous City ate Exhorted to render all Reverence aâ—â— Obedience unto their Magistrates and Superiours as being established over them by the Authority of God and the Magistrates also are to exert their Duties towards them who be subjected to their Government with all due and becoming Moderation and Fatherly Affection That so all sorts of Persons both Superiours and Inferiours may aim and level in all their Actions at the Glory of God the Service of the King and the Peace and Safety of the Common-wealth 3. The Synod confirming the Canons of former Synods about an exhibition unto Monks decreeth that in case a Monk cannot be maintained by that Province in which he was born and that the said Province will not contribute any thing towards his subsistence then the Province which is charged with him shall make application to the Lord of Candal and take his allowance out of the Moneys belonging to that Province where he first lived and quitted his Frock and Idolatrous Religion 4. Hereafter in the breaking up of these National Synods the Deputies shall carry home with them the Accompts rendred by the Lord of Candal for Moneys distributed by him unto every Province that so all suspicions of partiality in the Dividends of His Majesties Bounty may be suppressed 5. All the Provinces are expresly enjoyned by this Synod that they do not prefer our Proposans before Ancient Pastors unto vacant Churches and in case any Moderators of Colloquies or Synods shall suffer this Canon to be violated they shall be suspended from their Charges 6. That no Pastor discharged by Colloquies or Synods may hereafter assume unto himself a liberty of wandring from one Province unto another and so intrude himself into a particular Church without the consent of Colloquies and Synods a matter which redounds exceedingly to the dishonour of the Ministry and is become a most Notorious Scandal The Synod ordaineth that when as a Pastor shall be taken off the Service of his Church and can not be presently setled in another yet shall he be obliged to live within the bounds of that Province either as a Pastor discharged or else as one imployed in such a manner as the Province shall judge convenient until such time as he meet with a Call unto some other Church whether within or without the Province desiring him to be their fixed Pastor 7. The Pastors of the Church of Paris are ordered to revise the Marginal Texts in our Confession of Faith and to inform the Churches which have Printers to take special notice of their Remarks and to see that it be printed according to their corrected Copy without any difference 8. Such Churches as have Printing-Houses belonging to them shall advise our Printers to be careful that they insert no Historical Remarks into the Calendars which may occasion trouble unto the Churches and irritate the rage and malice of our Adversaries 9. There shall not be inserted into the Lettâ—â—s of Deputation unto Colloquies and Provincial Synods from particular Churches those self-same clauses of absolute submission which are used in the Provincial Letters unto the National Synod 10. 'T is left wholly to the Discretion of Consistories what censures they shall inflict on such who assist in Person at Baptisms Marriages or Funerals solemnized by the Church of Rome 11. That Canon of the National Synod of Gap about Burying in Temples and Church-yards shall be most exactly observed by all the Churches CHAP. XXVI An Act to preserve the Churches Writings Deeds c. 12 DIvers Papers of very great Importance to our Churches being lost to their unspeakable prejudice and all occasioned through their neglect of choosing some one particular Church in each Province wherein the Originals of all proceedings by our General Deputies might be deposited This Synod desirous to prevent so great a disorder for the future Decreeth That all Writings remaining in their hands who have been imployed in the General Deputation shall be redemanded of them by the Consistories of those Churches in which they make their Residence that so they may be more carefully preserved than heretofore And the Originals of all Declarations Writts Answers unto Cahiers and such other Papers concerning the General Body of our Churches shall be carried unto Rochell and lodged up in the Archives there And as for other Papers and Acts of Proceedings relating to particular Churches there shall be one Church in every Province which shall have the keeping of them that so upon all occasions we may tell where to find them And to this purpose there was named for the Province of Higher Languedoc the Church of Montauban for the Lower Languedoc the Church of Nismes for Sevennes Anduze for Anjou Loudun for Burgundy Gex for Vivaretz Privas for the Lower Guyenne Ste Foy for Poictou Niort for Xaintonge Rochell for the Isle of France Paris for Normandy Alencon for Britain Belin for Dolphiny Die for Berry Chastillion on the Loir and for Provence Aignieres 14. Whereas divers Provinces have been charged with the Memoirs of very many Churches groaning under the cruel Oppressions of our Adversaries who do daily deprive them of their Liberty of Conscience in the Service of God and of those Rights and Priviledges granted us by the King and Necessity requiring us to seck out some Remedy against such growing Mischiefs from his Majesty's Justice and Protection Monsieur le Haucher was ordered to collect into one Body all those Grievances aforesaid and all others which have been averred and signed by two Pastors or Elders shall immediately upon the Departure of this Council be sent unto him that all may be gathered into one general Bill and laid at his Majesties Feet with our most humble Petitions unto his Majesty that he would be pleased to extend his Royal Protection unto his most faithful Subjects of the Reformed Religion who have no greater Ambition in the World than
of humanity and Consanguinity CAN. XVI Neither Ministers nor other Members of the Church may print any Books composed by themselves or others concerning Religion nor may they at all publish them until they have first Communicated them unto the Colloquy or if need be unto the Provincial Synod And in case the matter be urgent requiring speedy dispatch unto the Universities or to two Pastors appointed by the Synod who shall attest under their own hands that they have perused and examined the said Writings CAN. XVII They that handle the Histories of holy Scripture in Poems are admonished not to blend or intermingle Poetick Fables with them nor to give unto God the names of a false God nor to add unto nor take any thing from the Sacred Scriptures but they shall confine themselves as near as they can unto the words of it CAN. XVIII Neither the Canonical nor other Books of the Bible shall be transformed into Comedies or Tragedies CAN. XIX Churches which have Printers belonging to them shall advise them not to print any Books concerning Religion or the Discipline of the Church without having first Communicated them unto the Consistory because of those manifold Inconveniencies which have formerly happened upon this account And neither Printers nor Booksellers nor Hawkers shall sell any Books of Idolatry or that be Scandalous stuffed with Ribauldry or Impiety which tend to the corrupting of good Manners CAN. XX. Although Priests cannot lay any just claim or title unto Tyths in regard of their Ministry yet nevertheless they must be paid because of the King's Command and for the avoidance of Scandal and Sedition CAN. XXI According to his Majesties Edict the Faithful shall be exhorted to give none offence by working upon Holy-Days CAN. XXII All Usuries shall be most strictly forbidden and suppressed and matters of Loan shall be regulated according to the Kings Ordinance and the Rule of Charity CAN. XXIII All violence and injurious words against the Members of the Church of Rome as also against Priests and Monks shall not only be forborn but also as much as may be shall be totally suppressed CAN. XXIV Swearers who in passion or levity do take God's holy Name in vain and others who blaspheme the Divine Majesty shall be most severely censured and if after the second admonition they be not reclaimed they shall be then suspended from the Lord's Table And all Outragious Blasphemers Forswearers and such like Persons shall in no wise be tolerated in Church-Communion But immediately for their first offence shall be suspended the Lord's Supper and if they continue in their Ungodliness they shall be publickly Excommunicated CAN. XXV The Churches shall admonish the Faithful of both Sexes to retain Modesty and that most especially in their Habits and shall take care that all Superfluities heretofore committed in them may be retrenched But yet our Churches shall not make any Decree about it because it is an affair properly belonging unto the Civil Magistrate yet may they endeavour by their Remonstrances that his Majesties Edict concerning these matters be more diligently observed CAN. XXVI No Person shall be deprived of Communion at the Lord's Table for wearing any fashion of Apparel which is ordinarily and usually worn in this Kingdom But under this head those ought not to be comprised which carry with them a notorious Badge of Lasciviousness dissolution or over-curious novelty such as naked Breasts Painting and the like with which Men and Women cloath and abuse themselves And Consistories shall do their utmost to suppress these Impieties and shall proceed against the Refractory by Suspension from the Lord's Table N. B. That Clause in the middle of this Canon Printed in another Letter is found in my Parisian and Quevilly Editions of the Discipline yet injoined by the National Synods held at St. Foy 1578. Canon 21. of General Matters The second of Rochel 1581. Art 41. Explaining the 26 Canon in the last Chapter of the Discipline and the Synod of Montauban 1594. Canon 45. of General Matters CAN. XXVII All Dances shall be supprest and such as make a Trade of Dancing or make Custom of being present at Dances having been sundry times admonished in case they prove contumacious and Rebellious they shall be Excommunicated and all Consistories are charged to see that this Canon be most heedfully kept and observed and in the name of God and by the Authority of this Synod that it be read publickly in their Churches And Colloquies and Provincial Synods are exhorted to have an observing eye on those Consistories which shall not perform their duty in this particular that they may be censured N.B. Provincial Synods is left out by pure omission from my other Editions but those of Paris and Quevilly CAN. XXVIII Mummings and Juglings shall not be suffered nor Wassail-days nor keeping of Shrovetide nor Players at Heypass nor Tumblers nor Tricks of Goblets nor Puppet-Plays and Christian Magistrates are exhorted not to permit them because they do feed curiosity and cause a great deal of waste and loss of time Moreover it shall not be lawful for the Faithful to go to Comedies Tragedies Interludes Farces or other Stage-Plays acted in publick or private because in all Ages these have been forbidden among Christians as bringing in a corruption of good Manners but then most of all when as the Sacred Scriptures come to be profaned Yet nevertheless when as in a Colledge it shall be found profitable for Youth to represent any History it may be tolerated provided always that the subject matter thereof be not comprised in the holy Scripture which was never given us for matter of sport but purely to be Preached for our Instruction and Comfort And this also shall be done very rarely and with advice of the Colloquy which shall first have the sight and perusal of the Composition CAN. XXIX All Plays forbidden by the Kings Edicts as Cards Dice and other Games of hazard avarice lasciviousness notorious loss of time or scandal shall be suppressed and the Persons reproved and admonished in the Consistories and censured according to Circumstances No Lotteries can be approved although they were or were not allowed by the Civil Magistrate and the godly Magistrates professing the Reformed Religion are exhorted to restrain them N. B. This last Clause of the Canon is only in my two Editions of Paris and Quevilly CAN. XXX It is a thing purely indifferent to be present at those Feasts and Banquets which are made by those of the Popish Religion when as they are Espoused Married or their Children are born However the Faithful are admonished to use them for edification and seriously to ponder with themselves whether they be Masters of so much strength as to resist the dissolutions and other evils committed at them and especially whether they can reprove them And under these Feasts those are not to be comprised which Priests make at the Celebration of their first Mass for it is utterly unlawful for any one who
from the King and without any mixture of Superstition or Idolatry they may do it lawfully enough But and if they hold them with Idolatry or Superstition be it either from the King's Gift or the Pope they cannot do it there is sin and guilt in the case nor shall they be admitted to Communion with us at the Lord's Table For this would be a professed owning of the Pope's Tyranny who hath no rightful Dominion nor Authority in these matters but Kings and Princes only who are robbed by the Pope's Usurpation of their just Rights Power Priviledges and Authority CHAP. VII Particular MATTERS Art I. IT is now concluded that the Province of Normandy may be divided into two Provinces in case they cannot conveniently meet in one and all the Ministers shall come unto them accompanied with their Elders according to the Canon of our Discipline and not by deputies from the Colloquies Art II. As for Cozain upon reading those Letters sent us from our Brethren the English Ministers it was ordered That the two Books written by the said Cozain and dedicated to some particular Members in the Church of Bourdeaux and brought unto this present Synod by Monsieur de la Sauls should be put into Monsieur Beza's hands for his perusal and who should make report of their Contents unto us and an Answer shall be returned to our Brethren of England Art III. The Deputies of the Isle of France craved our Advice about those Points of Church-Discipline now controverted by Monsieur Ramus du Rosier Bergeron and some others Whereupon an Order was made That Monsieur de Chambrun should read in this Assembly that Abridgement made by our Brethren of the Isle of France and extracted out of Morellius's Answer to that Book De la Confirmation de la Discipline and sent by them unto this Synod together with the Book of the said Morellius in answer to it and for decision of those Points and Arguments therein contained as also Ramus and De Rosier's Books which shall be delivered unto Monsieur Cappel to be examined by him And in case there be any other Arguments found in them besides those formerly urged by Morellius these shall be also answered And Messieurs de Beza De Roche Chandieu and De Beaulieu are chosen to reply unto them And as for the Decisions and Decrees they shall be made only by the Provinces Yet liberty is given unto the By standers in case they think good to make opposition and to this purpose the Doors of the Synod shall be leâ—t wide open and silence shall not be imposed upon any Man in this matter for this time Only it shall not be made a Precedent Art IV. But this Affair having been since considered examined disputed debated and put to the Vote as it was ordered in the last mentioned Canon a Decree passed That our Church-Discipline as it hath been all along to this very day observed end practised among us so also shall it be for the future without any change or innovation in it as being grounded upon God's Word And as for those Positions asserted by Monsieur Ramus Morellius Bergeron and others 1. About the Decision of Points of Doctrine 2. About the Election and Deposal of Ministers 3. About Excommunication out of the Church and Reconciliation with and Re-admission into it 4. And lastly about Prophesying None of these shall be received among us because they have no Foundation in the Word of God and are of very dangerous consequence unto the Church as the whole hath been verified and made appear in the presence of this Synod in which all the Arguments of those Books of Ramus Morellius and Du Rozier were most narrowly sifted and discussed and this was unanimously assented to by the Declaration of all the Provincial Deputies who affirmed That they had maturely and duly considered of those Points of Discipline controverted by those Gentlemen before-mentioned And Monsieur De la Roche Chandieu was ordered to reduce and set down in writing all the Answers and Resolutions made by this Assembly unto the said Treatises and Arguments and to communicate them with the Colloquy of Lionnois that they may be printed and published Only the Relation of these Synodâ—cal Answers and Resolutions shall be writ with the greatest moderation and without mentioning the Names of any Person Art V. The Colloquy of Limmigny shall be advised to get the Memoirs of their Synod to be razed nor may they make any particular Canons of their own but shall be governed by those of our Discipline Art VI. Monsieur Berauld and his Colleagues in the Church of Montauban are charged to recover from Monsieur Comerard of Tholouse the History of the Albigenses written in their Langùage and Monsieur D' Acier shall translate it into French and having done it shall communicate it unto their Colloquy according to the Canons of our Church-Discipline and then cause it to be printed And Letters shall be written to this purpose unto the said Sieurs de Comerard and D' Acier from this Assembly Art VII The County of Messin and City of Metz shall be joyned to the Province of Champagne according to the particular Canon of our Discipline and Letters concerning it shall be sent unto them from this Synod Art VIII The Lord Admiral de Chastillon having writ a Letter unto this Synod the Churches were all admonished of their Duty to his Majesty and an Answer should be returned to this effect unto his Lordship Art IX A Vote passed but without any prejudice to the liberty of Monsieur de Saules and without debating the Merits of his Cause that a Letter should be written unto the Magistrates of Geneva thanking them for their Love and Good-will and they shall be desired to continue it unto all the Churches of France in general and particularly to those of Bearn and we do grant Monsieur de Saules tor one Year more unto the Queen of Navarre and Letters also shall be written unto her Majesty and to his Highness the Prince her Son Art X. The Churches shall be excited to assist with their Charity the poor Members of the County and Church of Orange who are in extream poverty there being no less than Twelve hundred Families of these Refugees in the single Province of Dolphiny Art XI Before that Mr. John le Gagneur shall be admitted Pastor into any one of our Churches he shall give good Evidence of his Repentance and of his Reconciliation with the Church of Geneva and we will have some considerable space of time for proving the truth of his Repentance Art XII Upon the Censure of Ramus Morellius and their Companions it was voted That Letters should be writ in the Name and Authority of this Assembly unto the said Ramus Morelly Du Rozier and Bergeron and to give them all severally to understand what was concluded by this Assembly against their Books and to re-mind them of their Duty according to God's Holy Word and a Letter
in the Month of June the last Year 1577. by divers Churches of this Kingdom rendered an account of his said Commission unto this Assembly produced and read the Acts and made an ample Relation of what was done and transacted in that general Synodical Meeting at Frankford in Germany the last September 1577. in which were gathered the Deputies of the Reformed Churches of Christendom and in which he assisted also as a Deputy from our Churches This Assembly was very well pleased with his whole Negotiation accepted and approved of it and doth now discharge him of his said Commission and all Instructions and Blanks signed and given him by our Churches relating to his said Commission were vacated and disannulled as being altogether needless for the future and all Duplicates of the said Commissions and Instructions which he was bound under his own Hand and Seal to observe and follow were in like manner cancelled and disannulled that so he might be intirely acquitted freedand discharged and we do also now discharge him without ever demanding any Matter or farther account from him for the future Given at St. Foy this 13 th Day of February 1578. The first Appeals mentioned in any of their Synods CHAP. VII Appeals and Particular Matters Art N. B. One Book calls this the 34th or 36th Article of General Matters HIS Excellency the Prince of Conde appealed from the Consistory of Rochel for disswading him from communicating at the Lord's Table because of a Prize taken at Sea by his Commission after publishing the last Edict of Pacification embraced by the said Prince Unto which his Excellency made this Answer That the said Prize was taken before the forty Days for divulging the said Peace were expired and it was from the sworn Enemies of the King of Navar and of himself also That it being a meer Civil State-Matter the Consistory had nothing to do with it To which the Consistory replied That the whole Church and City of Rochel were greatly Scandalized hereat because they were accounted Infractors and Violators of the publick Peace of the Kingdom and that they were commonly taxed and reproached for such Prizes as Harborers and Concealers of Pirates and piratical Goods and that for their parts they could not foresee any thing else but that divine Vengeance would light down upon them if they did not oppose such unlawful Practices proceeding from certain Persons who maliciously abused the Name and Authority of his Excellency the Prince So that they could not do less in Duty and Conscience considering their Office in the Church than to endeavour by all good means to extinguish the Fire of such a blazing Scandal and they most humbly beseech his Excellency the Prince to take kindly this their Admonition as done net out of any ill will or bad design against him and that he would be pleased to exert hit Authority in such like Matters so that the Peace sworn by him may be kept and observed This Assembly having maturely considered the whole Affair doth own acknowledge and approve of the Zeal and good Affection of the Church and Consistory of Rochel especially in opposing it self against scandalous Sins and that herein they have not acted beyond the Line of their Duty for they be supported and maintained in it by the holy Word of God which ought to be the Rule of all our Actions whereby they are either to be approved or rejected and that denounceth a Curse upon all those who shall offend but the least of Men and unto this divine Word all of us must yield Obedience if we intend to have and hold communion with the Lord Jesus Yet notwithstanding this Assembly could have wished that the said Consistory had suspended and deferr'd their Judgment in an Affair of so great Importance and had not been so hasty and precipitant about it that so all suspicion of Animosities on either side might have been avoided And as for his Excellency the Prince this Assembly doth earnestly beseech him not to misconstrue those Remonstrances made him in the Name of God which we judge were but just and needful and grounded upon the Word of God and therefore we desire his Excellency that he would be pleas'd to remove the occasion of the said Scandal and take in good part the Admonitions of the Church and that he would be reconciled to it and he shall be particularly intreated so to do by our Brethren Messieurs Merlin Bouguet De la Tour and St. Martin who are charged by this Assembly to acquaint his Excellency with this our Request unto his Excellency and to the said Consistory and that we have none other end nor design in it than the perfect Union of our Members to serve God in Holiness and Righteousness not giving any offence to those that are within or without and this being done we decree that his Excellency the said Prince shall be received into Communion at the Lord's Table Given at St. Foy the Great this 14 th Day of February 1578. And thus Signed Francois Loiseau Scribe of the said Synod II. His Grace the Duke of Rohan requesting by Letters that this Assembly would grant Monsieur de Claville Minister of the Church of Loudun to be Pastor of the Church in his House and Family or at least to serve it in course four Months every Year and that the Sieur de la Tousche Minister of St. Fulgent may take up his Residence at Monchamp The Ministers of those Churches being now absent it was thought good to dismiss this Affair unto the Provincial Synods to which those Churches do appertain that they may judge of it that his said Grace the Duke of Rohan may be gratified in his demands by those Synods III. Monsieur De Spina Minister of the Gospel shall be sent Pastor unto the Church of Anger 's only the Churches of Paris and Saumur have still their Right in him reserved to them And in case that through the difficulties of the Times he should not be able to subsist at Anger 's the Neighbour Classis or Colloquy to that City shall take care of his maintainance and provide it for him and they may also lend him as they shall see good for the Glory of God IV. Monsieur du Lygne shall be lent six Months longer unto the Church of Agen in which time the Province of Anjou shall do their Duty to redemand him and there shall be a Church given him wherein to exercise his Ministery and to make provision for his Subsistence And in case the said Provincial Synod should not recal him within the term prefixed he shall be fully settled in the said Church of Agen. CHAP. VIII V. JOhn Bonniot or Bouquier styling himself Gaultier exercising the Ministery at present at San Bouchard near unto Great St. Foy because that he hath temerariously intruded himself into the Ministery without any Call for that he hath forged divers Letters clipped his Majesty's Coin melted down his Clippings into base Silver Lingots and vended them
another where their Crime is not known they shall only testify their Repentance privately before the Consistory but with this Condition that in case they return to that former Church whereunto they belonged they shall then and there also make a publick Acknowledgment of their Offence XXIV Publick Penances shall be undergone personally and by those only who have publickly offended the Sinner openly and sincerely with his Mouth from his Heart testifying his Repentance XXV Whoredoms when committed and come to publick â—â—owledge shall by their Actors be publickly acknowledged with evident Tokens of Repentance XXVI This Clause by the greater part shall be razed out from the end of the 17th Article of Figeac and there shall be this only inserted known by the greater part XXVII Both those Canons of the Tenth National Synod and of our ancient Discipline concerning the time of meeting for Colloquies and Provincial Synods shall remain in full force so that they be wholly left unto their Liberty to do therein as they may most conveniently XXVIII Forasmuch as Provincial Synods depend upon the National Colloquies also shall for the same Reasons be subject unto the Provincial Synods and Consistories unto Colloquies XXIX The National Synod of the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom assembled in this City of Rochel under the Authority of the King's Edicts having seen a certain Book Intituled The History of France printed in this City upon divers complaints made unto us from all parts of the Kingdom against it and having took Cognisance of the proceedings of the Consistory of this Church against the find Book hath found that in many places the Author speaks exceeding irreverently and irreligiously of divine Things and that it is a heap of idle vain and prophane Matters full of Falshoods Lies and Calumnies to the great prejudice of God's glorious Power to the disadvantage and dishonour of our Holy Doctrine and Reformed Religion to the Dissamation of divers godly Persons dead and living And therefore hath thought good to advertise all the Churches that they beware of the said Book and inasmuch as in them lieth to disapprove it And this Synod doth judicially declare the Author of the said Book if he own himself a Protestant unworthy of our Holy Communion and not to be admitted to the participation of the Sacraments until such time as he shall have acknowledged his offence and by convenient means such as the Suppression of his History shall have repaired the Scandal that he hath given unto the Churches XXX The Synod also having seen and examined another Book written in Latin upon Genesis by a certain Fellow called James Brocan of Piedmont printed in this City hath declared and doth declare it to be fraught with Impieties and horrible Profanations of the Sacred Scriptures and pernicious Errors especially in Matters of Revelation of Revelation Prophecy and therefore exhorts all the Faithful to keep themselves carefully from being seduced by it XXXI The first Article of Provincial Synods being read it was decreed That all Ministers should attend in Person at their Provincial Synods or should excuse themselves by Letters in case of absence the causes whereof should be judged valid or otherwise by those Assemblies XXXII The third Article concerning National Synods shall abide in its full power But for the benefit of all our Churches there shall be this clause added That for time to come if possible it may be done there shall be two Ministers and two Elders deputed from every Province unto them XXXIII Forasmuch as Dancings and other Dissolutions do sprout up and increase every where yea and in these our Reformed Churches it was thought good to exhort the Consistories that for God's sake they would conscientiously observe the Six and twentieth Article of particular Orders decreed in the Synod of Figeac and in the Name of God and by the Authority of this present Assembly that it be read publickly in the Churches and all Colloquies and Synods are hereby expresly charged to censure those Consistories that neglect their Duty in this particular XXXIV All those who by unlawful means as by Papal Bulls or ready Money shall purchase or hold Benefices and such as cause Idolatry to be upheld and maintained either directly or indirectly shall be excluded Communion at the Lord's Table XXXV As to what concerns Impropriators and Farmers of Benefices the ancient Canons of our Discipline shall hold good and be in full force power and vertue against them Yet nevertheless the Deputies shall bring with them from their respective Provinces whatever Difficulties have occurr'd about those matters that so they may be debated in the next National Synod And whereas our Brethren of Languedoc Gascony and Perigord have desired have for the welfare of their Churches to censure such Farmers the business is left unto the prudence of their Provincial Synods XXXVI That Churches may not hereafter upon the death or removal of their Pastors be dissolved the Ministers who preside in the Colloquy for a new Election shall first of all enquire of every Elder in other Churches of the Colloquy what and how much Maintenance they exhibit unto their Pastors and what care they take for paying in unto them their promised Stipends that so provision may be made for them by the Authority of the Colloquies XXXVII These words The most eminent shall be blotted out from the 33d Article of Figeac XXXVIII Synods and Colloquies shall consult how to six the Limits and Extent of that Church wherein a Minister shall exercise his ordinary Calling XXXIX Ministers belonging to the Churches of France and now living abroad without the Kingdom shall be recalled by their respective Provinces XL. Forasmuch as there is a notorious contempt of Religion visible in all places yea also in our Religious Meetings we advise that Notice be given unto all Persons to bring with them their Psalm-Books into the Churches and that such as contemptuously neglect the doing of it shall be severely censur'd and all Protestant Printers are advised not to sunder in their Impressions the Prayers and Catechism from the Psalm-Books XLI The 17th Article of particular Orders concerning Habits was thus explained This Synod declareth That such Habits are not to be allowed in common wearing which carry with them evident marks of lasciviousness dissolution and excessive new-fangled Fashions such as painting slashing cutting in pieces trimming with Locks and Tassels or any other that may discover our Nakedness or naked Breasts or Fardingales or the like sort of Garments with which both Men and Women do wickedly cloath and adorn themselves And Consistories shall do their utmost endeavour to suppress such Dissolutions by their Censures and in case the Delinquents are contumacious and rebellious they shall proceed against them even to Excommunication XLII As to the 14th Canon concerning Marriages this Synod doth not judge it contrary to the 24th Article enacted by the Assembly of Estates at Blois for in that Orders only were given unto Notaries and Scriveners how
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 Gâ—rgâ—aâ— 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
Sedan worthy of severe censures for not bringing or sending hither the Accounts of Moneys received for the maintenance or their Professors and Regents according to the Decrees of Gap and Gergeau And that for the future they may be more carefull of the Moneys belonging to the University of Montauban there shall be detained in the hands of the Receiver General five hundred Livers and for the Universities of Nismes Montpellier and Sedan two hundred and fifty Livers for each of them and with this farther penalty that in case hereafter they shall be guilty of the like neglect there shall be defaulked from their portions five hundred Crowns But if upon auditing their accounts they be found just and faithful then the detained summs shall be restored to them Finally the Provincial Synods are ordered to give in unto the National Synods a true report as in Conscience they be bound to do how the Professors and Regents in the several Universities of their respective Provinces do discharge the duties of their places and to be very careful in the form of their Acquittances and other evidences of their Integrity and to send them all by the Deputies of their Province unto the National Synods 11. Reading that Article of the Synod of Gap concerning censures to be inflicted on the breakers of Marriage-promises without just cause divers difficulties in divers places having risen hereupon This Assembly judgeth that neither private persons nor Consistories have authority to dissolve such Promises and therefore they shall be turned over to the Judgment and Lawful Decree of the Civil Magistrates and those refractory persons who will not discharge their injoined duty shall be pursued with all Church-censures CHAP. V. Of Particular Matters St. Maixant Art 1. of observat on this Synod 1. IT is ordained for time coming that particular Acts of Appeals Censures and things of the like nature shall not be delivered but unto the parties concerned in them 2. This Assembly declareth that the Act of the Synod of Montpellier not permitting any Certificate to be given them who through fear of Witchcraft would solemnize their Marriage in other Churches besides their own shall remain in full force as not being contrary to that of the Discipline which concerneth attestations in the Chapter of Marriages Charities ordered the poor Saints of Saluces 3. For as much as the necessities of our poor Brethren of the Marquisate Saluces are exceeding great they being banished and persecuted for the true Religion as is evident by the Relations of their Deputies Charles Garnier and Constans Vivyan This Assembly exhorts all the Churches in the Provinces of this Kingdom to assist them by extraordinary Alms and 't is left to the prudence of every Provincial Synod to take that course for Collecting the Charities for them as they shall judge most proper and convenient to the state of their respective Churches And whereas in divers Churches there have been Moneys already gathered for them it is ordained that in no wise those summs be diverted from their designed use but be out of hand sent unto them And that they may be reputed Natural French men our Deputies which shall be sent unto Court are expresly charged to procure the Declaration from his Majesty for their being naturalized 4. Henceforward the Deputies of the Provinces shall bring with them unto the National Synods an exact Catalogue of the number of Churches Ministers and Proposans in their respective Provinces together with an account of their particular Stipends annually paid them by the Receiver of the Province as also the Testimonials of the Universities concerning our young Students in them if possibly it may be done Proposans may be present as silent Learners in National Synods 5. Proposans may be admitted into the National Synod when as general Matters of Doctrine and Discipline are debated provided they bring with them good Testimonials But as for other Persons which are not Ecclesiastick whatsoever their quality or condition may be it hath been already judged inexpedient because of divers ill Consequences to grant them this priviledge A remedy against contentions for the Professors place in an University 6. If in case of difference about the Call of Professors and Regents in our Universities one of the contending parties should seek for relief and assistance any where else than in our Ecclesiastical Assemblies he shall be prosecuted by all the Censures of the Church and if he continue obstinate and rebellious he shall then be Excommunicated and if he be already seized of a Professorship this Synod Decreeth that no Wages shall be paid him and declareth him a Person utterly uncapable of any Academical Office 7. To prevent for the future that evil custom crept into the Churches and which hath caused a great deal of trouble unto this Synod by reading and examining an infinite number of Acts passed before secular Judges which may finally bring in upon us that base Chicanery so much practised by crafty Lawyers and utterly unworthy the Gravity of these Assemblies Wherefore all such manner of proceedings are most expresly forbidden and all persons are commanded to keep themselves to a native plainness and simplicity as best suiting with Church affairs on pain of having their papers and propositions rejected who shall do otherwise Pecuniary matters may be dismissed from one Province to another 8. In case a person complain of His being overcharged in pecuniary matters by the Provincial Synod in which the Synod is a Party he may demand a hearing before the next Provincial Synod which shall have power to judge finally in that affair without bringing such matters before the National Synods 9. When as the publick Fast shall be celebrated in the Churches of France those of Bearn shall be acquainted with the time and causes of it by the Province of Lower Guyenne and those Churches shall be comprised in all matters relating to our Union yea and in those Complaints and Petitions which shall be presented unto his Majesty by the means of our General Deputies 10. Monsieur Baldran Deputy for Bearn moved that whereas the Churches of Soulle and Bigorre lying within the bounds of France were yet notwithstanding unto this day annexed to the Churches of Bearn and supported by them both with the grant of Pastors and Moneys for their subsistence wherefore he requested that they might be enrolled among those who shared in the Moneys of his Majesties bounty and withal he left them to the sole disposal of the Churches of this Kingdom either to be Incorporated with them or implanted into any other Synod besides that of Bearn as they should conceive most expedient This Assembly ordaineth that for the present two portions of the said moneys shall be assigned out of the Dividend of Lower Guyenne unto those two before mentioned Churches and they have full power to declare in the first Provincial Synod of Bearn to which of the Provincial Synods of France they will adjoin themselves consulting
of that place and Elder in the same Church and James Garnier Elder in the Church of Privas 7. For the Province of the Lower Guyenne Monsieur Jeremy Bancons Pastor in this Church of Tonneins and Ezechiel Marmett Pastor in the Church of Nerac together with Francis de Lusignan Baron of Lusignan Governour for the King in his Town and Castle of Puymirol and Elder of the Church there gathered and John de la Nouaille Elder in the Church of Gensac 8. For the Province of Xaintonge Aulnix and Augoulmois Monsieur Louis le Chevelier Lord of la Cappelliere and Jerom Colomiers both Pastors in the Church of Rochel together with Leon de St. Maure Baron of Montosier Elder in the Church of Bene and Peter de Breuil Lord of Fontenelles Elder in the Church of Barbezieux 9. For the Churches in the Principality of Bearn Monsieur John de Dizerotte Pastor in the Church of Olleron and Peter de Nauguey Doctor of Physick Elder in the Church of Lescar 10. For the Province of Anjou Touraln le Maine Condomnois Vendomois and the Lower Parche Monsieur Samuel Bouchereau Pastor in the Church of Saumur together with Eleazar de la Primauday Lord of la Barree Elder in the Church of Bourgueil and Abes dit Val Lord of Villiers the King's Attorney in the Election and Granary of Salt at Chasteaugontier and Elder of the Church there who related unto this Assembly that Monsieur Daniel Coupe Pastor in the Church of Tours their Fellow-Deputy was absent through the opposition of his Consistory which also was confirmed by the Brethren that passed through that Town Whereupon the Synod judged the Authors of his absence highly censurable and cannot approve of the said Coupés compliance with their will to the prejudice of what had been decreed in the Provincial Synod And that a meet Censure according to the merits of the Cause may be duly inflicted on them express order is given to the Pastors and Elders of the Isle of France and Anjou that in their return from hence homeward they shall pass unto Tours and particularly inquire into this fact and by Authority of this Assembly shall pass Sentence on them and all their Charges shall be defrayed by that said Church and they shall make report of their duty herein either in Person or by Letters unto the next National Synod 11. For the Province of Higher Languedoc Monsieur John Gigord Pastor and Professor of Divinity in the Church and University of Montpellier and John Bansillon Pastor of the Church in Aiguemortes together with Peter de Massanes Councillor for the King and General in the Court of Assistants at Montpellier and Elder of that Church and Henry de Farrell Lord of St. Privat Elder in the Church of Usez 12. For the Province of Sevennes and Gevaudan Monsieur John Bony Pastor in the Church of Sauve together with James de Combier Lord Baron of Fonds and of Serignac Elder in the Church of Juissac and Peter de Sduorin Lord of Pomaret and of St. Andrew de Valborgne Elder in the Church of the same place who presented Letters from Monsieur John Fitz Pastor in the Church of St. John of Gardenengue excusing his absence by reason of sickness befallen him in his Journey which excuse being warrantable was accepted by this Assembly Since there arrived Monsieur Esaiah du Marez Pastor of the Church of Alez who being substituted in his stead and tendering the Act of Substitution unto this Synod he was immediately admitted 12. For the Province of Provence Monsieur Samuel Toussain Pastor in the Church of Luc with Balthazar Geronte Lord of Verages Elder in the Church of Aiguieres 13. For the Province of Dolphiny Mr. Paul Guyon Pastor in the Church of Dieu le Fit and Denys Bouteroue Pastor in the Church of Grenoble together with James de Veze Lord of la Lo Elder in the Church of Montlimart and Francis de la Combe Elder in the Church of St. Marcellin 14. For the Province of Burgundy Lyonnois Beaâ—jolois Brosse and Gex Monsieur Peter Colinet Pastor of the Church of Paray in Charolois and Peter Eliot Pastor of the Church of Arnay le Duc together with John de Jaucour Lord of Villarnou Elder in the Church of Avalon and John Grace Elder in the Church of Lion 15. For the Province of Normandy Monsieur Benjamin Banage Pastor of the Church at Karentan and Samuel de l'Escherpiere Lord of la Riviere Pastor in the Church of Rouen together with Paul du Vivier Lord of Beaumont Elder in the Church of Bayeux and James le Noble Lord of la Leau Elder in the Church of Dies 16. For the Province of Orleans Berry Blezois c. Monsieur Daniel Jamett Pastor of the Church of St Amand in Bourbonnois and Samuel de Chambaran Pastor of the Church of l'Orges and Marchenoir together with Lewes de Courcillon Lord of d'Angeau Elder in the said Church and James de Brissay Lord of Jenonville Elder in the Church of Gergeau 17. There appeared also in this Assembly Stephen Chesneverd Lord of la Millitiere General Deputy of the Reformed Churches in this Kingdom who was admitted and had both his deliberative and decisive Votes granted him CHAP. II. An Order about Letters of Deputation See the third Synod of Rochel Art 1. after the choice of the Moderator 2. Vitré Art 1. after the Roll. 1. ALL the Provinces for the future are enjoyned to express the proper names and surnames of the Pastors and Elders deputed by them unto these National Synods and to specifie that particular place wherein they exercise their respective Offices And whereas that failure observed by former National Synods about Submission and Obedience is still found wanting in several Letters of Deputation from divers Provinces it is ordained that it shall be promised in express terms without any condition or modification whatsoever unto all things which shall be determined and decreed by these National Synods CHAP. III. Vrgent Matters 2. THE Church of Paris excused its Consistory and Monsieur du Moulin one of their Pastors about his absence from this Assembly tho' nominated thereunto by the Synod of the Isle of France and offered that if he might have speedy notice of it and this Assembly judged it needful he should yet come unto them But upon debate it was found utterly inconvenient for the said Monsieur du Moulin to appear in person among us or that the cause of his trouble should be examined and judged by this Assembly this being no proper place for its tryal for by such an Anticipation we should imbroil our selves with the Civil Magistrates wherefore the excuses both of the Consistory of that Church and of the said Sieur du Moulin were accepted 3. The Letters of the Lords Dukes of Rohan and Sully and from the Lord du Plessis Marli were received and read in this Assembly all tending to assure the Churches of this Kingdom of their holy Resolution immovably to
were celebrated wherein the Pastors from England and the other Nations should all mutually communicate together and that Sacred Feast should commence with a most Religious Fast not only to be observed by those Deputies but also by that particular Church where this Synod shall be assembled that so the assistance and blessing of God may be prayed down upon this holy and important work 9. Let such Deputies be chosen whose tempers lead and bend them unto this noble design that is to say let them be such as are peaceable grave and men fearing God prudent and not contentious let them come furnished with full power and with ample Letters of Authority to proceed in this great and good work and let this be couched in the same Letters of Commission that their Principals who send them do sincerely promise to receive with all possible respect the Conclusions of this Assembly and that they will by all just and lawful ways see them observed And during the Session of this Synod let there be unanimously published in all the Provinces a General Fast in order to the deriving down the blessing of God Upon it und to touch the hearts of the people with respect and reverence for it 10. During the sitting of this Assembly it were sit that Messengers should go and come from His Majesty of Great Britain that so nothing might be concluded in it without his Advice and Authority and that as soon as the Conference shall be ended the whole body of this Assembly should pass over into England to make tender of their Duty to His Majesty and to thank him and receive his sage Advice about the means of reducing into practice their Synodical and Pacisick Counsels and Conclusions 11. It will be necessary that before the breaking up of this Assembly they would assign a certain day within the year of meeting again at the same place and make report then and there of what has been done it their respective Provinces to effect and execute it and what obstructions they met with in their prosecution of it For it will be a most difficult matter in one Assembly to provide all Expedients for Peace and Union And there may be those Provinces who may not approve of every point concerted and agreed on or they may happen to pitch on some better means than were at first seen and contrived 12. In the interval of these two Assemblies His Majesty of England and the Provinces of our Confession may so order it that some Pastors and Doctors of the Lutheran way may be sent from the Lutheran Princes and Churches unto this second Assembly to travail in this excellent work of Reuniting them with us and us with them If this can be obtained the means of Agreement are likely to be such as these following 13. The Points in difference betwixt us and the Lutheran Churches are of two sorts There be some wherein our Agreement is very easie of this nature are the Ceremonies of the Lutheran Churches which may be excused and tolerated because they be matters rather of decency than of necessity As also some certain Opinions about Predestination concerning which a special Article may be framed in our common Confession which all without any difficulty would approve of provided always that curiosity might be avoided And this was done in the Confession of Ausburg which speaks exceeding soberly and expresly declineth that Question There is also some difference betwixt us about the necessity of Baptism which in a good sense may be affirmed necessary to Salvation that is to say that Baptism should be celebrated in the Christian Church and necessary that it be not despised but observed by every particular Member without pushing on the Question of necessity any farther 14. There is in the next place that Article of the Lord's Supper wherein we shall meet with more difficulty for it hath two main brandies 1. That of the Ubiquity of Christ's Body 2. Another about our Receiving of and Communion with the Body of Christ in the Sacrament 15. As to the first of these Points we may well agree in these things 1. That Jesus Christ took in the Womb of the Virgin Mary a true Humane Body like unto ours in all things sin only excepted 2. That his Body hath true flesh and its quantity and dimensions 3. That when his Body was lodged in the Womb of the blessed Virgin and hung upon the Cross and lay buried in the Grave it was not at that time elsewhere nor in divers other places at once 4. That the Eternal Son of God is every where present in all places 5. That he is ascended up into Heaven that he fitteth at the right Hand of God that the Father hath given him all Power in Heaven and in Earth 6. That Glorification hath removed from him the infirmity but not abolished the Verity of his Humane Nature 7. That in the last day he shall come in that self same flesh which he took from the Virgin Mary to judge both the quick and the dead If besides these there be some differrent Opinions about which we cannot agree this must be obtained from both Parties that they do not thereupon condemn and damn each other and that no more Books about this Controversie be hereafter written nor any Invectives thrown out in Sermons from the Pulpit but that we live in brotherly Love waiting upon God for more Light who will not refuse it unto them that in Faith beg it of him 16. Touching the Sacrament and our participation of the Body of Christ we may harmoniously agree in these Points 1. That the Sacramental Elements are not bare and empty Signs nor only meer naked Symbols and simple Instituted Figures of the Truth 2. That in the Lord's Supper we do really and in very deed partake of the Body of Christ Jesus 3. That the Bread is not transubstantiated nor ceaseth to be Bread after the Consecration Whence it follows 4. That the Sacrament ought not to be adored but our hearts must be lifted up unto Jesus Christ in Heaven As for the manner of our participation of the Body of Christ in his Holy Supper we need not be scrupulously inquisitive about it only to joyn Issue with the Apostle who saith in the 3d to the Ephesians that Jesus Christ dwelleth in our hearts by Faith whence it inevitably follows that he is a meer stranger unto the hearts of all Unbelievers But if any one be otherwise perswaded let him succour and support his weak Brethren and not judge and persecute them with violence and cruelty Wherefore in those matters wherein we be all agreed let 's walk with one another hand in hand heartily and chearfully towards Heaven 17. We know there be two sorts of Errors some in Points of Faith and others in exterior Actions and Practice Of this first sort are those Errors about the nature of Jesus Christ about Predestination and Free will of the Second are those about Communion in
Normandy in this case decreed that the said Monsieur du Bois shall be received and fixed in the Pastoral Office of the said Church of â—ontaines and Crocy until the next meeting of the Provincial Synod of Normandy 16. Monsieur Joly petitioning this Assembly for some Relief for himself and poor Family until the sitting of the next National Synod and that leave might be given him to aspire unto the Profession of the Hebrew Language in case there should be a vacancy This Assembly granted him the letter and because of his wants and the distressed Condition of his Family they do give him an Hundred and Fifty Livres and for the future do continue unto him one free Portion under the same Name as it was granted him by the National Synod of Alez CHAP. XX. N. B. This Curcelles was after fixed Pastor in the Church of Vitre le Francois in Champagne where having begot his Servant Maid with Child he forsook his Church and fled into Holland that the might escape the punishment due unto his crime which of his free will he had committed where he returned with the Dog unto his former Vomit and licke up his once Abpured â—rrorâ— and lived and dyed an implacable line my of the Truth and and of all its Professors When he was dead there was found among his Books a Manuscript written with his own hand against the Godhead of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the profession of the Truth 17 MOnsieur de Courcelles formerly Pastor in the Church of Amiens having refused to subscribe the Doctrine received in the Synod of Alez did freely and of his own accord resign his Pastoral Charge into the hands of the Provincial Synod of the Isle of France but now protesting in this Assembly that he had quite rejected those Arminian Dogmes and that he did own and acquiesce intirely in the Doctrine received of the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom and humbly petitioned this Synod that they would be pleased to restore him again unto his Charge upon the promises he did now make of retaining the form of sound words After that the Deputy of the Isle of France had related the proceedings of their last Synod upon the fact of Courcelles his quitting of his Place and Calling he was again called in and did plainly and clearly and with great earnestness avow and confess his consent unto the whole Doctrine taught and contained in those Canons decreed at the Synod of Alez and in this also holding and believing it to be the truth and agreeing with the Word of God and that he renounceth all Errors condemned in those aforesaid Canons and that he believeth those said Canons in every Branch and Article of them and was resolv'd to sign and defend them for the future to the utmost of his power during Life The Assembly having received this his Declaration and Protestation restored him again unto his Ministerial Office and remanded him back unto the Isle of France to be presented unto a Church and in case he could not meet with one in that Province then he might accept of a Call in any other And for his Comfort he had License given him in the interim to preach in any Church for its Edisication yea and in the Church of Paris also provided the Reverend Pastors of that Congregation did invite him to it Moreover this Assembly approved of all those former proceedings of the Province aforesaid in and about this business of Courcelles as having been done and managed with singular prudence Candor and Charity And it gives also unto the said Courcelles one Portion for his subsistence until such time as he be provided of a Church 18. Letters were tendred and read in this Assembly from the Lords Curators and Professors in the famous University of Leyden requesting that Monsieur Rivett who had been lent unto the said University by a former National Synod for their Divinity Professor might be confirmed and continued to them during Life by the Authority of this also The Letters of Monsieur Rivett writ unto this Assembly were in like manner perused and his Brother the Lord of Chamvernown declared that Doctor Rivett testified and expressed a continual Love and sincere Affection as in Duty he was bound unto his Native Countrey and that Cordial desire he had alwayes to serve it but that he could not at present be removed from the University of Leyden but to it s very great dammage and his own in particular for which cause he intreated this Assembly to continue him for some few years more in the aforesaid University of Leyden The Synod did hereupon grant him his request and ordered his continuance there until the next National Synod and that an answer should be written unto the Lords Curators and Professors there accordingly He lived there to his Death which fell out in the year 1651. His Works are Printed in Three Folio's 19. The Church of Alez petitioned that the Reverend Monsieur Chauve Minister of the Church of Sommieres might be coâ—ferred upon them for their Pastor After perusal of these Letters those of Monsieur Chauve were also considered who complained that his burthen was too heavy for his Shoulders and that he could not without assistance go through the necessary Duties of his Charge in either of those Churches The Deputies also of Sevennes and the Lower Languedoc and Monsieur L' Espeisses for the Church of Alez were all heard whereupon this Synod confirmed Monsieur Chauve in his Ministry of the Church of Sommiers and enjoyneth the said Province to take care that he have help and comfort given him in his great labours 20. The Church of Bourdeaux petitioned that Monsieur Alba Minister of the Church of Tonneins and Ferrand Minister of La Parade in the Province of Lower Guyenne might be bestowed on them for their Pastors Another Petition also was presented from the Lords President and Counsellors in the Court of Agen that they might be favour'd with the Ministry of the same Monsieur Alba. After perusal of several Letters from the Churches of Tonneins La Parade Bourdeaux and Agen and those of the Lords President and Counsellors there and hearing of Monsieur Coderois Elder in the Church of Bourdeaux and of Monsieur Alba and of the Provincial Deputies of Guyenne This Assembly presented Monsieur Ferrand unto the Church of Bourdeaux and Monsieur Alba unto that of Agen until the next National Synod And it does enjoyn the Colloquy and on their default the Synod of that Province to make some speedy provision for the Church of La Parade that they may be without delay supplied with a Pastor 21. Relation was made by the Province of Vivaretz concerning some Miscarriages of Monsieur des Maretz heretofore Pastor in the Church of Valet This Assembly not being able to judge of this Matter because of his absence hath dismissed the business unto the next Session of the Colloquy of Valentinois in Dolphiny to take cognisance of it and to
Majesty and to our Lords his Ministers but that they repose themselves firmly on his Royal Word trusting always in his Majesty's Goodness that he will hinder and prevent the Designs and Attempts of ill-minded Men who would contrary to the Tenour of his Edicts persecute his poor Subjects because they be of the Reformed Religion 19. And to the intent that our Churches may never be impeached of contributing unto any Alterations and Changes whereby the Publick Peace should be broken This Assembly recommends unto all Pastors an exacter Observation of our Ecclesiastical Discipline and of the Stile of God's holy Word and of our Confession of Faith than heretofore and doth according to our Canons in all these Articles expresly interdict and forbid them the utterance of any bitter Words or Expressions whenever they declare their Faith and Hope against any Person or Opinion whatsoever And it doth also most humbly supplicate his Majesty to interpose his Royal Authority that those of the Romish Religion who do licentiously depart from their Duty may be reduced to the Obedience of his Edicts and that his poor Subjects of the Reformed Religion may not for the future as they have been upon all Occasions hitherto be loaden with the most outragious and atrocious Abuses and Reproaches And we do farther recommend unto all our Churches and their respective Members the observation of our Discipline and particularly that no one do publish any Book till it have been first perused and examined and approved by them who are commissionated thereunto and that none take upon them to violate the Judicial Sentences of the Civil Magistrate concerning Divorces And the Province of Sevennes hath and doth protest that it had never any such Design or Purpose for so doing 20. And whereas there is a Crime imputed unto our Churches about the Residence of their Pastors and the Exercise of their Ministry as if some of them had acted contrary to the tenth Article of January 1561 which yet is very false for not one of them hath ever attempted to preach forcibly in any Place Yea and secondly that Edict of January was only provisional made for that time and hath been since abrogated by the subsequent Edicts particularly by the one and fortieth Article of that Edict made in the Year 1570 and by that of Nants made in the Year 1598 and which by his then Majesty was declared to be a clear plain general and absolute Law by which it was his Will and Pleasure that all his Subjects should be governed And thirdly The Pastors do not exercise the Duties of their Calling in any other Places besides those which are allowed them by the 78th 79th 80th and 81st Articles of the Edict last mentioned And fourthly Our Lords of the Council and the Parliaments and the several Commissioners for the Execution of that Edict have from the beginning made out Orders where and in what Places the publick Exercise of our Religion should be established and performed and did always consider that the most part of those Places were but so many Quarters and Members of one and the same Church served by one and the same Pastor And fifthly That the Pastors never preach out of those Quarters unless in the case of Absence or Sickness or of some other lawful hindrance of their Brethren And lastly By the sixth Article of the Edict of Nants explained by the first of the secret and particular Articles it is granted that our Ministers may reside in any Places of the Kingdom indifferently Wherefore we most humbly petition that his Majesty would maintain them in that Liberty granted them by his Edicts and revoke all Orders and Decrees of his Privy-Council which are derogatory to them 21. Moreover forasmuch as our Pastors do not receive their Maintenance in a way of begging nor from the Poors Box nor from Legacies bequeathed to pious Uses and destinated for the Relief of the Poor but only from a voluntary Contribution of their Flocks or by an Assessment made upon them according to the forty fourth Article of Particular Matters conformably to those Agreements past between them and their Pastors at their first coming And that according to the Discipline the fifth Penny of all Alms is particularly assigned to the maintenance of our Professors Regents Scholars and other such like Persons whole Poverty renders them meet and proper Objects of those Charities without ever diverting the Monies of this natu them but according to the Order of Provincial or National Synods His Majesty is most humbly beseeched to keep up in our Churches the Observation of this ancient Order established by the Discipline and authorized by his Edicts and whereof there was never any Complaint yet formed and that he would be pleased to interdict his Officers the disannulling or changing of Agreements past and made between the Pastors and their Churches about their Salaries when they first took upon them the Cure and Charge of their Souls 22. And sith what hath been done in the case of Mr. Petit relateth to the Execution of this Order and to the Canons of former National Synods his Majesty is most humbly requested to approve thereof 23. Finally forasmuch as the Declaration made by the Synod of Nismes is neither as to its Substance nor Terms in which it is framed and expressed any other Matter than the first Article of the eleventh Chapter of our Discipline bottom'd upon our Confession of Faith Catechism and other Expositions of the Belief of our Churches and for that the Arguments produced on behalf of the Opus operatum and the Decision made by the Church of Rome which is directly opposite unto our Faith aforesaid do formally condemn it his Majesty having by his Edicts allowed of it is most humbly intreated to grant that his Subjects of the Reformed Religion may still enjoy and be always secured in the full enjoyment of the Liberty of their Consciences according to his Sacred and Royal Promises that so they may all unanimously with one and the same Heart and the self-same Vows and Prayers unanimously imploy themselves in the Service of God and of his Majesty CHAP. V. Deputies sent with a Letter unto the King 24. THere were chosen by Plurality of Voices in the Assembly the Sieurs Ferrand Gigord and Cerizy to carry unto his Majesty the most humble Thanks and Petitions of the Churches who were furnished with their Instructions and Letters unto his Majesty and to our Lords the Ministers of State 25. A Copy of the first Letter written by the Synod unto the King SIRE THE Great God whose lively Image you are accepting indifferently and irrespectively the Prayers and Homages of all his Creatures we believed that your Majesty would not he displeased with our Boldness in laying ours at your Feet your Majesty having granted us the Priviledge of assembling our selves in this Place And 't is to acquit our selves of this necessary Duty Sire that we have sent the Sieurs Ferrand Gigord
of La Ferte on the Jouaire 600. 2. Colloquy of Picardy Pastors Churches 617. John Baptiste Ministers of Calais 601. 618. Peter Cartier 619. Buguet 620. Francois Becade 621. Ezechiel de Avois of Boulonois 602. 622. Peter Poynet of Amieus 603. 623. Daniel Boucherel of Cifemont 604. 624. Claudius le Vineux of Chauny Coussy 605. 625. John Mestayer of St. Quentin 606. 626. Paul Georges of Laon 607. 627. Peter Lambour of Leval Gercy 608. 628. John Nicollay of Compiegne 609. 3. Colloquy of Champagne Pastors Churches 629. Benjamin Augenet Ministers of Vini in Champenois 610. 630. Simon Gascher 631. Benjamin Massin of Chaalons 611. 632. John Pasquet of Espance 612. 633. Honorius de Candemere of Netancour 613. 634. John Rainet of Langres 614. 635. Samuel de la Cloche of Aychastelnay 615. 636. Abraham Jacquelot of Sezame 616. 637. Sigebert Alpeé of St. Mars 617. 638. Aaron Blondel of Jinecour 618. 639. Isaac Juigné of Vassy 619. 640. John Carre Minister of Heiz le Mauron 620. 4. Colloquy of the Land of Chartres Pastors Churches 641. Louis de Forquembergue of Houdan 621. 642. Louis Foulé of Laons Faviers 622. 643. Philip Falbergue of Chartres Joinvilliers 623. 644. Benjamin Tricotel of Mantes Auvergne 624. 645. Maurice de Lauberaut of Le Plessis la Jorville 625. 646. Dablon de Montigny 647. James Couronne of Autun 626. The end of the Catalogue of the Pastors of the Churches of France and Bearn as it was brought into the Seven and Twentieth National Synod of Alanson in the year 1637. Hereafter follow divers Acts and Letters which were not inserted into the Body of the Acts of this Synod but for the compleating of its History are in this place Registred and Related CHAP. XXIV The Speech made by Monsieur Ferrand Pastor of the Church of Bourdeaux Deputed by the National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France Assembled at Alanson the 27th of May 1637. unto His Majesty SIRE IF the Rivers having their Source from the Ocean do return again with their Tribute to it 't is much more Just and Reasonable that Your most Humble and most Obedient Subjects the Ministers and Elders Assembled by Your Authority in a National Synod should come and render into Your Royal Bosom the Profound Resentments and Eternal Thankfulness of their Souls for those numberless Favours they have received and do still enjoy by Your Majesty's most Gracious Protection and Royal Liberality which being superadded to those Duties of our Birth and Conscience do so bind us unto Subjection Fidelity and Obedience to Your Commands that no future Events can or will be able to dissolye or cut them asunder These Sire be the Loyal Protestations of those that sent us who desire nothing more than to Engrave in the hearts of Your most Dutiful Subjects of our Religion the Holy Maxims of an inviolable and Religious Obedience For we Sire are those very Persons who Believe and Teach that the Royal Authority is not of Humane but Divine Institution unto which every Soul ought to be Subjected and we are those who Believe and Teach the Sovereignty and Independency of Your Crown which resembling those higher Mountains whose Lofty Heads being exalted above the middle Region of the Air are never frighted with Thunders nor Lightnings No Sire You hold it from God only and it is solely depending on him and You are next in Power unto him the Sun of this Heaven the Soul of this vast Body the Heart of this Gallick Monarchy Yea Sire once more we be those very Persons who next unto the Service of our God have no greater Motive nor Principle than the Conservation and Augmentation of Your Majesty's Grandeur and these are our daily Vows and Prayers unto God Your Majesty being his most lively Image And therefore Sire we are emboldned to hope for Freedom of Access unto Your Majesty because our God loveth to be importuned with our Supplications and that Your Majesty will not reject these most Humble Petitions which are laid at Your Majesty's Feet with all imaginable Respect by many thousands of Souls who desire the Liberty of their Conscience and Religion for none other end than that by serving God they may also the self-same instant demand of him in their Prayers for Your Majesty a most immovable Prosperity a long Reign a most Happy Life a most Faithful Council Victorious Triumphant Armies and an innumerable People going and coming at the first beck and motion of Your Majesty Sire This Liberty shall never be abused by Your most Humble Subjects of the Reformed Religion unto Licentiousness no Sire they will imploy it as they have always done in Prayers and Fastings when as the precious Life of Your most Sacred Majesty lay exposed to all Hazards and Dangers a Life upon which depends all the Lives of Your Kingdom and You were Jeoparding it in the high places of the Field to acquire unto Your Subjects a durable Repose and Tranquility And forasmuch as Your Majesty's Sword is ever Glorious and Invincible against Strangers May it please Your Majesty to suffer us to form our Complaints against those who endeavour at home in the very Bowels of France to render Your Edicts Illusory and do blunt the Point and dull the Edge of Your Laws relating to our Liberties and Subsistence which are all founded upon the Observation of Your Edicts and Royal Commissions The Adversaries envying our Peace have made an infinite number of Gaps and Breaches in them Yet nevertheless Sire we perswade our selves that Your Edicts will remain Sacred and Inviolable and that Your Powerful Hand will cause the words of Your Royal Mouth to be exactly and punctually performed because you be the Judge and Father of Your People and that in Your Sacred Person Justice and Mercy shall Kiss and Embrace each other that so none may attempt to put asunder what our God hath joyned together This Hope replenisheth our Hearts with Joy and doth more ardently excite our Affections to pay unto Your Majesty all the Duties of Subjection and Loyalty and with inflamed Devotions we Address our selves to the Divine Majesty that he would inlarge the Bounds of Your Empire and accomplish all the desires of Your Royal Heart as being Sire of Your Majesty the most Humble and the most Obedient Servants and Subjects the Pastors and Elders Assembled in the National Synod by Your Gracious Permission at Alanson and in the Name of them all Basnage Moderator of the Synod D. Couppe Assessor D. Blondel Scribe and De Launay Scribe CHAP. XXV 2. Instructions given unto Monsieur Ferrand Gigord and Cerisy Deputed unto the King by the National Synod Assembled by His Majesty's Permission at Alanson 1637. THe Sieurs Ferrand Gigord and Cerisy Deputed by us unto the Court immediately upon their Arrival shall wait upon Monsieur de la Vrilliere Secretary of State to whom they shall deliver our Letters and assure him of our most humble Services and shall intreat him
long lines of Invectives Calumnies and false groundless Suspicions which they will never be able to extract from its publication By which means I doubt not but with my Candor to demulce their humours and by the representing of the lively Light of God in his Holy Word to illuminate them and by the Celestial sweetness thereof to allure even some of the fiercest Spirits amongst them to the good ways of God for however they may contradict men 't is difficult for them to contradict the Heavenly Sweets of God's Word Which I speak by experience of my Italian Translation for having where I could with a safe Conscience followed St. Jerom it was not unsuccessful If this happiness might now befal me which is not to be hoped for from our Vulgar French Translation judged by them over partial there is no Fear nor Worldly Respect that should weigh down with me Some tell me the time is unseasonable but I answer 'T is never out of season to do good and to be too intent upon the times is the right and ready way to lose all and these times of ours which do stupifie our Souls with the horrors of those woful events happened in them do contrariwise seem the most proper for the slipping of this Labour into the World which feareth no assault but what may be given it in the birth Besides my declining years do call upon me to consider the small time that is left me to give life unto this Fruit unless I would have it buried together with me in my Grave or I must let it come forth into the World all maimed and disfigured after my Decease For all these Reasons and Considerations most Reverend and most Honoured Brethren I shall conclude with two most humble and earnest Petitions to you One is That you would not in this Affair make any Reflection upon those Sentiments which are now disputed in this Church for tho' at the bottom it cannot but have other movements than you have yet nevertheless it cannot subsist but under your Shadow which if removed it must needs fall to the ground My other Request to you is That you would be pleased freely to vouchsafe me what lieth in your power to do for me which is not an Approbation of a Work never seen by you and to demand it of you would be a very unjust thing in me much less that you should give it with the privilege of a publick usage which would be an exorbitant Temerity but this only not to condemn me nor to hinder this first Edition which I desire only to publish unto the World for discovery of Mens Opinions of it and to be farther sifted and examined by them By this Equanimity of yours you will consolate me under my Travails and sore Pains you will renew my Vigour and raise my Spirits and incourage me also to publish my Latin Translation at the many instances and ardent desires which are made me But in case you should be so pre-occupied as to deny me this small favour I do now beg your pardon if I say with an extreme grief that I shall lock up my self in the Cloister of my own Conscience and rest quietly in this confidence that this work will at last be more accepted and approved than at first and I shall imitate St. Jerome who out of meer respect to the Union and Charity of St. Augustine with the African Synods resolved to displease himself for a short time that he might afterward more happily give content unto Posterity and according to the example of all good Servants who even in some remarkable act of their Duty and Service do often digest with patience the disdain of their Superiors and exceed in obedience that they may give them a more certain and better accompt of their Fidelity in the upshot of their Work I pray God that if it be his gracious Will I may receive from your fraternal hands this Fruit of Peace and Consolation and that from his Fatherly hands you may receive his abundant and most powerful Blessing upon all your Holy Deliberations and Actions I beseech you grant me that Honour of being avowed by you Geneva May 1st 1637. Messieurs and most Honoured Brethren Your most Humble and most Faithful Brother and Servant in the Lord DIODATI THE Acts Decisions and Decrees OF THE Twenty eighth Synod OF THE Reformed Churches OF FRANCE Held the Third time AT CHARENTON St. MAVRICE NEAR PARIS On Monday the Six and Twentieth Day of December and ended Thursday the Six and Twentieth Day of January following In the Years of our Lord 1644. and 1645. The CONTENTS of the Third Synod of CHARENTON Chap. I. THe Synod opened with Prayer The General Deputy presenteth the King 's Writ for calling the Synod The Deputies unto the Synod Manner of choosing the Synodical Officers 16.3 Chap. II. Letters Patents for the Lord if Boisgrollier to be His Majesty's Commissioner in the Synod 4. The Commissioner's Speech unto the Synod Chap. III. The Moderator's Answer to it very smart close and pertinent Chap. IV. The Synod's Letters unto the King and Lords of the Council Chap. V. The Return of the Deputies with the King's Answer The Deputies Address to the Prince of Conde His Answer Letters from Foreign Churches Vniversities and Divines not suffered to be Answered 11. The Old General Deputy lays down his Office another imposed upon the Churches by the King 12. The Bill of Grievances must be drawn up privately by a Select Committee 13. Thanks returned by the Synod unto the last General Deputy 15. Chap. VI. A Second Letter to the King and the Queen Chap. VII Confession of Faith approved Chap. VIII Observations upon the Discipline An Appellant shall abstain from the Lord's Table 2. No Mm shall Marry the Mother of his Deceased Spouse without a Dispensation from the Civil Magistrate 3. The Widow of a Deceased Brother may be Married with the Magistrates Dispensation 4. No Proposans shall get into the Pulpit 5. The Deputies Letters of Commission unto the National-Synod shall be Signed by the Synodcal Officers of their respective Provinces 7. Cousin Germans shall not Marry without the King's Dispensation 8. Chap. IX Form of Baptizing Pagans Jews Mahometans Anabaptists and Adult Infidels now embraceing the Christian Religion Ministers to give the Cup at the Lord's Table 11. Order about Catechising 12. The Memoirs sent by the Provinces must be Signed by the Moderatiors in their Synods or they will be thrown out of the National 15. The Moderator to Vote last 16. Chap. X. Observations upon the Synod of Alanson The last Will of a Deceased Minister not fullfilled 4. The Business of Monsieur Amyraud revived and immediately stifled by the National Synod 6.7 Chap. XI Of Appeals A Minister made Emeritus 3. Discipline Exercised upon one who had Married his Wifes Neece and other Delinquents 13. Monsieur Codur an Ancient Minister and Professor of Divinity Censured for attempting to Reconcile the Reformed Churches of France with