of Grace all other our Brethren who he groaning under the heavy Yoak and Burden of Afflictions that he would restore unto them the Consolations of his Spirit and put an end in his appointed Time according to his own good Pleasure unto all their Anguish and Sufferings Those many and sad Objects which are daily presented to our Eyes of a multitude of Refugees who were once themselves a Refuge unto the Faithful from the Storm and a Covert from the Tempest but being now saved by a miâ—aculous out-stretched Arm from a most calamitous Shipwrack are wandring up and down seeking an Ark and Retreat from this overflowing Deluge and sheltring themselves as in a Sanctuary in this our poor City will not permit us to leave our God alone nor to give him any Rest till by our most importunate Prayers we have prevailed with him to stir up the Bowels of his Compassions for the deliverance of his Children And we also pour into your Bosoms the Sentiments of this Grief which as on the one hand it cannot but move our Sympathies so on the other hand it doth make us seriously reflect on God's Methods and Dealings with his Churches and principally to consider his exquisite Trials of Church-Officers who be constituted by him Overseers in his House and Service and were bound to sanctify his Name in their Performances lest he should sanctify himself upon them by his Judgments This was what he had denounc'd against all that draw near unto him and they have seen it executed in its Perfection Besides we cannot in these last Troubles of the Church but observe how poor and feeble a thing an Arm of Flesh is and how very perillous thole Succors and Assistances are which Men receive from it Whereas the true Shields and Bucklers of Salvation do belong to God who only hath the Priviledg and deserves the Glory of his Churches Protection and Deliverance And in this Confession the Faithful knowing that the Assistance of Heaven is promised unto those who do patiently wait for it as you your selves most honoured dear Brethren have frequently sensed and experienced in your Trials do always prefer the Resolutions and Weapons of the Spirit of God to the Counsels of the Flesh that so there may not be the least pot reflected or fastned upon the Gospel And those who despise Dignities and subject them to the Power of that Man of Sin to be trampled under foot by him may be ashamed and confounded at their Lies and Calumnies cast upon us from those evident Testimonies of our Loyalty and Fidelity which according to the Gospel is rendred unto God and unto those to whose Authority he hath subjected our Persons and Estates in this World And this will be most clearly owned and acknowledged even then whenas Pastors shall intend the interiour Service of the Sanctuary which is the Edification of precious and immortal Souls and do not walk according to the World nor fear their Fear but glorify God in the Day of their Tribulations by an absolute and intire resignation of themselves to him and dependance on him whom they must need know can never divest himself of that Care and Charge of them which he hath once took upon him so expresly and particularly as to be their Guardian their Fortress their strong Tower and a Wall of Fire and Brass round about his Church marching as their Captain-General in the Van and Front and bringing up the Rear-guard of his Israel whilst that the Priests are wholly busied and imployed in carrying the Ark of his Covenant And we do not speak this as taking upon us to be the Judges of any one's Work but with all due Respects communicating to you the Sentiments of our Consciences which we hope will be approved also by your Reverences we do hereby express the most affectionate Desires of our Souls that the Breaches in the Temple of God may be repaired and that the Face of our Lord Jesus Christ may shine forth more gloriously upon our Brethren and our selves unto Salvation by the Spirit of his Power in the Gospel of his Glory waiting always for that blessed Hope of his last Coming whose near Approaches are notoriously visible and conspicuous from those frequent Travel-Pangs of the Church and general Convulsions and Shakings of the Nations infallible Harbingers and Fore-runners of his glorious Appearance before which we comfortably hope that having chastised his Church he will turn the fiery Stream and Current of his Judgments upon the Enemies of his Truth and Glory and will most effectually by the Spirit of his Mouth destroy the Son of Perdition True indeed there is one thing which cuts the Sinews of our Hopes and obstructs the Progress of this Divine Work and exceedingly damps and saddens our Hearts to wit that incredible and astonishing Stupidity of vast Numbers of Persons who harden themselves in their Sins under the Rods of God's Wrath and do sottishly yield unto the Temptations of the Devil in the Hour of their Trials Yet notwithstanding we be greatly comforted most Honoured Lords and Brethren at the glad Tidings of those excellent Fruits which the Lord's Visitation hath produced in many of your Churches once again bringing into use and exercise those Graces and Vertues so necessary for the Faithful and so difficult to be exerted and practised in Times of Prosperity such as the love of God's Word contempt of the World and kindling again a Fire of holy Zeal by the Spirit of God upon the Altar of the Sacred Ministry to the conviction of Sins and Errors and the reformation of Life and of former Miscarriages and the strengthning of the infirm and weaker Christians This is a demonstration of the Spirit and Power of God who is not only magnified in rescuing of his Church whenas the World gave her up for lost but also as we are from all Parts credibly informed and for which we rejoice together with you in our Lord in manifesting the Power of his Truth whenas the Adversaries taking occasion from your Afflictions believed that it was as easy for them to triumph by their Sophistry over the Doctrine of the Gospel as to throw down your sorry Ramparts of Earth but they have in truth sound the Rock of God's Word to be then inexpugnable whenas there was least of the Work of Man and the Truth then most prevalent and invincible when discovered in its primitive native Beauty and Simplicity Whence we ground our Hopes and Considence that God who hath poured out his Blessing upon your Labours will not begin and advance his Work to destroy it nor will he build his Sion with your Hands and at last abandon it unto those of his most cruel Enemies Wherefore most honoured Lords and Brethren The Joy and Crown of God's Churches be you incouraged in the Lord and whatsoever Difficulties may befal you from without or from within by those who suffer themselves to be debauched by this evil World do you be fortified in your
very much confided yet he hath supported and doth still support by his own Almighty Arm the People of his Covenant confounding their Hopes who promised themselves no less than the utter Ruin of all our flourishing Churches upon the Change of their temporal Estate they not considering that the true Religion is kept up in the Hearts of God's Elect by the Efficacy of that Spirit of Life which having raised Jesus Christ from the Dead doth give Power and Virtue to the Faithful to triumph over all the Forces and Assaults of the World yea and of Death it self To this Occasion of Thanksgiving we will add another which is more particular viz. That since the Peace was ratified God hath filled our Hearts with Gladness by saving his Majesty to whose Clemency we owe our Peace from a great and horrid Conspiracy plotted against him by his perfidious Enemies and ours also The Lord grant that the lively Sense of his Benefits may make us groan for having sinned against him and inflame us with his Love and that we to whom he hath committed the Government of his House may be Pattners of Zeal and of every Christian Vertue and by the Light of sound Doctrine and of an Holy Life we may dissipate and drive away those black and dark Vices wherewith our Flocks have provoked his Anger for certainly we have very great Cause of Humiliation being as yet under the Cross and his Majesty's Edict in divers Points and Articles being not as yet executed observed or performed and the Malice of our Enemies increasing the Number of those Infractions and thereby the Measure of our Sufferings all which is ordered by the most holy wise Providence of our God for our Correction For as of old when he extended Mercy unto Jacob wrestling with him yet with a Blow from his own Hand he made him lame and halt ever after even so also now in these Deliverances from our past Miseries and Confusions which it hath pleased his Divine Grace to vouchsafe us yet hath he left divers Wounds on the Body of our Churches whereby to provoke us unto Repentance and to quicken us unto more Intenseness and Fervour in our Prayers and Supplications for the exciting of his Bowels of Compassion towards us We do acknowledg the free Grace of our God to be our truest Refuge and Sanctuary and that a Christian Patience and submissive Waiting for the Effects of his wise Providence will be our most assured Remedy against all the Evils that can befal us And we have this Consolation got by long Experience of the Vanity of all human Means and Aids that 't is in our Days as it was in ancient Times when God saved and restored his People it was not done by Might nor Power not by Arms nor by Swords and Bows but by his Spirit This self-same Spirit which levelled the great Mountains before Zorobabel and brought them into Plains worketh as powerfully now as heretofore so that we often see those very Mountains of Dangers and Difficulties which were raised up against his People reduced unto nothing giving us therefore a clear and full Knowledg of his great Name that he is wonderful in Counsel and excellent in Working Moreover we do give you farther assurance that it is our Intention That those who are called of God to serve and Minister before him in his House shall wholly and absolutely attend thereunto We well knowing that whilst with Moses in the Mount they give themselves to Prayer and apply themselves wholly to their Ministerial Work and Duty they will attract upon their People the Blessing of the Lord and they will be mighty with God for the throwing down of strong Holds and of every high thing that exalts it self against the Knowledg of God And whereas you remind us of that great Contentment you received at the sight of that Universal Harmony of our former Synods in Points of Doctrine and rejection of Errors which had troubled divers Churches we conceive our selves bound to promote the continuance of your holy Joys and Thankfulness unto God forasmuch as in this Assembly there was found but one Heart and one Soul to maintain the Confession of Faith and the Discipline of our Churches by which we know that the Lord will preserve his Heritage in this Kingdom he himself keeping up this Sacred Mound and Hedg by his own special Benediction whilst he hath broke to pieces that which was Terrene and Carnal in sundry places Yea 't is our hope that as heretofore he made his Ark triumph in Captivity and Dagon to fall down prostrate before it even then whenas Israel was most despicable so also in the midst of the Churches Sufferings shall his Gospel triumph over Superstition And as the Cross of his Son the Lord Jesus got the Victory over the World so shall the Cross of his Children which is also that of Christ be the Confusion of their Enemies This is most honoured Lords and Brethren our Consolation amidst the Ruins and Desolations of the Church of God in divers Regions of Europe which is intimated to us in your Letters Let us therefore lift up our Hands and Hearts unto our God that he would be pleased to take pity on the great and sore Afflictions of Joseph and that he would make Jerusalem a Praise and Renown in the whole Earth for his own Name 's sake Of which we have the more and greater Hopes because those great and violent Attempts of Satan do learn us that the time of his Confusion draweth near and we know that the Lord never humbleth nor casteth down his poor Church but with a design of exalting it and he layeth his Children as it were dead in their Graves that he may confound the World by raising them again from the Dead And inasmuch as amidst such horrible Afflictions God hath made your Church and Common-wealth a glorious Example of his Protection and of the Miracles of his Providence we render to his Divine Majesty from the bottom of our Hearts all possible Thanks and Praises and particularly for this that as your Golden Candlestick hath never wanted burning and shining Lights so also your University ceaseth not to educate and prepare for the Service of many Churches many fit and well-furnish'd Instruments for the Work of the Ministry In which we own and acknowledg the Zeal and Piety of our Lords your Magistrates to whom we do wish from the Lord of Lords all sorts of Benedictions And we praise God that through the goodness of our King we enjoy our ancient Priviledges of serving and building up the Churches in this Realm by their Ministry who owe their Education to your worthy Labours and Instructions and all our Provinces shall be as to their Profit so to your Contentment fully and sufficiently informed hereof at the return of their respective Deputies And in the mean while we most affectionately thank you for your singular care in cultivating and improving those many young and tender
alonging for it because of the excellency of its Work the Number and Abilities of its Work-men the time they have spent in the doing of it and for the great helps the Lords States-General have afforded them to effect it And the Old Testament which is now working off at Zurick in the purest Switzer Language must needs be of a raised worth by that taste we had of the New which is already Printed The new Spanish Translation of Cyprian de Vallera hath produced incredible effects in Spain no less than three thousand Copies having penetrated by secret ways and conveyances into the very Bowels of that Kingdom Let others publish the Fruit of my Italian Version both in Italy and elsewhere If it were expedient and becoming me I could bring forth numerous examples of it and those also attested by persons of unstained Credit and Reputation Now although these Nations have their infirmities as we have ours and as many and perverse Enemies as we have our selves yet none of them combin'd together mutually to deprive themselves of these Divine Treasures but using a little patience the weak were edified and comforted and the Adversaries confounded in their Invectives Should any one reply That the greater part of those Translations were framed by the Authority of Superiors and by divers persons associated together for it which circumstances are all wanting to this my present Version I answer that neither the one nor the other are any thing as to the substance of the work which may and ought to be examined according to its merit and not according to the Titles and Appearance of Persons because God may be pleased to bestow as great a Blessing upon the sole labour of one person singly as upon that of many and very many excellent Interpreters and above all St. Hierom was never deputed by Authority to this Work nor had he the assistance of any Companions in it And the deep fixed Thoughts settled continued Meditations and studious Inquiries of one single person may not only equal but also frequently surpass the latitude of many other mens thoughts which are often-times ill-match'd and worse digested and to say no more it lay not in my power to get my self deputed nor to associate another with me unto this Work Yea methinks I might for this very reason deserve the more favour especially should my Labour be successful and take in the World sith that I have alone born the burden of it And as for those Authorised Deputations I account them more hurtful than profitable unless notwithstanding these Commissions the Church do enjoy her full Liberty to spend much time in a mature and accurate examen of every one of them before ever She be obliged to a publick Reception of any one Translation which should She too hastily embrace She would as suddenly fall from Her Credit And if the first moulding be good time will be always refining it that so it may be finally brought forth unto publick use and to undergo a general Trial. The third Reason is That forasmuch as all our Interpreters as Calvin and those of the year 1588. have protested in their Prefaces that they never designed by their performances to exclude and debarr any of their Successors from attempting such a Work as this but rather did invite exhort and summon them to contribute what should be in their power for the perfection of that which according to their Candor and Modesty they said they had left imperfect None will believe that they amused us with vain and illusive words or with Complements and feigned Civilities So then we yield them more honour by following their Counsel effectually than if through a stupid Reverence of their persons we should be afraid to enterprize any such matter after them My Fourth Reason is this That we be now necessitated to use this liberty because of the great changes which have fallen out in our Vulgar Languages by means whereof such Words Terms and Phrases as were seemly and sounded well in one Age yet in the next following hear ill are barbarous putid and intolerable and cannot be employed without publick offence and wounding of the Ears with prophaneness We have experienced enough of this in the moveableness of the French Tongue A Fifth Reason is this That every Interpreter who explains a strange Author by Annotations or Commentations hath this privilege to Translate the Letter of the Text according to the Sence he hath conceived and which he giveth it Otherwise he would be handled unjustly You would make him put a force and violence upon his own Judgment and cause him speak absurdly and to turn his Explications into perpetual contradictions and confutations of himself And on so Sacred a Subject as this the peril and scandal would be abominable My Sixth is this Forasmuch as in all Times and Languages there have been Translations of the Bible for publick use Authorised by the common Magistrate and ordained at that time and by the Custom of the People and of others for private use and service from out of which bounds they never departed to check-mate the publick Authorised Translations this self-same course may be taken with mine which may be confined to this lower Classis and Condition without any complaint of mine or of any one for me The example of the ancient Greek Church is very illustrious in this our particular case and exceeding pat unto it They esteemed the Translation of the Septuagint to be Divine and Prophetical and yet notwithstanding suffered several others to live no fewer than six or eight which had been Compiled and Collected into one Body by the Industrious Origen The present Romish Church hath Canonized the Vulgar Latin and yet notwithstanding tolerates those of Vatablus of Pagnine of Arias Montanus and of Isidorus Clarius to be used in the Explication of it And truly Sirs it would be a most absurd thing in us to overvalue one to the disparagement of another we should by such rigorous actings exercise that which we condemn in others to Lord it absolutely over their Minds and Consciences The Evangelical Churches in Germany without distinction of Lutheran or Calvinist do use in the Pulpits none other Translation but that of the great Luther and yet nevertheless do not forbear consulting with Piscator Cramerus and Osiander of whom they make honourable mention without any Scandal or Confusion and the publick Discipline may take sufficient care that all these be avoided And I have observed this because I would satisfie them who object That such a diversity of Version would engender a World of disorders in our Churches this Pastor choosing one and that another Whenas nothing like this hath happened in those aforenamed Churches nor was any like it observed when the new French Translation of 1588 was brought into the publick Congregations My Seventh Reason is That all prudentials must give place to the obligations of Conscience which are the removing of Stumbling-blocks from the blind and
alone in this Ministry The Lord raised up and Commissionated many other Worthies to labour in his Vineyard and to gather in his great Harvest of precious Souls for the Fields were already white and longing for the Harvest 'T is true they had a most unkind usage and cruel Entertainment from the Popish Priests and Prelates and from the greater part of the Antichristian World For these wise Men among the People that had skill and understanding in the Visions of God and instructed many yet did according to the Scripture-Prophecy fall by the Sword and by Flame by Captivity and by spoil many days among whom the most renowned were Joseph a Disciple of Waldo who Preached in Dolphiny Henry and Eperon who Preached in Languedoc Arnold Hor who Preached in Albigois and Lollard by whose name the Professors of the Gospel were so called here in England these as they lived zealous Preachers so they died most faithful Martyrs sealing the Truth of Christ with their Hearts Blood as did also many thousands of their Followers Sect. 4. For to exterminate these Hereticks as they were then stiled Pope Innocent the Third published his Croisados granting plenary remission of sins to all Persons that would go to this holy War and destroy them Great Kings potent Princes and noble Lords are all invited commanded and animated to persecute them and in case of neglect on their part they themselves are reputed Favourers and Upholders of them and are exposed to the Thunderbolts of Papal Excommunications and to be deprived of their Crowns Kingdoms Dominions and Lives Thus were the King of Arragon the Counts of Tolouse Beziers and Carcassone served who were all cut off by those prodigious Armies mustered up against them They and many Myriads of their Subjects together with them are most horribly butcher'd and destroyed by the Croisado-Pilgrims Sect. 5. But notwithstanding all the Croisado's Slaughters Massacres and most barbarous Persecutions of the poor Albingenses and Waldenses there was not a total extinction of the Truth it was suppressed but not destroyed as Fire buried under much Ashes it doth at length break out with the more vehement flame Its Professors were dead but the Truth lived it lay concealed in the hearts of the Children of these Martyrs who groaned for a Reformation There was a very great propensity in all the Nations of Europe but especially of France unto it The Papal Power had been crampt by the Pragmatical Sanction in that Kingdom The August Parliament of Paris sixed bounds unto it The learned Sorbonists had several of their Divines who disputed against and decried it Lewes the Twelfth threatned to destroy Babylon When Learning was revived by Francis the First in that Kingdom the Reformation had there its Resurrection Pious and good Men passionately desired and Preached up the necessity of it William Brissonnet Bishop of Meaux promoted it in his Diocess James Fabey born at Estaples in Picardy a Man of great Learning and of an Angelical Life laboured hard in it And in the dawn of the Reformation the Doctrine of the Gospel was embraced by several Persons of great Quality Margaret of Valois Queen of Navarre and Sister to the French King was accused for it by the blood-thirsty Prelates unto her Royal Brother She was indeed a Sanctuary unto God's Fugitives a Covert to them from the storm an hiding place from the Tempest In her House Faber now an hundred years old after a most Heavenly Discourse with the Queen at Supper fell asleep in the Lord. Luther a Divine Herald publisheth the Gospel in Germany Zuinglius one year before him and without any knowledge of him or correspondence with him had thundered against Indulgences and began the Reformation in Switzerland A little while after Mr. Calvin is called forth by God to be a glorious Instrument of it in France * * * See the Author of Status Reipubl Relig sab Henr. 2. p 10. 11. sub Carolâ— 9. p. 94. And the Lord owneth him and his Fellow-Servants notwithstanding all the storms of Popish rage and fury against them in this great work Insomuch that the whole Kingdom is inlightned and ravished with it and many of the most eminent Counsellors in that Illustrious Senate the Parliament of Paris do profess the Gospel openly and in the very presence of their King Henry the Second though to the loss of Honour Estate and Life It was now got into the Court and among Persons of the highest Quality Many Nobles some Princes of the Blood dare espouse its Cause The Blood of the Martyrs proving the Seed of the Church and as Israel of old so now the more the Professors of the Gospel are oppressed and persecuted the more are they increased and multiplied Sect. 6. The Reformed form themselves into regular Church-Assemblies separating themselves as the Primitive Christians did from the unbelieving Jews and their Synagogues so from the unbelieving Papists and their idolatrous Worship It was the great care of the first Reformers to preach up sound Doctrine to institute and celebrate pure Evangelical Worship and to restore the ancient Primitive Discipline They set up purity of Worship according to the Scripture Rule The Holy Bible was translated by Olivetan Uncle unto Mr. Calvin and a Minister in the Valleys of Piedmont from the Original Hebrew and Greek into the French Language He had not any assistance nor incouragement unto this work from any great Prince or State and yet finished it in one Year The Lord blessed him in his undertaking wonderfully that he should begin and finish it in so short a time This Star scatters bright Beams of Heavenly Light and Truth into the dark Corners of the Land to the inlivening and comforting of many thousands of Souls Now the Fountain of Life is opened and the Waters thereof flow down in plenteous streams from the Throne of God and the Lamb to the cleansing quickning and refreshing of the City of God This Holy Bible is read in their solemn Meetings in the great Congregations This divinely inspired Scripture is perused and studied by Nobles and Peasants by the Learned and Ideots by Merchants and Tradesmen by Women and Children in their Houses and Families by this they be made wiser than their Popish Priests than their most subtle Adversaries By this they stop the mouths of Gainsayers and put them to silence and confusion Clement Marot a Courtier and a great Wit was advised by Mr. Vatablus Regius Professor of the Hebrew Tongue in the University of Paris to consecrate his Muse unto God which Counsel he embraceth and translateth fifty of David's Psalms into French Meeter Mr. Beza did the other hundred and all the Scripture-Songs Lewis Guadimel another Asaph or Jeduthun a most Skillful Master of Musick set those sweet and melodious Tunes unto which they are sung even unto this day This holy Ordinance charmed the Ears Hearts and Affections of Court and City Town and Country They were sung in the Louvre as
together with our Church Discipline shall be subscribed by them CAN. IV. That our Churches may be always furnished with a sufficient number of Pastors and of other Persons fit to govern them and to preach the Word of God unto them they shall be advised to chuse those Scholars who be already well advanced in good Learning and be of the most promising hopeful Parts and to maintain such in the Universities that they may be there prepared and fitted for the Work of the Ministry ever preferring the Children of poor Ministers if ingenious before all others of which the Colloquies shall take a most especial care Kings Princes and Lords shall be exhorted and petitioned particularly to mind this important Affair and to lay by some part and portion of their Revenues towards their maintenance and the richer Churches shall do the like Colloquies and Provincial Synods shall as they see meet notifie and sollicit this Affair and take the best courses that matters of so great necessity may be successful and if single Churches cannot do it their Neighbours shall joyn with them that one poor Scholar at the least may be maintained in every Colloquy and rather than this design should miscarry the fifth Penny of all our Charities shall be set apart if it may conveniently be done to be imployed in this service CAN. V. A Proposition out of the Word of God shall be made by the Scholars of every Church as time and place may conveniently bear it at which Exercises Pastors shall be present to preside and order the said Proposans N. B. There were general Statutes made for the Vniversities of the Reformed Churches of France in the National Synod of Alez By whom they were drawn up is now out of my mind but those for the Vniversity of Montauban were composed by Monsieur Beraud the Father who was the first Divinity-Professor in it Those for the Vniversity of Die in Dolphiny were composed by the great Chamier which I have lying by me written with his own hand and which I shall publish if the Lord lend me life in his Icon. CHAP. III. Of Elders and Deacons CANON I. IN those places where the Order of our Discipline is not yet set up Elders and Deacons shall be chosen by the joynt Suffrages of Pastors and People but where it hath been already established the power of chusing them and that with pertinent Prayers unto the occasion shall reside in the Consistory together with the Pastors and they shall be nominated with an audible Voice in the said Consistory that they may know in what businesses they are to be employed If they consent they shall on two Lord's days following be declared to the People that so their consent also may be obtained and if on the third Sabbath there be no opposition made they shall be then publickly received with solemn Prayers standing upright before the Pulpit and be thus ordained unto their Offices they subscribing our Confession of Faith and Church-Discipline but if there fall out any opposition it shall be determined in the Consistory and in case it cannot be there composed Chap III. Of Elders and Deacons it shall be wholly remitted to the Colloquy or Provincial Synod CAN. II. Henceforward if it may be possibly avoided none shall be chosen Elders or Deacons of the Church whose Wives are not of the true Religion according to the Apostles Canon Yet notwithstanding that the Church may not be deprived of the Labours of several worthy persons who in the days of their ignorance espoused Women of a contrary Religion they shall be tolerated because of the present necessity provided that they do produce good evidence of their serious endeavours for instructing of their Wives in that Faith and true Worship of God practised in our Churches CAN. III. The Elder 's Office is together with the Pastors to oversee the Church to gather and keep up the solemn Assemblies and to take care that the Members in communion do personally appear at those holy Congregations to make report of Scandals and Offences in Consistory and with the Pastors to take cognizance and pass censures on them In general it is to have the same care with them in all concerns about the Order Maintenance and Government of the Church Moreover in every Church there shall be reserved in Writing a Breviate of the particulars belonging unto their Office according as the circumstances of time and place may call for it CAN. IV. The Deacon's Office is to collect and distribute by the advice of the Consistory Moneys unto the Poor Sick and Prisoners and to visit and take care of them CAN. V. It doth not belong unto the Deacon's Office to Preach the Word of God nor to Administer the Sacraments yet because of our present distress the Consistory may chuse certain Elders and Deacons to catechize the respective Families of the Church as also in the Pastor's absence Elders are permitted on Week-days if chosen thereunto by the Consistory to Pray publickly with the Church and therein they shall use the ordinary form and in reading of the Scriptures none other but the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament shall be read And whereas in divers Provinces it hath been a custom for Deacons to catechize in publick the Inconveniences which have already and may hereafter happen from it being well considered the Churches are exhorted where this custom is not introduc'd not at all to admit it and those in which it hath took place to forsake it and to endeavour that the said Deacons if of competent abilities do enter as soon as may be into the Ministry CAN. VI. Elders and Deacons may be present at Propositions of the Word of God which are made by Ministers besides their ordinary Sermons or by Scholars that are Proposans and at those Censures which shall be past upon them and shall give their judgment of these Exercises but the decisive judgment in point of Doctrine is principally reserved unto Pastors Ministers and Doctors of Divinity who be duly called into that Office CAN. VII The Office of Elders and Deacons as it is now in use among us is not perpetual yet because changes are not incommodious they shall be exhorted to continue in their Offices as long as they can and they shall not lay them down without having first obtained leave from their Churches CAN. VIII Neither Elders nor Deacons shall claim any primacy or jurisdiction over one another whether in nomination unto the People or in precedency Chap IV. Of The Office of a Deacon or in order of voting or in any matters depending upon their Offices CAN. IX Elders and Deacons shall be deposed for those very crimes and causes for which the Ministers of God's Word are and if being condemned by the Consistory they should make an Appeal they shall yet notwithstanding continue suspended from their Offices until such times as the Colloquy or Provincial Synod shall have decided their affair CAN. X. Elders
were Arbitrators But and if any Members of the said Consistories shall be chosen Arbitrators it shall be as they are private Persons and only in their own names CAN. XV. Besides those Admonitions given by the Consistories if there be a necessity of inflicting greater punishment or censures upon Offendors it shall be either Suspension or Privation for a time from the Lords Table or else Excommunication or cutting off from the Church And Consistories shall be advised to manage both the one and other with singular Prudence and to distinguish well betwixt them as also to weigh and examine very prudently those faults and scandals with their circumstances that are brought before them that so Censures and Judgment may be given according as is meet and requisite CAN. XVI Suspension from the Lords Table shall be used for the greater humbling of Offenders and for quickning them to a most lively sense of their offences This Suspension shall not be published unto the People nor its Cause nor also the re-admission of the Delinquent unless they had been Hereticks Despisers of God Rebels against the Consistory or Traytors to the Church These also shall be suspended who have been attainted of Crimes deserving Corporal punishment and causing grievous scandal to the Church Item those who contrary to the Remonstrances made them were married by a Popish Priest and Fathers and Mothers that so marry their Children and Tutors Guardians and others in the stead of Parents that do in the same manner marry their Orphan-Pupils and those also who shall carry them to a Popish Priest by him to be baptized or represent another at such a Baptism It being needful that such persons although they begin visibly to repent should be immediately suspended and for a time deprived of the Lord's Supper and that their suspension be declared unto the people that so they may be more deeply humbled and induced unto Repentance as also that the Church may be discharged of all shame and blame and to terrify others and learn them by this example not to be guilty of such sinful miscarriages CAN. XVII If by such suspensions Sinners be not reformed but abide obstinate and impenitent after long forbearance and frequent admonitions and earnest sollicitations of them to it they shall then be proceeded against with publick Admonitions made before the Congregation by the Pastor on three Lord's days following and for their greater shame if it be thought needful they shall be mentioned by name and the whole Church shall be desired to intreat God for them and to endeavour by all means to bring them unto Repentance and an acknowledgment of their sins to prevent their being cut off by Excommunication unto which we cannot proceed without a World of regret and grief And if after all this there be no Conversion on the Sinners part but that they persist in their hardness and obstinacy on the fourth Sabbath the Pastor shall publickly declare to the whole Congregation that the said scandalous and obdurate Sinners nameing them particularly are no longer owned by us for Church-Members but in the name and by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ and of his Church are cut off from it And this shall be the Form of Excommunication See the Acts of the second National Synod of Paris in the year 1565. Canon the Second The Form of Excommunication to be used in the Reformed Churches of France decreed by the Synod of Alez 1620. and incorporated with the Canons of Church Discipline by the National Synod of Charenton Observation the 11. upon the Synod of Alez Dear Brethren THis is the fourth time that we declare unto you that N. N. for sundry Sins and Scandals committed in the Church of God and for his Impenitency and contempt of all Admonitions which have been given from the word of God was suspended the holy Supper of the Lord which Suspension and its Causes have been notified to you that you might join your Prayers with ours that the Great God would be intreated to mollify his hard heart and touch him with sincere Repentance and draw him out of the way of Perdition But although we have so long born with him prayed exhorted and adjured him to return unto God and have essayed all means to bring him unto Repentance yet nevertheless he persisteth in his impenitency and with a most hardned obstinacy rebelleth against God and trampleth under foot his Word and the Discipline established in his House and boasting of his Sin hath caused a great deal of trouble for a long time unto his Church and the most holy name of our God to be blasphemed Wherefore we Ministers of the Word and Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ whom God hath armed with spiritual Weapons mighty through God to throw down the strong holds which do oppose themselves against him to whom the Eternal Son of God hath given power of binding and loosing upon Earth declaring that what we shall bind in Earth shall be bound in Heaven and being willing throughly to purge the House of God and to free his Church of Scandal and by pronouncing Anathema against the wicked one to glorify the name of our God In the Name and by the Authority of our Lord Jesus by the advice and authority of the Pastors and Elders assembled in Colloquy and of the Consistory of this Church we have cut off and do cut off the said N. N. from the Communion of the Church of God We do Excommunicate and deprive him of the Fellowship of Saints that so he may be unto you as a Pagan or Publican and that among true Believers he may be an Anathema and Execration Let his Company be reputed Contagious and let his Example possess your Souls with astonishment and cause you to tremble under the mighty hand of God! And this Sentence the Son of God will ratify and make effectual until such time as the Sinner being confounded and abased before God shall glorify him by his Conversion and being delivered from the Bonds of Satan to whom he is inslaved he may mourn for his Sin with Repentance unto Life Let 's pray God most dearly Beloved Brethren that he would daign to compassionate this most miserable Sinner and that this dreadful Sentence which with very great regret and sorrow of heart we have pronounced against him by the authority of the Son of God may contribute unto his humiliation and bring back into the way of Life and Salvation a Soul which is wandered and strayed from it Amen! Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord negligently Amen! If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha Amen CAN. XVIII Henceforward all Sentences of Excommunication confirmed by the Provincial Synod shall be of full power and valid as also all Sentences of Suspension from the Lord's Supper made by the Consistory which were not declared unto the People shall hold good although the Person suspended had entered his Appeal unto the Colloquy
or others that may sing Masses for the Dead is he to be deposed from his Office We answer Let him be first heard in the Consistory speak for himself before they proceed unto his Deposal XXVII It was demanded Whether the Word of God might be preached publickly without Authority from the Civil Magistrate Answer was given That there should be special care had of the Time and Publick Peace and above all that there be no Tumults nor Sedition XXVIII The Churches of Paris Orleance and Rouan are deputed by this present Synod to Protest against the Popish Council now held at Trent and of the Nullity of all its Decisions and Decrees and their Protestation shall be done either by Printed Books or Oral Remonstrances unto the King's Majesty or by any other way as they shall judge needful XXIX It is now Decreed That the Deputies of the Provinces when they go to Court shall take with them our Confession of Faith and consult among themselves how to present it unto His Majesty together with the Petitions of our Churches and to this purpose they shall make Application unto those Lords who they know to be Favourers of our Cause and Religion XXX Whereas divers Persons do solicite this National Synod to supply the Congregations who have sent them hither with Pastors they are all answered That at present we are utterly unable to gratifie them and that therefore they be advised to set up Propositions of the Word of God and to take special care of Educating hopeful young Men in Learning in the Arts Languages and Divinity who may hereafter be imployed in the Sacred Ministry and they are most humbly to Petition the Lord of the Harvest to send Labourers who may get it in XXXI May he be admitted to communicate in the Bread only at the Lord's Table who hath an Antipathy against Wine Yes he may provided that he do his utmost to drink of the Cup but in case he cannot he shall make a Protestation of his Antipathy The End of the Synod of Poictiers THE ACTS DECISIONS and DECREES OF THE III. National Synod OF THE Reformed Churches of Christ IN The KINGDOM of FRANCE HELD At ORLEANCE in the Year of our LORD 1562. The Contents of this Synod Chap. I. A Moderator and two Scribes chosen Chap. II. General Matters The Synod to be called the General or National Church-Council of the Kingdom Chap. III. Discipline exercised upon Delinquents Chap. IV. Various Matters Cases of Conscience c. THE Synod of Orleance 1562. Synod III. SYNOD III. Articles of the National Synod held at Orleance the Twenty fifth Day of April in the Year One thousand five hundred sixty and two after Easter in the Second Year of K. Charles IX CHAP. I. Monsieur De Chandieu was a very learned French Divine His Works are 1. The Marks of the True Church 2. De L'Vnique Sacrifice 3. Contra les Traditions c. in Follo He was Lord of Chandieu and Baron of Chabot chosen by the Church of Paris to be their Pastor at Twenty Years of Age and Moderator of this National Synod at Twenty three A Gentleman of eminent Piety and Gravity He was desired by the King of Navary to be his Pastor and upon his Death removed to Geneva where he was called to the Pastoral Office in that City and discharged it with very great fidelity He never took any Wages for his Work in the Ministry He wrote himself Sadeel which is the Hebrew of Chandieu The Field of GOD. He died of an Hectick Fever in the 57th Year of his Age saith Mr. Du Thou but he was mistaken for it was in the 63d Anno 1591. Melchior Adams hath writ his Life among his Theolog. Exteri ANthony de Chandieu Minister in the Church of Paris chosen President Robert le Macon Lord La Fountaine Minister in the Church of Orleance and Peter Sevin Deacon of the Church of Paris chosen Scribes by General Consent of the Deputies CHAP. II. General MATTERS This Synod bears the Name and has the Authority of a General Council by the Advice of the Assembly I. THE Ministers and Elders Convocated in this Assembly of Orleance for the General Council of France following the Determination of the last Synod held at Poictiers are of Opinion That the present Assembly should have and bear the Name and Authority of the Council General of the Deputies of this Kingdom notwithstanding that several Deputies are absent who shall be sufficiently informed of Matters debated and resolved in this Council together with the Reasons for which notwithstanding their absence we were constrained to proceed without them all which shall be more largely declared in the next General Council where also shall be heard the Reasons of those absent Deputies for their Non-attendance and their Arguments if need be against the Decisions of the present Council Ministers of Princes and great Lords shall sign the Confession of Faith II. The Princes and other great Lords following the Court in case they would have Churches instituted in their Houses shall be desired to take such for their Pastors as are Ministers in Churches truly Reformed bringing with them sufficient Testimonials of their Lawful Call unto the Ministry who shall before their Admission subscribe the Confession of Faith of the Churches in this Kingdom and our Church-Discipline And that the Preaching of the Gospel may be more successful the said Protestant Lords shall be requested every one of them to erect a Consistory There shall be a Consistory in their Houses composed of the Ministers and other Persons most eminent for Piety in their said Family by which Consistory all Scandals and Vices shall be supprest and the Rules of Discipline observed Moreover those Ministers shall be present at Provincial Synods if it may possibly consist with their occasions And that this may be effected the Council hath ordained That the Province in which the Synod shall be assembled shall be obliged to call them to it And those Ministers especially or a part of them shall be there present being deputed by the rest unto the General Synods together with their Elders who may inform the said General or Provincial Synods of their Lives and Conversation And in case the said Lords and Princes have divers Houses they shall be advertis'd None to have preheminence over another that none of their Ministers may pretend domination or preheminence over another according to that Article of our Church-Discipline in this case expresly provided And when as the said Lords and Princes shall reside in those Houses of theirs where there is a Church already formed we desire for the preventing of all Divisions that the Church in their Family would joyn itself unto the Church of that place and for that time to make but one Assembly III. Whenas the Lord's Supper shall be celebrated in the close of every Synod according to the Fourth Article of our Church-Discipline in the Acts of the First National
Brethren having been heard on this Affair reporting his continual Rebellions against the Consistory of the said Church for near six Months together The Council doth injoyn the Consistory to call the said Joequin before them and to give him a very severe Reproof for the sorementioned Crimes and in case of his Contempt and continued Rebellion to depose him from his Office of Deacon without delay as also to cut him off from the Communion of the Church and to denounce him publickly Excommunicate until such time as he shall have given publick satisfactory Evidences of his Repentance The End of the Synod of Orleance Thus Subscribed in the Original Chandieu Lord of La Roche President of the Council Le Masson Lord of La Fountaine Scribe of the Council THE ACTS DECISIONS and DECREES OF THE IV. National Synod OF THE Reformed Churches of Christ IN The KINGDOM of FRANCE HELD At LIONS in the Year of our LORD 1563. THE CONTENTS of this SYNOD CHap. I. Moderator chosen Chap. II. Of Synods in Five Canons Chap. III. Of Consistories in Five Canons Chap. IV. Of Censures Two Canons Chap. V. Of Ministers Three Canons Chap. VI. Of Baptism Three Canons Chap. VII Of Marriage Four Canons Chap. VIII Of Interest for Money Chap. IX Of Hereticks and Schismaticks and Vagrants Chap. X. Of the Lord's Supper Chap. XI General Matters Chap. XII A Case of Conscience about the Marriage of Cousin-Germans Chap. XIII A Book Censured See also Cap. 9. Chap. XIV Particular Matters A Delinquent Minister Censured Chap. XV. Advice to the States of Languedoc Chap. XVI Very many curious Cases of Conscience resolved Chap. XVII Memorials for the Service of the Churches Chap. XVIII Distinction of the Provinces Nine at first Chap. XIX Books Censured Chap. XX. Vagrants and Deposed Ministers Registred Chap. XXI Cases of Conscience 1. About Marriage 2. Consistories 3. Baptism 4. And the Lord Supper Resolved by Mr. Calvin and sent unto the National Synod of Lyons at their desire THE Synod of Lions 1563. Synod IV. SYNOD IV. Articles concluded on in the National Synod held at Lions the tenth of August 1563 in the third Year of the Reign of King Charles the Ninth CHAP. I. Mr. Virett was a most Eloquent Preacher and Calvin's Colleague at Geneva See the Catalogue of his Works in Du Verdier's Bibliotheque M R. Peter Virett Minister in the Church of Lions was chosen Modederator and Scribe CHAP. II. Observations Additions and Annotations upon the Church-Discipline Of SYNODS ARTICLE I. AT the Opening of all National and Provincial Synods the Canons of our Church-Discipline shall be read and for the future Provincial Synods shall send unto the National those Articles and Canons composed by them for the Government of their respective Provinces and all the Churches in their District ARTICLE II. The Canons of the three former National Synods held at Paris Poictiers and Orleance shall be reduced into a Body and this Order shall constantly be observed at the end of every National Synod ARTICLE III. Every Sentence of Excommunication confirmed by the Provincial Synod shall be for the future stable and valid IV. None other Articles of Discipline shall be divulged but those which were composed by common Consent of all the Deputies ARTICLE V. The Deputies of the Provinces shall not depart from the National Synod without carrying home with them the Resolutions and Decrees of the Synod signed and attested by the Moderator and Scribe CHAP. III. Of CONSISTORIES ARTICLE VI. ALtho' it may be convenient in weighty and important Business of the Church to call into gether with the Consistory some of the most discreet and judicious Members of the Church though they be not in actual Office in the Consistory yet nevertheless there ought not to be any other ordinary Assembly or Form of Council for Church-Matters excepting the Body of the Consistory which hath been chosen and settled by the Church to these very ends and purposes who be Persons in publick Offices which the others are not ARTICLE VII A Civil Magistrate may be a Member of the Consistory provided it do not hinder him in the Exercise of his publick Office nor be prejudicial to the Church VIII Professors of Divinity may be admitted Members of Consistories and deputed unto Synods ARTICLE IX Consistories are left at liberty to receive as Members into them both Father and Son and two Brothers at the same time unless there be something which may hinder it of which the Provincial Synod shall take Cognisance ARTICLE X. Although the Body of the Consistory may advise and admonish disagreeing Persons to terminate their Controversies and Suits at Law yet that very Consistory shall never consent to be the Judge or Arbitrator of those Controversies betwixt Persons at Variance about worldly Goods and Estates but in case any Members of the Church not of the Consistory shall be employed as Arbitrators in those Differences then the Members of the Consistory may assist them with their particular Advice but always in their private Capacities CHAP. IV. Concerning CENSVRES ARTICLE XI IF any Officer of our Reformed Churches shall have committed Idolatry in times of Persecution they shall be deposed from their Office and before they be admitted to communicate at the Lord's Table they shall do publick Penance And as for private Persons who have offended in the same manner they also shall undergo such a Penance as the Consistory shall judge meet The whole to be managed with Christian Moderation according to the Discipline ARTICLE XII Ministers who scandalize the World by marrying basely and unworthily the Brethren in this Synod are all of one Mind and Advice That Consistories shall proceed against these Delinquents in such a manner as may prevent all Scandals for the future CHAP. V. Of MINISTERS ARTICLE XIV MInisters though settled in one Church may be lent unto other Churches for some time for their Instruction and Comfort And whenas our Proposans are called unto the Ministry they shall be settled in some one particular Church there constantly to remain yet Synods shall have Power to remove Ministers from one Place to another for some certain Reasons and Considerations provided their Churches do consent unto it according to the Discipline ARTICLE XV. Here must be inserted the Fifth Canon of the National Synod of Orleance viz. Ministers shall not quit their Churches nor joyn themselves unto any other without the Authority of the Provincial Synod or consent of the Neighbour-Ministers or that Church unto which they were sent XVI Whenas a Minister is to be chosen not only the Consistories of that Church but the Neighbour-Ministers also shall with the Colloquy pursue that Election CHAP. VI. Of BAPTISM ARTICLE XVII MInisters shall admonish their Flocks to compose themselves withall possible Reverence at the Administration of both the Sacraments ARTICLE XVIII Women alone shall not be admitted to present Children unto Baptism ARTICLE XIX If a Person come to Years of Discretion was never baptized and shall
the sprinkling of Water into a Charm or Inchantment Article VIII The Principle in his sixth Reason is ill applied for although the Vertue and Verity of Baptism be not always conjoyned with the Sign yet we may not therefore say that Baptism may be quitted and totally forborn We do sincerely confess that a Man may be Partaker of the Grace promised in Baptism who did never partake of the Water of Baptism but must we thence infer that Baptism may be lawfully omitted God forbid What he adds about the evil Administration of Baptism especially as to the Gospel Form and Manner of it containeth a double Errour for we never did confess that the bare sprinkling of Water by one without a Call or Office in the Church of God was Baptism or that it had its Evangelical Form there where there was no Evangelical Minister Article IX He hath couched his seventh Argument somewhat rudely and discovers a bitter Spirit But let him make the most of it we absolutely deny that the recalling of Men to the observation of the Primitive Rule of Baptism is Rebaptising We repute as null and void this spurious Baptism by private and uncommissionated Persons And altho' we do not tie up the Grace of God to the hand of a poor Man yet notwithstanding that Baptism administred by Man must be annexed unto his Quality or else the Authority of Jesus Christ must be trampled under foot Article X. He corrupts by his eight Argument that Text of St. John marreth and perverts the sence thereof for the Question is not about the External Sign but the Internal Vertue the true spiritual Washing Article XI The Similitude urged by him in his ninth Reason is null for the Lord Jesus hath not rejected this Sacrament nor wholly abandoned it to be dispensed by all sort of Persons whatsoever but he hath deposited a Commision with his Ministers who are to to dispense it Article XII The Comparison of Circumcision with Baptism in his tenth Reason might be admitted provided that Circumcision had been only administred by Priests but whenas a private Person poureth Water we deny that this is that formal Baptism which was by our Lord Jesus Moreover let this be noted by the way that when the Israelites and Edomites cut themselves off from the Church though they retained Circumcision yet they did but prophane it and 't was none other than a piece of Juggling for God accounted those Nations as Uncircumcised Article XIII His eleventh Reason is far wide of the Mark For tho' we confess that we be but once regenerated but once spiritually new-born yet we must needs say that this imaginary Baptism doth not in the least signifie or seal our new Birth Article XIV As to his twelfth Reason we very well know that was the Opinion of St Augustine upon this Point but he is not to be assented and consented in all his Assertions We ourselves do own that he who was ill baptized ought not to be again rebaptized and we add this also That if a private Person who hath no Call from God shall of his own will and fancy usurp that Office which doth not belong unto him his Baptism is but a meer Piece of Farcery and therefore null And this Answer may also suffice for his thirteenth Argument Article XV. In his fourteenth Argument he hath made Mr. Calvin in the Passage quoted from him to speak contrary to his known and printed Judgment and perverted the very sence of his Words for he does not in that place treat of the Ministry but of the Vertues and Merits of the Ministry for 't is as if he had said That all the Vices of the most debauched Minister could not derogate at all from the Vertue of Baptism Article XVI We deny his fifteenth Argument which is That the Hand and Sign of our Lord Jesus Christ will be owned in the sprinkling of Water by a Person uncalled and uncommissioned by him Article XVII What Calvin had said as to his sixteenth Argument was enough to prove the Nullity of such a Baptism But if any one should be dissatisfied he declareth that this was his meaning and that it was an absurd simple and foolish action to go and perswade any one that he would not have Baptism by Women to be reiterated Article XVIII His sevententh Argument is a meer Paralogism for he wants the Judgment to distinguish betwixt the â—orgiveness of Sins given by Jesus Christ and the Token thereof which he committed unto his Apostles Article XIX To his eighteenth Argument we say That Popish Baptism is grounded upon the Institution of Chrâ—st because the Priests as perverse as they are and totally corrupt are yet the ordinary Ministers of that Church in which they so tyrannically demean themselves Article XX. His nineteeth Argument needs no answer unless it be That the word Rebaptize is â—â—isappâ—â—ed â—â—th iâ— was never questioned but that such an Apish Trick as this Mock-baptism might be reformed Article XXI His twentieth Argument proveth just nothing and therefore we let it pass And if it be said that we have handled this Brother too roughly who moved this Question let him but bethink himself how Magisterial he was in his Dictates as if it was his Province only to oppose Superstitions and Abuses and especially for his audacious condeming of St. Cyprian with the whole Council of Carthage And had he but better considered the whole he would have been more moderate And because we love and honour him we wish that he would exercise his Parts and Wits upon Questions more profitable and less curious Concerning the LORD's SVPPER THe Brethren of Geneva being demanded Whether Pastors at the Lord's Table should only distribute the Bread and Wine unto the People do give this Answer That it were certainly best if it might be conveniently done at all times but it seems for the present impossible and for the future wholly impracticable For in case God should multiply the number of his People of Believers and Churches and there being so great a scarcity of Pastors we see no Inconveniency in it that Deacons and Elders being the Arms and Hands of the Pastor after that he hath consecrated the Sacramental Elements and distributed the Bread and Cup to them that are nearest to him may come into his relief and assistance and distribute them also unto those who are more remote from him An End of these Answers and of this National Synod of Lions Signed in the Original P. VIRETT President of the Council THE ACTS DECISIONS and DECREES OF THE V. National Synod OF THE Reformed Churches of Christ IN The KINGDOM of FRANCE HELD The second time in the City of Paris and Year of our Lord 1565. THE CONTENTS of this SYNOD CHap. I. Election of Moderator and Scribes Chap. II. General Matters Morellius his Works Examined Chap. III. Manner of Proceeding in Ecclesiastical Censures Chap. IV. A Case of Conscience Whether beneficed Persons may be admitted to the Lord's Table
Churches But in case of lesser miscarriages after publick Satisfaction given by them unto the Congregation they may be restored by the Provincial Synod but to serve in another Province and not otherwise There were present at this Synod of Rochel Joane by the Grace of God Queen of Navar the high and mighty Prince Henry Prince of Navar the high and mighty Prince Henry de Bourbon Prince of Conde and the most illustrious Prince Lewis Count of Nassau and Sir Gaspar Count de Colligny Admiral of France and divers other Lords and Gentlemen besides the Deputies who were Members of the Church of God At Rochel in the Month of April 1571. in the 12th Year of the Reign of Charles the 9th King of France Subscribed thus Theodore de Beza Moderator of the Synod Nicholas de Galars and Scribes Elected John de la Rogeraye Scribes Elected The End of the Synod of Rochel Mr. Beza's Life is written by Melchior Adamus where you have a Catalogue of his Works THE ACTS DECISIONS and DECREES OF THE VIII National Synod OF THE Reformed Churches of Christ IN The KINGDOM of FRANCE HELD IN The City of Nismes in Languedock the Sixth Day of May and in the Year of our Lord 1572. THE CONTENTS of this SYNOD CHap. I. Monsieur de la Place Moderator and Scribe Chap. II. Observations upon the Discipline Confession of Faith and last Synod of Rochel Chap. III. A Case about Apostates turn'd Persecutors More Observations upon the Disciplines and Canons made Chap. IV. Method of dealing with Contentious Persons quarrelling with Doctrine Discipline Worship Catechising and Marriage Chap. V. Manner of Electing Ministers Chap. VI. General Matters Various Cases of Conscience about Elders Colloquies Rights to a Minister Marriages restoring of Apostates Magistrates c. to the Churches Peace Of Marriage-Promises a great Case Art 8. Incest Creating of Doctors of Divinity Banes opposed by those of the Romish Religion A Father's Composition with the Murderers of his Son Whether Dignities and Knight-hoods may be counted among Beneficed Persons and such admitted to the Lord's Supper Chap. VII Particular Matters about the Province of Normandy Cozain's Books Ramus du Rozier Bergeron and Morellius History of the Albigenses to be translated by Monsieur D'Alier Chap. VIII Catalogue of Vagrants THE Synod of NISMES 1572. Synod VIII SYNOD VIII CHAP. I. Canons Ordained in the National Synod held at Nismes the Sixth of May One thousand five hundred seventy two in the Twelfth Year of the Reign of Charles IX John de la Place President and Scribe AFter Invocation of the Name of GOD John de la Place was elected President and Scribe CHAP. II. Observations upon the Discipline the Confession of Faith and the last National Synod of Rochel I. IT 's unanimously resolved That the Seventh Article of the Discipline shall abide in its full Power II. Instead of those words extracted from the Acts of the National Synod of Rochel in the Year 1571. We reject their Opinion who will not receive the word Substance See Synod of Rochel Gen. Mat. art 6. shall be put Without prejudicing those Forreign Churches who for reasons best known to themselves do not use the word Substance we retain the word Substance in that sence expressed in the Article And then towards the close in lieu of those words That we may derive Life from him shall be inserted That by Mystical and Spiritual Communication with him we may derive that true eternal life And the Lord's Supper is principally ordained for the Communication of it althô the same Lord Jesus be offered to us both in his Substance and Gifts in the Ministry of his Word and Baptism and received by Believers 'T is the Fourteenth Article in the Chapter of Baptism and Book of Discipline III. It was resolved that the Ninth Article concerning Baptism shall abide in its full power And the Ministers of Province shall be admonished to carry themselves with more condescension and not to raise so many Difficulties about Names IV. It 's also resolved That the Fourth Article concerning the Lord's Supper shall remain unchanged CHAP. III. See the First Synod of Rochel Particular Matters Art 1. V. THE Churches of Poictou upon reading the Canon concerning Delinquents demanded What course should be taken with those who in times of Persecution having revolted had been censured by the Church but could never be regained yea and were become Enemies and Persecutors so that if they should be mentioned by Name in the Publick Congregation in order to Excommunication How we are to use Excommunication See the Second Synod of Paris Art 2. of Particular Matters they would certainly grow worse and would rage more bitterly against the Church and do her more and greater mischief as was manifest by woful experience The Synod upon Advice answered That Excommunication was ordained for them who are Members of the Church and not for those who are not and that its natural design and tendency is for her edification and not for her destruction that so the Flock of Christ may not be infested by scabbed Sheep and that the Person thus cut off being humbled and confounded for his sin may be finally recovered and received and that others terrified by his example may be preserved And that when Apostates are mentioned by Name in the Church 't is not properly an Excommunication of them for they have already abandoned her Communion but 't is to declare their Rebellion and Apostasie that so the whole Church may beware of them as of incorrigible Offenders yet nevertheless the best endeavours shall be used for their reduction and reformation and God shall be intreated whilst there is any hope to give them Repentance unto Life And if any such are found who instead of humbling and repenting do harden themselves in their sins and growing worse and more furious do plot and conspire the destruction of the Church or of its Pastors especially understanding that they are to be mentioned by their Names in the Publick Congregation it were far better to forbear all Naming of them it being but a meer formality and our End may as well be obtained by some other means which is by Notifying unto the People those desperate Apostates that every one may shun and avoid their Conversation And this may be done with ease and safety by the Elders and Deacons who shall inform their several Quarters of it that so none may pretend ignorance And whoso converse familiarly with these contumacious Rebels shall be censured according to the Canons of our Discipline Moreover this may be confirmed by the General Doctrine of the Ministers who without naming any Person may give sufficient Notice of them and those prudent Intimations may be advantagiously improved And Ministers and Consistories are warned in Proceedurs of this nature to use all moderation and prudence because that Church-Censures and Canons of Discipline are only used for edification and not for destruction remembring often that
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
as there is none that doth oppose Letters from the King and High-Constable of the Kingdom unto the Synod XVIII Letters written by the King unto this Assembly and sent by Monsieur de Serres the 14th of May last were read wherein His Majesty giveth us assurance of his good Affection to us and to maintain his Edict of the Year 1577 and that we should give credence unto the said Monsieur de Serres as also Letters from the Lord High-Constable unto this Assembly dated the 18th of May last assuring us of the like kindnesses and demanding the like Credence from us to what should be declared by the said de Serres It was decreed That Answers should be returned unto His Majesty with the profoundest Reverence and Thankfulness and His Majesty should be most humbly and earnestly intreated to grant us the Gracious Effects of his Royal Favour And in like manner shall there be Answer returned in Writing unto the Constable XIX Monsieur D' Orival shall write from this Assembly unto the Church of Geneva to acquaint them with the Frauds committed by their Book-sellers who vend in these parts a number of Psalm-Books and New Testaments of the old Translation only prefixing a new Title as if it were a new Impression and Translation as also to return our Thanks unto Monsieur de Beza for Printing and Dedicating his Sermons upon the Passion unto the Pastors and Elders of the Churches in this Kingdom XX. Monsieur D' Orival propounded Whether it were convenient that our Ministers should be dispatch'd as Deputies unto those Assemblies where Matters relating to the preservation of our Churches are debated It was resolved That because the present Juncture of Affairs did necessarily require it they might be sent unto them XXI The Deputies of Orleans craved Advice Whether it were needful that the Contracts of Marriage should be seen before the Banes are published because in their Province the Contracts are not published till the Eve of the Marriage This Assembly determines That it shall be sufficient to see the Articles subscribed by the Principals concern'd or attested by the Publick Notary XXII The Province of Gascogny demanded farther Whether such as made publick profession of our Religion before their admission into Church-Fellowship with us ought particularly in the face of the whole Congregation to abjure the Mass The Synod declared That it was a matter of indispensable necessity XXIII The same Province demanded farther Whether Consuls and Magistrates professing the Reformed Religion and living in those places where Colloquies and Provincial Synods are held ought to be admitted into them It was answered They have no Right to be there but in case they be Persons of eminent Piety and such as may be useful unto the Assembly Synods have full Power if they desire it to call them in unto them XXIV It was again demanded by the Deputy of the same Province Whether a Judge or Magistrate of the Reformed Religion might take a Papists Oath upon the Crucifix Relicks Altar Pixes and such-like Appurtenances of Idolatry they demanding it This Assembly adviseth That no Protestant Judges do give them their Oaths in such a manner but that he exhort those Persons to swear only by the true God but if they will not do it and are obstinately resolv'd to swear after their own way the Judge may admit them provided that they contain themselves within the bounds of His Majesties Laws XXV The Province of Xaintonge craving leave for Monsieur Hautyn of Rochel to print our French Bibles he engaging his Word to do it better for Paper and fairer for Character and at a cheaper Rate than those of Geneva which are now become very rare and dear This Synod doth permit the said Hautyn to print the Bible and adviseth him to have a singular care that it be done most accurately and correctly XXVI The Deputies of the Isle of France demanded What course should be taken with those Persons who having contracted Marriage within the Degrees forbidden by the Word of God without any Dispensation and being married according to the Romish Mass-Book did notwithstanding earnestly desire to be admitted by doing Publick Penance into Communion with our Churches It was resolved That such should not be received to the Peace and Fellowship of the Church till they were first separated one from the other XXVII The Province of Lower Languedoc moving That no Minister might expound the Apocalypse without the Advice of his Colloquy it was granted that no such Exposition should be undertook without the Counsel and Consent of the Colloquy or Provincial Synod XXVIII The same Province demanding What Censure ought to be inflicted on them who marry their Children unto Papists It was resolved That both they and their Children should be deprived of the Lord's Supper and do publick Penance for this their Offence XXIX The desire of the Province of Higher Languedoc is very well approved of That Churches blessed by God with ability should be and they be now exhorted to erect publick Libraries for the Service of the Ministers and Proposans of their Churches XXX The Churches are exhorted most carefully to observe in every point that Union which was made at Mantes by the Deputies of the Churches of this Kingdom for their mutual help and benefit and they shall be informed by their Deputies of its necessity and those Churches which will not conform unto the rest shall be most grievously censured XXXI The Church of Paris is intreated to note and collect the passages in the Sacred Canonical Scriptures and Writings of the Fathers which have been falsified and maimed by them of the Romish Church And the Provinces are charged to send their Observations also to it that so this desirable Work may be printed and published without any delay XXXII The Deputy of Berry demanding Whether it be lawful for Cousin Germans to marry whenas the King hath given his License it was resolved affirmatively XXXIII The Lord du Plessis moving how expedient it would be that in the King's Army there should be ordinarily some Ministers towards whose subsistence the Governours Commissaries and other Officers professing the Reformed Religion should be exhorted liberally to contribute This Assembly decreeth That the Provinces beginning with the Isle of France and Normandy and following the Order prescribed by the 15th Canon of the Eighth Chapter of our Discipline shall make choice of two of their Pastors to be sent into the Army who shall each of them serve six Months which term expired the two next Provinces in order shall send two others to succeed them and so consequently all the rest And all Governours and Officers professing our Reformed Religion are intreated to take particular care of their Maintenance and Encouragement XXXIV Letters were presented unto this Synod by Monsieur Vulson from the Gentlemen assembled at Loudun which being read and after hearing what he was charged to deliver us by word of mouth viz. The Order established among the Churches for
Civil Magistrate and in case any refuse obedience hereunto they shall be prosecuted by all Church-censures 45. Some moved how expedient it would be that our Academies were regulated according to the number of our Provinces and that the summs now demanded for augmentation of the Regents and Professors Sallaries was too great and particularly for that of Saumur But this Synod not having time enough at present to debate this matter doth require all the Provinces to consider of it against the meeting of the next National Synod And that our weaker and poorer Churches may be more comfortably relieved and supplied Those Churches who are better able to maintain a Colledge without any assistance from others or the publick are desired to bring in an Account of what can be done by them That so we may make the best estimate we can how to compleat and perfect our Universities And the Provinces next adjoining to our Universities are requested to have a most careful eye over them and to be responsable for them unto the next National Synod and of the diligence or neglects of duty by its Officers and Professors And till that time we do not judge meet to grant any augmentation to that of Saumur 46. The Deputies of divers Provinces moving that there might be particular Colledges erected in their respective Provinces for the educating of Youth in Humanity before they were sent unto our Universities This Assembly granteth them their request and that the eleven Provinces which have no Academy shall have each of them the summ of 100 Crowns for this very purpose And these Provinces are charged to bring in an Account unto the next National Synod how they have employed the said Moneys 47. Monsieur Vignier is intreated to study well that controversie about the great Antichrist and to bring in his work unto the next National Synod CHAP. VI. An Account of the Dividend of one hundred five and thirty thousand Livers given by his Majesty every year unto the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom Out of which great summ the Lord of Candal and his Commissary Monsieur de Visouze shall make payment of these lesser summs here under mentioned in manner and form following and at the times appointed and this according to those Articles of Agreement made betwixt him and the Lords General Deputies of our Churches in the National Synod of Gap 1603. To the Universities  L. S. D. To the University of Montauban 3333 6 8 To that of Saumur 3333 6 8 To that of Montpellier 1500 0 0 To that of Nismes 1833 0 0 To that of Sedan 2400 0 0 To the L. L. General Deputies To the Lords General Deputies officiating at Court for us 1650 Livers being one half of 3300 Livers which added to 10200 Livers taken out of the lesser Accompt do make up 13500 Livers which is their allotted yearly Sallery The remaining moitay of the said 3300 Livers the Lord of Candal is to receive out of the Moneys ordered for the payment of our Garisons and by him to be paid into the said L. L General Deputies To Ministers To the Province of Provence there shall be paid in the summ of 2181 l. 12 s for 17 Churches including in it 300 l. overpluss assigned to them To the Province of Brittany the summ of 2403 l. for 19 Churches including in it 300 l. overpluss assigned to them To the Province of Burgundy the summ of 4727 l. 4. s for 40 Churches including in it the sum of 300 l. overpluss To the Province of Vivaretz the summ of 3399 l. 2 s for 28 Churches including in it also 300 l. overplus To the Lower Guienne the summ of 8269 l. 4 s for 72 Churches including in it the like summ of 300 l. To the Lower Languedock the summ of 11842 l. 10 s for 107 Churches To the Province of Poictou the summ of 5613 l. for 48 Churches taking in the 300 l. overpluss To the Isle of France Picardy Champagne and Beausse the summ of 7827 l. 10 s for 68 Churches including the 300 overpluss To the Province of Xaintonge the summ of 7937 l. 6 s for 69 Churches taking in the 300 l. overpluss To the Province of Anjou for 29 Churches the summ of 3209 l. 16. s To the province of Higher Languedoc and Higher Guienne for 94 Churches the summ of 10404 l. 10 s To the Province of Orleans and Berry for 36 Churches the summ of 4284 l. 10 s including the 300 l. over pluss To the Province of Dolphiny the summ of 8933 l. 10 s for 78 Churches taking in the 300 l. overpluss To the Province of Normandy the summ of 6166 l. 6 s for 53 Churches taking in the 300 l. overpluss And this whole summ shall be paid in by three equal portions unto the Universities the Lords General Deputies and to the Receivers of the Provinces at the time and manner following Viz. The portions of the Isle of France Picardy Brie Champagne Beausse Normandy Anjou Orleans Poitiers Lower Guyenne Higher Languedoc and Higher Guienne the Universities in the said Provinces being included into the hands of their Receivers who shall be appointed by them The first payment to be made the first of July next coming the second on the second day of October following and the third on the last of January in the year 1608. And for the Isle of France Picardy Brie and Champagne in the City of Paris For Normandy in the City of Rouan For Orleans and Berry at Orleans for Poictou at Poictiers for the Lower Guienne at Bourdeaux for Higher Guienne and Higher Languedoc at Montauban and for Anjou in the City of Tours including in it the University of Saumur And the portions due unto the Provinces of Provence Lower Languedoc Brittany and Xaintonge into the hands of the Receivers who shall be appointed by them at three equal payments the first at the end of July the second at the end of October and the third at the end of February in the year 1608. viz. for Lower Languedoc and the Universities of Montpellier and Nismes in the City of Montpellier for Brittain at Nants for Xaintonge at Rochel for the Provinces of Burgundy and Dolphiny and Vivaretz in the City of Lions The two first payments shall be maid at the Fairs in August and Allhollantide of this present year and the last upon twelfth day immediately after And the said Provinces shall be obliged to appoint and name in every one of those before mentioned Cities a particular House whereunto the said Lord of Candal may come and make payment of the said Moneys October Quarter for Ministers shall be paid out of the Moneys of the said Quarter by the said Lord of Candal  L. S. D. To the Province of Provence for 17 Churches 0756 18 6 To the Province of Brittany for 19 Churches 0846 00 0 To the Province of Burgundy for 40 Churches 1781 00 0 To the Province of Vivaretz for 28 Churches 1246 14 0 To Lower Guienne
Provincial Synod of Poictou held at Chastelheraud for that they had judged he was sufficiently reimburst by the Churches of that Province all the Charges expended by him in his Journey unto the General Assembly of Saumur held in the year 1596. And whereas he pretended other summs to be owing to him for several other journeys they sent him unto the Governours of our Cautionary Towns to be recompensed by them because he was their Deputy unto that Assembly and that they received two thirds of the Moneys granted us by his Majesty Upon hearing this whole affair this Assembly did also judge that he was sufficiently satisfied by those Churches of Poictou who yet were exhorted to intreat those Governors to perform their duties and pay their just debt unto the said Mr. des Fontaines 14. The Appeal of the Church of Nage and it's Annexes about what is owing unto their late Pastor Monsieur Terrond was dismissed over to the Provincial Synod of Lower Languedoc who by their judicial sentence shall put a final period unto that controversie 15. Theophilus Bluett Lord of la Combe formerly Pastor of the Churches at Lassay in the Province of Mayne and of Rouelle in Normandy having certified under his own hand that he acquiesced in that judicial sentence past upon him by the Deputies of the Synod of Anjou Touraine and Maine who had deposed him from the Ministerial Office and all acts and exercises thereof tho now he brought his Appeal from them This Assembly doth confirm that sentence of the Deputies and deelareth the said Bluett to be totally deposed from the holy Ministry of the Gospel and that notice hereof shall be given unto all the Churches 16. The Synod of Dolphiny having past another Vote that Monsieur Chamier should be once more importunately sollicited to accept of the Professors Chair in Divinity in their University of Die The Church of Montlimart brought their Appeal from if unto this Assembly which did thereupon revive and ratify the former Decrees of those two National Synods of Gergeau and Gap which had left unto the Churches their Pastors and the Pastors unto their Churches and that they should and be divided one from the other but by their joint and mutual consent and the said Provincial Synod was censured to have insisted again upon this affair after that it had been determined by two National Synods 17. The Church of Lions appealed from the Synod of Burgundy which would constrain them to pay the fifth penny of all Charities received by them to the maintenance of Proposans notwithstanding those many reasons arguments and exceptions they had urged and brought against it This Assembly having heard both parties doth leave the said Church in full liberty freely to dispose of their own Poor's Money but yet it adviseth them seriously to consider what is expedient to be disbursed by them in charities and whither they can keep a good Conscience in neglecting a work of so great necessity 18. The Lord of Rochefort and the Inhabitants of that Town professing the Reformed Religion appealed from the Synod of Xaintonge held at St. John D'Angely for adjudging Mr. Chevalier to the Pastoral Office in the Church of Soubize Upon heating of both parties and perusal of all Articles of Agreement made first and last between them This Assembly confirms Monsieur Chevalier in his Ministry to the said Church of Soubize whereof he is now the fixed Pastor and the Members of the Church of Rochefort have full liberty to compound the matter with the Church of Soubize upon those terms imported in their second Agreement made with that Consistory or else they may Incorporate themselves with the Church of Tonnay-charante and both the said Chevalier and that Consistory are Censured for using them of Rochefort so rigorously as to refuse Communion with them at the Lords Table and to hinder the Baptizing of their Infants in their Church Assembly 19. The Churches of Barbezieux and Xaintes contended about the Ministry of Monsieur Petit who pretending that the Colloquy of Janzac held at Pons had discharged him from the Church of Barbezieux because of their great ingratitude to him and in case they did not satisfie him all Arrerages of Sallary due unto him for his service among them in two months time and for that the judgment of the said Colloquy had been confirmed by the Synod and the said Petit not having been intirely payed what was owing him he had therefore left Barbezieux and settled at Xaintes to which he was lent by the Synod for a month and now he had contracted with the Church there And the Church of Barbezieux complaining of this matter unto the mixt Assembly held at St. John d' Angely a Decree was there made that Monsieur Petit should return unto the said Church of Barbezieux and that the Church should come to accompt with him before the Colloquy And Monsieur Roy Elder of the Church of Xaintes did hereupon bring in his Appeal because the said Synod declared to him that according to the Canons of our Discipline it had full power finally to determine this matter and that the said Petit did not in the least repugne or oppose it Who being after summoned unto that Colloquy which was ordered to examine his Accompts did yet nevertheless make no appearance for which cause the said Colloquy had enjoined him to return unto his Church on pain of being suspended from which he now appealed and hath ever since continued his Ministry in the Church of Xaintes notwithstanding all Counsels and exhortations given him by the Colloquy of Xaintonge to be advised and ruled by them And in this state hath this affair stood till the last Synod of the Province held at Saujon unto which it had been remanded and by that Synod it was dismissed over unto this Assembly Now altho the ingratitude of the Church of Barbezieux be very notorious and well known unto this Assembly yet because the pretended Liberty was only conditional and threatned the said Monsieur Petit could not make use of it as he hath done yea tho it had been absolute he ought not to have usurpt that power so as to ally himself unto another Church without having first consulted the Colloquy and till he had first obtained Letters Testimonial from it and the Church in which he last served and therefore the said Mr. Petit was most sharply censured and he was told to his face that if ever he fell into the like offence a second time he should be deposed from the sacred Ministry And the Church of Xaintes also was judged worthy of a severe Censure for practising by unlawful means to deprive the Church of Barbezieux of its Pastor and the said Church of Barbezieux was justly condemned for their ill treatment of and unworthy carriage to the said Mr. Petit. Upon which account and because both those Churches are faulty and blame-worthy the said Mr. Petit was removed from both and neither of them should enjoy him
to batter it down with force of Arguments and to defend at the same time conjoyntly together the Rights of God and those of the Higher Powers ordained by him CHAP. IX Particular Matters 1. THERE was read an Act of the Colloquy of Higher Agenois in which the Council of Lower Guyenne complained against the Lord of Pujole and against a certain Judgment of the said Colloquy past in his favour because that the said Lord had seriously protested of his sincere intentions to persist in the profession of our Religion they could not imagine that he would admit into his heart such a disloyal thought as to abandon the Sacred Communion of our Churches and to bring the worst of evils upon his Soul in good earnest 1614. The 21th Synod yet nevertheless they did judge the said Lord worthy of the heaviest Censures for his great miscarriages in all his publick actings particularly that instead of demanding in a lawful Assembly the Reformation of those Defaults and Abuses he pretended to have observed in the Council he had as much as in him lay exposed it to the highest contempt and infamy and followed a course notoriously contrary to all Orders which have been until now uniformly obeyed and practised among us with good acceptance and success a matter of very dangerous consequence and which might cause an irreparable breach in our Union Which fault of his he did confess and acknowledge and promised for the future to conform himself to the Canons which are now or hereafter may be established by these Assemblies And Monsieur Ferrand a Pastor was ordered to acquaint this Assembly of it All things duly considered this Assembly approveth of the Judgment of that Colloquy and of the said Lord du Pujol's submission and having once more reiterated the same Remonstrances it drew from him those promises by means of which he was reconciled unto the Provincial Council and to all those who were known to have shared in the scandal that he had given And all the Churches Parties in those disturbances were exhorted to live in Peace and Union for the future which was mutually promised on all sides 2. The Deputies of the Churches of Auvergne remonstrated their deplorable estate and condition earnestly desiring the favour and assistance of this Assembly to help them in their prosecutions at Court that they might be inabled to uphold and continue the exercise of the true Religion at Issoyre and that they may be provided of a Pastor meet for so weighty a work this Assembly ordered the Lords General Deputies to have a most especial care of their concern and to allow them the two hundred Livers which they have received on accompt from the Lord du Candall and they do farther grant them one hundred Livers more and continue unto them their four portions which had been formerly appointed to be paid in unto them free of all taxations and defalcations by the Province of Sevennes and Gevaudan upon the score of any charges ordinary or extraordinary whatsoever and it ordaineth that the Churches of Issoyre shall be incorporated with the said Province from which according to order they shall receive their aforesaid portions and dispose of them towards the maintenance of their Pastors and the remainders thereof shall be expended in defraying their charges before mentioned until the next National Synod 3. The same Deputies for that Province of Higher and Lower Auvergne having petitioned this Assembly to provide them a Pastor for the afore-mentioned Church of Issoyre had granted them Monsieur Babat who was now at full liberty to serve the Church of Issoyre and it s annexed Congregations and to be their own peculiar Pastor who shall be brought over to them with his houshold goods and Library at their charges and they shall furnish him with Moneys and the assistance of an Elder to be present at the Provincial Synods of Sevennes as often as they should be summoned to them 4. The Lord Vicount of Leyran demanding by his Letter sent unto this Assembly 2. Vitré g. m. 11. Two Copies read Dan. and Din. some additions from us unto two hundred Livers which he promiseth for himself shall be paid to the gathering and constituting of a Church at Legran l'Imbrassat and d'Ur there was granted him one ordinary portion and another half extraordinary both free of all charges ordinary and extraordinary from that Province just as it comes from the Dividend made by the National Synod and that said Province shall be accountable for the disposal of those portions unto the next National Synod And Letters also shall be written unto the said Lord of Leyran praising and commending his Zeal and Affection towards the advancement of the Kingdom of God 5. John de Luna and Laurens Fernandez both Spaniards presented themselves Montauban declaring their Abjuration of Monkery and Popery and approving of their Conversation ever since their Conversion as also Stephen Conversett of the Franche Comté who had quitted the Order of the Dominicans and Peter Mercurin a Provincial who had also abandoned Popery This Assembly granted unto the said Fernandez Conversett and Mercurin an hundred and forty Crowns a-piece and farther ordaineth that the said Mercurin shall be put into the Catalogue of Proposans and be first of all employed in the Ministry in Provence And as for John de Luna who desires leave to retire for some time into Holland there be sixty Livers granted him for his Voyage And whereas one called Buisson born in the Lower Guyenne is lately converted from the Popish Religion unto the Reformed thirty Livers are given him towards his relief until the next Provincial Synod wherein he shall be particularly cared for All which shall be paid without making it a Prefident for the future and the Provinces and Pastors are expresly charged and forbidden never to present more unto these Assemblies any such Converts 6. The Sieur Constantin declaring his most miserable estate and craving our charitable Relief in his deep Poverty this Assembly ordained that there should be paid him yearly the sum of an hundred Livers which shall be put to the account of the Moneys distributed to the Province of the Higher Guyenne and immediately 300 Livers were given him to defray his charges in coming unto this Assembly and the Corporation of Bergerac shall be exhorted to augment his Salary as Regent of that Classis in which he serveth 7. The Deputies of the Church of Pons did in the name of its Elders and Heads of Families present their Petition that they might be provided of a Pastor This Assembly ordained that Monsieur Constant who is now freed from the Church of Mazgravier be given unto the said Church of Pons in case that they like of him and he of them And that they may treat hereof the aforesaid Deputies are advised to go to Montauban in which City they may hear and discourse with him about it who having been there they did bring with them the said Constant
though not without tears and groans that he hath lost his priviledge and right of Burgesship in the City and Family of God For these Causes we the Pastors and Elders of the Reformed Churches in the Lower Languedoc Deputies of this Province having charge and care of the Colloquy of Lionnois and authorized thereunto by the National Synod we denounce the said Master Jeremy Ferrier to be a scandalous man a person incorrigible impenitent and ungovernable and as such having first invocated the holy Name of the Living and True God and in the Name and Power of our Lord Jesus Christ by the conduct of the Holy Ghost and with Authority from the Church we have cast and do now cast and throw him out of the Society of the Faithful that he may be delivered up unto Satan declaring that he ought not to be reckoned reputed nor numbered as a Member of our Lord Jesus Christ nor of his Church but that he be counted and esteemed as a Publican and Heathen as a Prophane person and contemptuous despiser of God exhorting all the Faithful and enjoyning them in the Name of our Lord and Master no more to hold any conversation with this Son of Belial but to estrange themselves and be separated from him waiting that if in any wise this Judgment and Separation serving for the destruction of his Flesh may contribute to the Salvation of his Soul and strike into his Conscience a terrour of that great and dreadful day in which the Lord will come with thousands of his Saints to execute Judgment upon the ungodly and to convince the wicked of all their impieties sinful designs and abominable works enterprised by them against his Church Cursed be he that doth the Work of the Lord negligently Amen! If any one love not the Lord Jesus Christ Let him be Anathema Maranatha Amen! Come Lord Jesus Christ Even so come quickly Amen! This dreadful Sentence was denounced against the said Ferrier in the Church of Nismes on the Lords Day July the 14th 1613. by Monsieur Brunier Minister of the Word of God in the Reformed Church of the City of Usez Examined and Compared with the Printed Copy Acts Decisions and Decrees OF THE XXII NATIONAL SYNOD OF THE Reformed Churches OF FRANCE HELD The second time at Vitré in the Province of Brittaine This Synod was opened on Thursday May the 18th and ended on the 18th of June following being the Lord's Day 1617. The CONTENTS of the Second Synod of Vitré Chap. I. DEputies unto the Synod Moderator and Scribes Chap. II. Rules about Spectators in the Synod 2. Promise of Submission to the National Synod 1. The Pastor and two Elders of that Church in which the National Synod is held may sit in it 4. An Address unto the King 5. Oath of Vnion 6. Chap. III. The Confession of Faith sworn Chap. IV. Observations on the Discipline 19. Canon of the first Chapter of the Discipline explain'd 3. Proposans shall not be admitted into Consistories 4. Advice upon the 16. Canon of the fifth Chapter of the Discipline 5. Form of Excommunication prudential 6. The Case of Elders violating the 28 Canon in the fifth Chapter of the Discipline 8. Remarkable Providences to be collected 9. Synodical Officers must be chosen by a low voice 10. The 14 15. Canons in the last Chapter of the Discipline most strictly to be observed 14. A Case about Duels 15. The Discipline approv'd and sworn 16. Chap. V. Reflections upon the Synod of Tonneins A Complaint of the Isle of France against the Province of Anjou 1. Censure taken off from a delinquent Province 6. Du Moulin and Tilenus reconciled 7. A Petition for the Exiled Protestants of Saluces 8. Chap. VI. Of Appeals The Provincial Colledge of Xaintonge setled at Rochefoucauld 2. A Case of Monsieur Beauchamp Pastor to the D. of Rohan 3. Discipline exercised upon a delinquent Minister 9. Samuel du Frenay Student in Divinity dealt withal by the Synod about his Heterodoxies 19. An Appeal of the Church of Maringues 30. Divisions in the Church of Aymargues how composed Chap. VII A Speech unto the King Chap. VIII General matters No Attestations to be given unto the Moors banished out of Spain 3. Abuse about the Baptism of Moors 4. The poorer Churches to be relieved 6. Whether a Patron may sell his right of Presentation 7. Care about Converted Monks 8 19 22. Foolish Sports suppressed 9. A Pastor may not leave his Church at pleasure 12. Of Catechising 13. The Impressions of the Bible to be more correct 14. Complaints against the Inhabitants of Saumur for griping poor Scholars at Pension in their Houses 17. Censures against them who get Prohibitions against their Consistories 20. Ministers not to meddle with State-affairs in their Pulpits 21. The Synods care about Printing of Monsieur Chamier's Panstratia 23 24. The Assembly at Rochel 25 26 27. The doleful estate of the Church of Auverne 28. Chap. IX The Kings Letter to the Synod G. M. 29. Sermons may be Preached on Holy-Days G. M. 31. A Committee of Divines Ordered to the Synod of Dort G. M. 34. No National Fast injoined by this Assembly and why G. M. 35. Reasons why the Province of Bearn did not call the National Synod G. M. 36. The Church of Sancerre persecuted 37. Canon against Non-Residence reinforced G. M. 38. Deputies relieved G. M. 39. Palot how to be prosecuted 42. Chap. X. Partiular matters A Petition unto the Prince of Orange 3. Monsieur Imbert Minister in the Church of Orleans 6. Complaints against Monsieur Perrery a Minister 8. Against Monsieur Richer another Minister 9. A Silenced Minister restored 12. A Ladies Legacy unto the Church of Essars 14. Oppressions of the Churches in the Colloquy of Foix. 15. Complaints against a Minister rejected 19. The Case of Monsieur D' Anglade 20. A Bookseller of Geneva complaineth against a Minister in Bearn 23. The progress of the Gospel at Langres 25. Ingagements of Monsieur Guerin 28. The Works of Monsieur Sohnis Ordered to be Printed 36. The Case of Huberus 31. And of Solera 32. Chap. XI Dividend of Monies among the Churches Chap. XII Of Vniversities and Colledges Chap. XIII Roll of Apostates and deposed Ministers Chap. XIV Lord of Candal's Accounts Chap. XV. Dividend of Monies among the Provinces THE Second SYNOD of VITRE 1617. The 22d Synod SYNOD XXII 1617. In the Name of God Amen Acts of the second National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France held in the City of Vitré in the Province of Brittaine the eighteenth day of May and for several days following in the Year of our Lord One thousand six hundred and seventeen The Synod broke up on Sunday the eighteenth of June CHAP. I. Names of Deputies Election of Synodical Officers 1. PRayers having been first offered up unto God as usual at the opening of all Synodical Meetings The next thing in order dispatched was Reading the Letters of Commission tendered by the Deputies that so an exact
true Religion All the Churches are most expresly injoined to observe punctually and with the exactest care the 13th and 14th Canons in the last Chapter of the Discipline without any acceptation of persons and to give in an account thereof unto Colloquies and Synods who are ordered to take notice of it and to inflict the heaviest Censures upon those Consistories which neglect this their bounden duty 15. The Deputies of the Isle of France craving advice about the difficulties met by them in executing the 32d Article of the 14th and last Chapter of our Discipline Montpel p. m. 16. which enjoineth a speedy publication of their suspension from the Lords Table who either give or take a Challenge to fight a Duel This Assembly distinguishing between them whose offence is known only to a few particular persons and those who have publickly committed it before the Sun and which is known to the whole World exhorteth Consistories to judge prudently in the Case so that the Discipline of our Churches may not be violated 16. Our Church-Discipline having been read distinctly word by word was approved in all its Articles and sworn to by all the Deputies of the Provinces both for themselves and for those who were represented by them and they were all exhorted to see it most exactly kept and observed whereof they all gave good assurance and promised to be with their whole power assisting to it CHAP. V. Reflections on reading the Acts of the last National Synod Celebrated at Tonneins 1. THE Deputies of the Isle of France read an Act of theirs in this Assembly Tonneins Art 12. in the Roll of Pastors and reported what was done by them in execution of that Commission which had been given them and the Provincial Deputies of Anjou to censure the Church and Consistory of Tours and Monsieur Coupé Pastor of the said Church for not obeying the Decree of the Province of Anjou concerning the deputation of Monsieur Coupé unto the National Synod of Tonneins and declared farther how that the said Deputies of Anjou had not assisted them in the least in it This Assembly approving all that hath been done by the said Deputies of the Isle of France doth charge the next Provincial Synod of Anjou to hear what the said Deputies of Anjou can say for themselves and why they had not joined with them in executing the said Commission with which they were equally intrusted with the Deputies of the Isle of France 2. Forasmuch as the third Article of Observations Privas Observ on the Discipl Alez Observ 2. on this very Synod made by the National Synod of Tonneins on the Acts of that of Privas was omitted by him who dictated the said Acts This Assembly thought good to insert them into the Acts of this present Synod which it doth in these following words As for that Canon which gives way to Elders the Pastor being refused because of exceptions taken at him to judge of differences even unto suspension from the Lord s Supper the Province of Lower Languedoc demanding that some change might be made in it This Assembly Ordained that it should abide in those very self same words in which it was couched at first 3. The Province of Brittaine complaining of a Judgment past by the Provincial Synod of Anjoy in executing a Decree of the National Synod of Tonneins Tonneins Appeal 7. Below p. m. 10. was now heard in what it had more to say and offer unto this Assembly But when they had done the judgment of the said Province of Anjou for dividing the Church of Montague from that of Viellevigne was confirmed And the Church of Viellevigne is admonished to contribute lovingly towards the maintenance of their Pastor and in case of their inability the Province of Brittaine shall make provision for him out of the monies apportioned to them from his Majesties liberality and those private persons who will join themselves unto the said Church of Viellevigne shall not for time to come at their will and pleasure depart from it to be joined in Communion with that of Montagu 4. The Deputies of the Province of Dolphiny Tonneins Obs 5. on the Synod of Privas Alez p. m. 3. gave notice unto this Assembly that their Synod had seen and perused the History of the Waldenses and Albingenses collected by Monsieur Perrin but it was not printed nor distributed according to the Order given the said Monsieur Perrin by the National Synod of Tonneins Now it is Ordained That the said History shall be sent unto our Honoured Brethren the Pastors and Professors in the Church and University of Geneva who shall be desired by the Synod of Dolphiny to peruse it and whereas the said Monsieur Perrin requests a sum of money towards the Printing of the said Book The Province of Dolphiny is injoined to sollicit it's impression for there can be nothing more given or added by us to what was formerly granted by the Synod of Privas 5. A Canon of the Synod of Tonneins was read Tonneins Appeal 18. concerning the Appeal of Monsieur Margonne sometimes Pastor in the Province of Burgundy but since withdrawn unto the Church of Chastillon on the Loire in the Province of Berry which Canon had ordained that the said Province of Berry should give unto that of Burgundy a Proposan before the next Provincial Synod The said Province of Burgundy reported that they having no information given them of the time and place when the Synod of Berry met they could not demand them to fulfil the conditions and terms enjoined in that Canon wherefore they besought this Assembly to confirm the aforesaid Canon which it also did and injoined the very next Provincial Synod of Berry fully to answer and satisfy the Contents and Import of the said Canon of Tonneins 6. The Province of Vivaretz requesting Tonneins Appeal â—2 that the Censure imposed on them by the National Synod of Tonneins might be reversed and took off the File and that the Letters of Monsieur de la Faye Pastor of the Church of Aubenas on whose account the said Censure was decreed might be read he joining together with the Province in this their request This Assembly considering that the discontents on all hands are now appeased and desiring the weal and repose of the said Province and particularly of the Church of Aubenas hath granted them their demand 7. That Act of the National Synod of Tonneins being read Tonneins p. m. 35. about the difference between Monsieur du Moulin and Tilenus on which the Lord of Plessis-Marly had been intreated to contrive away for Reconciling them by calling in some of the Neighbour Pastors together with the Professors in the University of Saumur Monsieur Rivet tendered unto this Assembly a Letter on this subject from the said Lord du Plessis by which he informs them of what he had done in it and how that the Sieurs Fleury Le Bloy Rivett Rerillaâ— and Bouchereau Pastors in
m. 19. Alez Obs 6. upon this Synod touching the most proper means of entertaining a good Correspondence with all Orthodox Churches and to procure a good Union in Doctrine betwixt us and them and to invite over unto the same Communication even those that are of a different perswasion from us All the Provinces declared what had been done by them as to this matter This Assembly did thereupon judge expedient that we should make a little halt till such time as those who had first made these Overtures did prosecute this affair with more vigour And in the mean while Monsieur Rivett Pastor of the Church of Touars Chauves Pastor of the Church in Sommieres Chamier Pastor and Professor in the Church and University of Montalban and du Moulin Pastor of the Church of Paris are nominated a Committee and to consult of such a project as will best conduce to the accomplishing of this design After which in case they be summon'd and called forth unto this work they shall all meet together at Saumur and conjointly with the Lord du Plessis and the Pastors and Professors of Divinity in that Church and University deliberate about it and shall draw put a Plot of it which shall be sent into every Province there to be perused and debated by their Synods that so their Deputies may come prepared for it unto the next National Synod 7. Whereas divers Provinces had charged their Deputies to demand of this Assembly a National Fast to be celebrated in all the Churches of this Kingdom Gergeau g. m. 13. Now for that it hath pleased God to turn away his wrath from us and to give us manifest tokens of his goodness it was not judged expedient at this time to proclaim a General Fast but according to the Canons of our National Synods that Province whose right it is to Convene the next National Synod is ordered to consult with our Lords the General Deputies about it who are intreated that in case any emergent Providence doth summon the Churches to sanctify an extraordinary Fast to confer with the Consistory of Paris about it and to acquaint the said Province therewith whose Synod being assembled and resolving on it they shall give notice of the time for its Celebration unto all the other Provinces 3 Rochel g. m. 9. and in the Roll. See at the Conclus of Tonneins above Art 3. after the Roll. 8. The Deputies of the Churches in the Principality of Bearn gave in their reasons wherefore they had not accepted that priviledge of calling this present National Synod which was at their request granted them by the last held at Tonneins and on those terms and condition mentioned in the Article of the said Synod This Assembly did not now â—â—dge it reasonable that those Churches should be subject to the Discipline of our Churches in this Kingdom or that for the present they should immedâ—â—â—â—y depend on our National Synods Privas p. m. 14. See the second Synod of Charenton 2 Obs upon the Acts of the former National Synod But nevertheless they shall give in their final resolutions what they intend to do unto the next National Synod and in case they be of the same mind then as they are now this Assembly declareth that their Deputies may have the priviledge of sitting and voting in our National Synods upon this Condition that they shall first ask leave of the Provinces to give in their Suffrages in such Cases as concern the Churches of this Kingdom 9. It was told in this Assembly how much the Church of Sancerre was oppressed by the Earl of Marans one of whose men had but a few days since assassinated a very Eminent Member of that Church It was immediately judged necessary to write unto his Majesty about it and that the Lord of Bertreville our General Deputy should deliver with his own hands unto the King this our Letter and most humbly Petition his Majesty that Sancerre may be kept up as one of our Cautionary Towns by his supream Authority and that the Inhabitants thereof may injoy peace and quietness since it hath pleased God to give it unto the rest of his Majesty's Subjects and our General Deputies shall be very urgent for it 10. That Canon of our Church-Discipline binding Ministers to a personal residence on their Churches shall be most exactly observed by all the Provinces 1 Paris 12. Montauban g. m. 10. Alez Obs 8. on the Synod And whereas this hath been broken by too many and principally in the Higher Languedoc divers of their Pastors living at Montauban and not with their flocks every one of these are injoined to depart from thence with their Families unto those places where their Churches are gathered and this at the farthest within three months after that this Canon of the present Synod shall have been signified to them and the Consistory of the Church of Montauban is ordered to give notice thereof unto all these Non-Residents inhabiting their City And in case they refuse to yield obedience unto it we declare them from this very instant suspended the holy Ministry And Colloquies and Synods shall immediately upon such suspension provide a supply of Pastors for those vacant Churches who shall oblige themselves personally to reside among them And the said Consistory of Montauban shall notify unto the Churches the suspension of their Pastors and that they have full power to chuse and call in any other according to the Canons of our Church-Discipline And the next National Synod shall be informed by the Provinces of their duty in this particular 11. To obviate the Complaint made by several Provinces how that their Commissioners having received their moneys from the Lord of Candal do keep it in their own hands longer than they ought denying many times that they have received any from him The said Lord du Candal is desired that either himself or his Commissioners would be pleased to send a Copy of their Receipts as soon as they be given him or them unto such persons in every Province as shall be named to him for this purpose That so the Province may be certainly informed at what time and to whom he paid in their moneys and the poorer Churches may not be left unpaid and unprovided for divers Months together as they have been by the wickedness of those Receivers Commissionated by the Provinces upon the pretexts but now mentioned 12. Forasmuch as divers Deputies in this Assembly declared that they brought not with them moneys enough to defray their Charges during this Session The Deputy of the Lord du Candal being how in Town was ordered to supply them and that out of the Dividend belonging to their Provinces for which sums so received by them they shall be accountable unto their respective Provinces 13. Whereas we are at present necessitated to be at unusual expences in dispatches deputations and extraordinary businesses for the Churches this Assembly requireth the Lord of Candal to pay in unto our
thirty and nine Livers fourteen Sous and seven Deniers besides the sum of sixty thousand and five hundred and five Livers fourteen Sous and one Denier owing by him by forbearance for not bringing his Acquittances which he shall produce before our General Deputies and bring with him their Certificate for his so doing unto the next National Synod Which said Debt Monsieur Sulpitius Cuper rendring account for the said Lord du Candal declared to have risen out of the sum of three hundred and five Livers fourteen Sous remaining due unto the Province of Xaintonge for the Year 1614. and for that nothing had been paid for the first half quarter of October in the Year 1615. to the University of Sedan and College of Bergerac as also it arose out of a far greater sum taken by reprisal out of the Account aforesaid which hath been raised and given to the said Lord of Candal to be recover'd by him that so if it were once recover'd it might be distributed among all the Provinces according to the Dividend made by the National Synod of Tonneins where the Accounts of the distribution were then as now the Decree of this present Synod shall be given him to this very purpose 10. Over and above the Debt before mentioned the said Lord of Candal oweth for October Quarter of the Year 1616. the sum of forty five thousand Livers which he shall distribute unto the Churches according to the Dividend made in the Synod of Tonneins 11. Moreover he oweth for the said Quarter the sum of nine thousand six hundred Livers being an Augmentation granted unto the Churches by the Treaty of Londun which began the first of July 1616. and the said Lord of Candal hath accounted for the first July-Quarter which shall be distributed according to the aforesaid Dividend And it must be â—oted here that the said Quarter should have amounted unto eleven thousand six hundred and fifty Livers for the said Augmentation but there had been substracted from it by an Order of Council the sum of sixteen hundred and fifty Livers to make up the Pension promised unto our Lords the General Deputies 12. Upon the Debet of the same Account for the three first Quarters of the Year 1616. there shall be taken the sums hereafter specified one part of which the said Lord of Candal is ordered to make good payment of and another part to detain in his own hands till further orders 13. And first of all the said Lord of Candal is ordered to reserve by him the sum of three thousand Livers which he shall deliver unto that person who undertakes to print the Works of the most Reverend Chamier and shall take up an Acquittance from him 14. More the sum of two thousand one hundred Livers granted to the Deputies in the Assembly of Rochel for defraying the Charges of their Deputies at Court which sum the said Lord of Candal shall deliver unto Monsieur Gaultron a Citizen of Rochel 15. More the sum of seven hundred Livers for defraying the Expences of the Deputies from this present Synod to his Majesty 16. More four hundred Livers ordered to be paid unto our Lords General Deputies at Court for the like Journeys unto Court 17. More the sum of three hundred Livers payed by the Province of Lower Guyenne unto Monsieur Bustonoby according to a Decree of the National Synod of Tonneins 18. For Monsieur Piloty's Journey three hundred Livers 19. A Gratuity to Monsieur Cuper three hundred Livers 20. To Samuel du Fresne two hundred Livers 21. To the Sons of Monsieur Huberas Pastor of Berne two hundred Livers 22. To Monsieur Babat Pastor of Issoyre an hundred Livers 23. To the Son of Monsieur Bernardin Molleur one of the Refugees from the Marquisate of Salluces the sum of sixty Livers paid by the Lord of Candal unto Monsieur Chambrun Pastor of Nismes 24. To Monsieur de St. Matthieu sent by the Lords General Deputies to the Assembly at Rochel by his Majesty's Order the sum of an hundred and fifty Livers 25. To Nicolas Jane formerly a Monk thirty Livers 26. To Ascanius Allion thirty Livers 27. For three Portions granted to the Churches of Auvergne by the National Synod of Privas and put upon the Account of the Province of Sevennes whose Deputies made report that they had paid them into these Churches altho' they never had received the Moneys those Portions amounting to the sum of sixteen hundred and seventy seven Livers which this Assembly ordered to be kept by the Lord du Candal in his own hands until the Provincial Synod of Higher Languedoc have finally decided that Affair 28. To the Soldiers and Porter of the Castle and Garrison of Vitré the sum of six and thirty Livers 29. All these Parcels summ'd up together do amount to nine thousand five hundred fourscore and three Livers which shall be paid by the Lord of Candal who shall reimburse himself on the Debt of his Account arising from the three first Quarters of the Year 1616. 30. Whereas by a particular Act delivered unto Monsieur Cuper Deputy of the Lord du Candal Mr. Rivett and Mr. Chauve Pastors were charged as debtors for the sum of twelve hundred sixty and two Livers which they had distributed according to the Order of this present Synod unto some certain poor Churches and had given an Acquittance for it as if it had been received for their own use This Assembly acknowledged that it was done upon none other ground than to facilitate the Accompt of the said Lord du Candal and that the said sum was paid in by them unto those particular Churches according to that Order and Instructions they had from this Synod and that therefore we do discharge those Reverend Ministers Rivet and Chauve and acquit them fully of the said Moneys CHAP. XV. A Dividend of Moneys among the Provinces 1. A Dividend made among all the Provinces of the sum of two hundred twenty five thousand Livers granted by his Majesty unto our Churches and this for the present Year and the Years following until the next National Synod according to which the said Lord du Candal shall make payment of the said sum as it was agreed between him at the National Synod of Gap and the Lords General Deputies who treated with him by its Authority 2. Out of which sum of 225000 li. before any dividend be made unto the Provinces there must be deducted these sums following which are allotted for the yearly maintenance of our Universities and Colleges 3. For the University of Die six hundred Livers 4. For the College of Bergerac twelve hundred Livers 5. For the University of Sedan four thousand Livers 6. For the University of Saumur five thousand one hundred and ninety Livers 7. For the University of Montauban three thousand seven hundred and eleven Livers 8. For the University of Nismes two thousand two hundred and thirty six Livers 9. For the Pension of Samuel du Fresne one hundred fifty seven Livers
take our advice first in it CHAP. X. FORM of EXCOMMUNICATION 2. Paâ—is 2. 2. Vitre 2. Observaâ— upon the Discipline 21 THE Province of Poictou requested that there might be another Form of Excommunication framed of a larger Nature than that in our Discipline because the horrible Corruptions of the Age we live in do indispensably need it and call upon us loudly to put it in Execution Whereupon this Form following was drawn up See the Excommunicat 〈◊〉 Jâ—â—emy Ferâ—â—er in the â—nd of the Synod of Tâ—â—neiâ—s My Brethren This is the Fourth time that we declare unto you that N. N. hath been suspended the Lords Table for that hainous Crime of N. committed by him to the great scandal of the Church of God and yet he continues impenitent and rejecteth all Counsels and Admonitions that have been given him which suspension and its causes we have fully notified unto you that you might joyn your Prayers with ours unto the great God to soften his stony heart and to move him unto Repentance and to bring him out of the high and broad way of destruction But notwithstanding our Indulgence to him and long suffering and forbearance of him although we have prayed intreated threatned and adjured him to break off his sinful courses and to return unto the Lord and tryed all means to bring him unto Repentance he yet persisteth in his Ungodliness and Impenitency and is more obstinate and hardned in his Rebellions against God and tramples under foot his Holy Word and scorneth that Discipline which God hath set up in his Church boasting himself of his Sin and causeth unto the Church for a very long time a world of grief and trouble and the Holy and Effectual Name of Jehovah our God to be blasphemed Wherefore we Ministers of the Word and Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ whom God hath armed with Spiritual Weapons Mighty through God to destroy the strong holds of Sin which oppose and exhalt themselves against him and to whom the Eternal Son of God hath given an ample Power of binding and loosing in Earth declaring that what we shall do here below he will ratifie and make it good in Heaven we being willing to purge and cleanse the House of God and to free the Church from all Reproach and Scandal and to glorifie the Name of God by pronouncing an Anathema upon the Wicked and Godless Sinner We do in the Name and by the Authority of our Lord Jesus and by and with the Advice of the Pastors and Elders assembled in the Colloquy at N. and of the Consistory of the Church of N We have and do cut off the said N. from the Communion of the Church we do Excommunicate him and cast him out of the Society of Gods Saints that he may be reputed by you as a Publican and Pagan and that among the faithful he may be an Anathema and Execration Let his Company be lookt upon as contagious and plaguy and his Example possess your Souls with terror and horror and make you tremble under the Mighty Hand of God and know that 't is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the Living God And this our Sentence of Excommunication the Son of God himself will ratifie and may he succeed and prosper it in such an effectual manner that this proud Sinner being ashamed and confounded before God may give Glory to him by his Conversion and that being deliver'd from the power of the Devil who hath hitherto kept him in Chains and Bondage he may be sorry for his Sin with a Godly sorrow and turn from it with a repentance unto life never to be repented of Let us my well-beloved Brethren call upon our God that he would be pleased to yearn with the bowels of his compassion upon this vile and miserable Creature and that this horrible Sentence which to our very great regret and grief we pronounce against him by and with the Authority of the Son of God may serve to abase and humble him and to reduce him into the way of Life and Salvation who hath wandred and strayd as a lost Sheep in the crooked paths of destruction Amen! Amen! Cursed is he who doth the Work of the Lord negligently Amen! If any one love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha Amen! 22. The Province of Xaintonge craved advice what course we might take with them who take out from the Courts of Parliament Prohibitions against the Orders and Censures of the Church as if they were intolerable abuses This Assembly injoyneth all Synods Colloquies and Consistories to procede against such Persons as Rebels against the Discipline of our Church and to inflict upon them the last and heaviest censure of Excommunication provided they have first endeavoured by the ways of Love and Kindness and Grave Religious Counsels to reduce such Persons unto their Duty and to subject them unto our Church Orders CHAP. XI The Canons of the Synod of Dort incorporated with those of the Reformed Churches of France 23 A Motion was made in this National Synod that some course should be taken in time to prevent the spreading of the Arminian Errors that have of late so much troubled the Churches of the Netherlands that they create no trouble to the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom This Assembly embraced the motion very readily and approved of it as very laudable just and needful for the peace of the Church of God and for the Conservation of the purity of our Doctrine and for the farther strengthning of our Union with the Foreign Reformed Churches and therefore counting the Maladies of the Low-Country Churches a very fair Advertisement and warning unto us and that we may imitate so excellent an Example and prevent the danger threatned us by making use of these self-same means they did for the Expulsion of those Errors out of their Bowels wherefore forasmuch as the National Synod of Dort called by the Authority wise Counsel and vigilant forecast of their High and Mighty Lordships the States General of the Confederate Netherlands and of all the United Provinces under their Jurisdiction and Government and in which assisted personally divers great and very Learned Divines from many other Reformed Churches of our Lord Jesus hath been in the Netherlands and still is a most effectual remedy for the Reformation of the Church and the grubbing of Heresies in the Article of Predestination and its depencies This Assembly after invocation of the Name of God decreed that the Articles of the said National Council held at Dort should be read in full Synod which being read accordingly and every Article ponder'd most attentively they were all received and approved by a common unanimous consent as agreeing with the Word of God and the Confession of Faith in these our Churches that they were framed with singular prudence and purity that they were very meet and proper to detect the Arminian Errors and to confound them for which reason all the
Council that the Moneys granted by his Bounty unto the Churches might be assigned on some particular Tally for this year That a long time was spent before he could find any success of his endeavours But at last they would give him Orders and Assignations which in truth he refused to accept because he knew them to be naught and worth nothing And that finally about the end of the last April they had given him others which he was constrained to take because he saw the Lords of the Council fixed in their resolutions of giving him none other That indeed these latter Assignations were a little better than the former but it would be a very great while before any payment were made that it would be at least Six or Eight Moneths before the first Summ would become due that the whole Assembly knew they would not grant him any Order or Tally for the last year 1622 yea and His Majesty had revoked his former grant of Moneys to the Churches for the year 1621 and employed them elsewhere to some other purposes And as for the Arrears due unto us in the foregoing years he had took all care possible and used the utmost diligence to recover them but with very little or no success that he had brought in his Accompts and prayed the Assembly to constitute a Committee to audit and close them The Assembly having most heartily thanked the said Lord of Candal for his singular care respects and kindnesses upon all occasions expressed unto the Churches and desired the continuance of his Love did nominate Messieurs de Basnage and Le Clark Pastors du Port and du Four Elders to peruse and examine his Accompts And whereas a world of inconveniencies will befal our Churches by so long delay of paying in the Moneys granted us by His Majesty for this year now current the Synod deputed the Sieurs de L' Angle a Pastor and du Port an Elder and the Lords of Montmartyn and Candal to wait upon His Majesty and on the behalf of this Assembly most humbly to beseech him to grant some other Assignations and Orders for the more speedy paying in of His Majesties Great Bounty unto our Churches and that as a Token of His Royal Goodness and Liberality he would be pleased to add some other Summs to us instead of those which have been taken from us in the last foregoing years we having received not so much as one farthing or doibt for them 15. A few dayes after the said Deputies being returned from the King they made Report in this Assembly how Graciously they had been received by His Majesty who assured them that in case his said Subjects of the Reformed Religion continued in their Duty and Obedience he would alwayes give them all possible content And the same Expressions of kindness they received also from the Lords of His most Honourable Privy Council who ordered out of hand Forty Thousand Livres to be payed in unto them they yielding up unto their Lordships the old Warrants for the like Summ but as for what was requested about reimbursing us the years past by fixing those Summs due unto us on some other Tallies and Assignations their Honours were pleased to say There was no reason why they should promise it 16. The Province of Anjou requested that the University of Saumur might not any longer be left destitute of Professors in Divinity but that some speedy care and course might be taken to send Monsieur Cameron to be Professor of that faculty in it The Lord Commissioner and Deputy for His Majesty unto this Synod declared that it was the Will and Pleasure of His Majesty that those two Gentlemen Mr. Gilbert Primrose and Mr. John Cameron should not be preferred neither of them to any Publick Office either of Pastors in the Churches or of Pastors and Professors in the Churches and Universities of this Kingdom not because of their Birth as being Foreigners but for some private Reasons of State relating to his Service And the said Lord of Galland presented us His Majesties Letters Written and Signed with His Own Hand Lewes and a little lower de L' Omeny Dated the Twenty Fifth day of this present Moneth The Assembly understanding this to be His Majesties pleasure would not put it to the Vote Whether they should be continued or not in their Ministry but deputed the Sieurs Cottiby Minister of the Gospel and du Bois and St. Martyn Elders together with the Lord of Montmartyn General Deputy to carry unto His Majesty a Petition from this Assembly wherein this Assembly did most humbly beseech His Majesty that as he had lately with his own Mouth most graciously promised so His Majesty would be pleased to give Order that all our Ministers might as fully injoy the fruit and benefit of his promise CHAP. XV. N. B. What picque the King of France had against Monsieur Cameron as I cannot tell so I shall not write my guesses and conjectures about it because they may be and may not be true Mr. Cameron if he had designed what afterwards some others attempted a coalition of both the Religions Protestant and Popish yet certainly was no Papist yea far enough from their Doctrine and Worship But he had angred the Jesuits not so much as his Reverend Colleague and Countreyman And this was the true reason why Monsieur Primrose was necessitated to quit Bourdeaux and France when as Cameron was permitted to tarry and return to Bourdeaux and was preferred unto the Professors Chair in Divinity afterwards at Montauban On Whitsunday in the year 1619. Father Arnoux the Jesuit preaching before the King Queen and Court of France in the Castle of Amboise attempted a Task impossible to whiten Blackamores to wash or wipe his Church clean and especially his own Order from an indelible blot viz. That they held it lawful to kill Kings This the Jesuit with a boldness and audaciousness which is the proper Talent of their Society would have some how or other evaded He assures that Royal Auditory with the greatest confidence that it was never the Doctrine of their Catholick Church never believed by these good Fathers that Subjects might lawfully rebel against their Sovereigns yea that it doth anathematize all those who teach and preach that the Sacred Persons of Princes may be lawfully made away and murdered yea that the whole Society of Jesuits doth condemn detest and as much as hi them lieth doth anathematize all Advisers Abettors and Aiders of Rebels against their King upon any pretext vvhatsoever His Majesty and that vvhole illustrious Auditory vvere overjoyed at this free and liberal Declaration of the Jesuit and quitted the Sermon as they said very much edified And His Majesty told it publickly that he had great reason to be pleased with the Fathers of the Society and that Father Arnoux had in the Name and stead of them all plainly and fully enough condemned the Book of Mariana Monsieur Primrose vvas present at this Sermon and
born again not of corruptible Seed but of that which is incorruptible CANON IX Who teach That our Lord Jesus Christ did no where pray for the infallible perseverance of Believers in the Faith for they contradict our Lord himself Luke 22.32 I have prayed Simon Peter that thy Faith may not fail And the very Letter of St. John's Gospel chap. 17.11 where Christ saith that he did not pray for his Apostles only but also for all them who should believe by their Word Holy Father keep them in thy Name and ver 15. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the World but that thou shouldest keep them from evil CANON X. We Pastors and Elders whose Names are hereunder-written Deputies for the Reformed Churches of France unto the National Synod of Charenton St. Maurice near Paris in the Moneth of September 1623. do declare with all possible sincerity the Articles and Canons above-mentioned to be grounded on the Word of God and agreeable to the Confession of Faith owned and received in the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom from which in the presence of God we do protest that through his Grace we will never depart In confirmation whereof we have hereunto affixt our Names at Charenton aforesaid this 30th day of September 1623. Signed by the Pastors and Elders of the said Synod Durand Moderator De Baille Assessor Faucheur and Scribes De Launay Scribes Berbie Pastor of the Church of Quaissac J. Clerc de Chambrun Chamier Pastor of Montlimart J. le Pelletier Pastor in the Church of Vandome Savoys Pastor in the Church of Castres Sir John Embelier Jurieu Pastor of Chastillon on the Loir Villon Faures J. M. de Langle Pastor of Rouen P. Paulet Pastor of Vezenobre Avignon Pastor of Rennes P. Beraud Pastor and Professor in the Church of Montauban Lottiby Pastor at Poitiers William Rivett Pastor of Taillebourg in Xaintonge CHAP. XXVII Remarks upon some of the Deputies Commissionated unto this Synod 1 MOnsieur Durant the Moderator was first Minister to the Landgrave of Hesse and after to that Excellent Princess Katharine Dutchess of Barr only Sister of Henry the Fourth and at last Pastor of the Church of Paris He was a very Holy Man of God a most Eloquent and Zealous Preacher he was like Lightning and Thunder in the Pulpit There be Three Excellent Sermons of his in print upon the Nineteenth Verse of the Fifth Chapter and First Epistle to the Thessalonians He grew sickly after his return from this Synod and dyed in the Year 1626. 2. Peter de Launay who was the Lay-Scribe in this Synod was a very Learned Gentleman and of great Reputation in the Churches of France He hath written Commentaries upon all the Epistles of Paul in French which are printed in Two Volumes in Quarto He Commented also but under another Name upon the Prophesie of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John 3. Adrian Chamier was the Worthy Son of the Great Chamier the Third Minister successively from his Grandfather a Pious Minister in Dolphiny I knew five of his Grandsons all Learned and Godly Ministers and Exiles for Christ The Ministry hath been in this Family for Six Generations Monsieur Leger that was a Pastor in the Churches of the Valleys of Piedmont writes that the Ministry had been in his Family for above Four Hundred years and that his Grandfather preached when he was above an Hundred Years Old See Legers Histoire General des Vaudols Livre 2. pag. 360. Adrian Chamier was for his great Prudence and Ability to manage Synodical businesses chosen Deputy to several of their National Synods He succeeded his Father in the Pastoral Office in the Church of Montlimart Of whom God lending me Life I shall say more in my Icones 4. Jurieu he was the Father of Monsieur Jurieu the Learned Pastor and Professor of Divinity in the French Church and Illustrious School of Rotterdam 5. Beraud he succeeded his Father in both Functions as Pastor of the Church and Professor of Divinity in the University of Montauban 6. Monsieur William Rivet he was Brother to Andrew Rivet Professor of Divinity at Leyden distinguisht from him by the Title of Lord of Champvernon He would never remove from his Church of Taillebourg He was very dear unto the House of Tremouille Deputy to several National Synods a Man of singular prudence and dexterity in the management and dispatch of the Synodical Affairs insomuch that when he died there was a great lamentation for him because of that great loss the whole Province sustained in his Death But God made it up in Two years time by raising up Twenty Ministers capable of doing all Services in their Provincial Synod as I have been credibly informed by some Ancient and Eminent Pastors of Poictou He was a Man of great Learning He hath writt de Justificatione and another Book de Invocatione Adoratione Sanctorum defunctorum I have seen another piece of his in French of the Authority of the Scriptures in Quarto and there is a Fourth in Octavo Des droicts de Dieu Sir Augustus Galland was the first Commissioner for the King in any of their National Synods He represented the King in this I suppose he was born in Bearn or Navar. He was a great Lawyer and Antiquary his Works are printed in one Folio viz. Memoirs pour L' Histoire de Navarre de Flandre par Guillemot Paris 1648. 8. Monsieur de Baux Lord of L' Angle Pastor of the Church of Caen The Reverend Dr. L' Angle Prebend of Westminster is his Son 9. Monsieur Mestrezat Of him see the Second Synod of Charenton in which he presided THE Acts Canons Decisions and Decrees OF THE XXIV NATIONAL SYNOD OF The Reformed Churches OF FRANCE AND BEARNE Assembled in The City of Castres in the Country of Albigeois In the Year of Our Lord 1626. The CONTENTS of the Synod of CASTRES 1 Chap. THE Lord Galland produced his Commission from the King to sit and represent His Majesty in this Synod The Commission it self Deputies to the Synod Election of the Synodical Officers Chap. II. The Kings writ for calling of the Synod and ordering of Matters in it Chap. III. The Commissioners Speech to the Synod Chap. IV. The Synods Answer to it Chap. V. The Kings Writ for Election of a new General Deputy upon the Death of the former Chap. VI. The Debate about that Writt Chap. VII The Synods Letter to the King about this Election Chap. VIII Their Deputies return with His Majesties Answer verbal and written The Kings Letter Monsieur Herbaut Miwister of State his Letter to the Synod Chap. IX The Lord Commissioners more ample Declaration of His Majesties Will and several points demanded by their Deputies Chap. X. The Kings Warrant and Order unto the Synod for the Nomination of their General Deputies without any Previous Political Assembly Chap. XI A Conference between the Synod and the Lord Commissioner Chap. XII A Remonstrance of the Lord of Angoulins on
any Difference should arise about this matter then it should be referred unto the Consistory of Montpellier who were impowered by this present National Synod to decide it finally 76. Monsieur Bardon Receiver of the Moneys appertaining to the Province of Higher Languedoc is intreated to advance unto the Family of Monsieur Voisin out of the first Moneys he shall receive that free Portion which was granted by this National Synod unto the said Family 77. The Petition of the Church of Vielle Vigne requesting that an hundred Livers might be granted them for the keeping up of their School was remanded back unto the Province of Brittain who were charitably to consider of it 78. A Petition from the Church of Tressans was presented unto this Council by the Sieur Razes who ordered the Province of Lower Languedoc to give the belt Assistance to it and an Accompt of their Condition is to be brought in unto the next National Synod 79. The Reverend Mr. Constans and Erondelle gave in their Judgment about a Book writ by the Sieur Bufon and perused by them whereupon a Vote pass'd that it should not be printed and the Reasons moving the Council thereunto shall be reported unto the said Buson by Monsieur Fort one of the Deputies of the Lower Guyenne 80. For as much as three free Portions had been allotted by the last National Synod of Charenton unto the Churches of Soulés in case they were provided of a second Pastor This Assembly authorizeth the Colloquy of Condonnois to examine that Proposan who was said to be fit for the Ministry and the Province of Lower Guyenne is charged to advance such a Sum as they shall judg needful for the Maintenance of a second Pastor and to make Report thereof unto the next National Synod which shall reimburse them those their Moneys 81. This Council decreed that out of the first Moneys which should be received the Sum of two hundred Livers should be presented to each of our Professors in the University of Montauban and Saumur for the Years one thousand six hundred twenty one and twenty two in which they receieved nothing 82. The Province of Higher Languedoc understanding that there was a Dividend of Moneys made by this Council demanded the Reimbursement of four hundred Livers which in Obedience to a Decree of the last Synod at Charenton they had paid in to Monsieur Berauld Professor of Divinity in the University of Montauban But this their Demand was ordered to be brought into the next National Synod who will take Care to see them have Restitution made of that aforesaid Sum disbursed by them 83. The Accompt rendred by the Isle of France for its Colledg was accepted and the Council voted that the Censure pronounced against the said Province should be razed out of the Acts of the last National Synod 84. This Assembly not judging it convenient unto Reason to repeal its own Ordinance about Mr. Percy did deposit that Act concerning several Heads of Families in the Church of Montflanquin and those Acts of the Church of Bourdeaux and of Monsieur Ferrand in the Hands of the Deputies of Lower Guyenne who should make Report of them unto the next National Synod to whom the final Judgment of this Affair is dismissed 85. The Deputies of Dolphiny presented Letters from Monsieur de Piotet Pastor of the Church of Molines together with the Canons of our National Synods and Church-Discipline compiled by him into a just Volume Whereupon Commissioners were nominated to peruse this his Collection and they bringing in a very favourable Report concerning it Thanks were voted unto the said Monsieur Piotet and that he should by Letters from this Assembly be advised of the Defects noted by the Commissioners in this his Work that so he might compleat it and render it more useful and serviceable to the Churches 86. The Lord of Montmartyn Deputy-General for our Churches reporting unto this Assembly that there were divers Orders which greatly imported the common Good of all our Churches and which he had obtained some Years ago from the Privy Council and of which it is very needful he should have the keeping that he may produce them upon all Occasions and Occurrences for the better Service of our Churches And whereas several Deputies of the Provinces have remonstrated that for the Information of their Provinces and the better inabling them to pursue and execute those Orders of Council there is a Necessity that they should be possess'd of the said Originals or at least of Copies most exactly transcribed from and faithfully compared with them This Assembly taking into Consideration the many Copies of those Orders necessary for the Provinces all of which cannot possibly have the said Originals but with a great deal of Time and Expence of Moneys did intreat the Lord Galland his Majesties Commissioner to us that he would be pleased to give himself the Trouble of collationing the Copies with the Originals that so they may be of better Use and Service to the Deputies and Provinces which have sent them according as the Necessity of their Affairs may require 87. The Magistrates of Castres having past a Judgment against Peter Peris at the Request of Monsieur Constans now that the Charges may be defrayed of that Process an Order was given that the said Sieur Constans should presently receive four and twenty Livers 88. Forty Livers were ordered unto the Transcriber of the Copies of that Cahier brought by the Magistrates of this City unto the Lord Montmartyn and of the Accompts given us by the Lord of Candall 89. As soon as the time of the Sieur Fabre's Suspension is expired the Colloquy of Albigeois shall immediately assemble and provide the Church of La Caune another Pastor 90. Monsieur Combalasse Pastor of the Church of Venez prayed this Assembly to assist him and the Widow of Monsieur Raffin deceased with some Moneys that they might bring their Law-suit to an End about the Settlement of their Temple in the Town of Venez But their Demand as had been before in the like Case practised by the National Synod of Alez was dismissed over to the next Provincial Synod of Higher Languedoc And in the mean while this Council assured him that they would improve all their Power and Interest to procure the said Settlement 91. The Provincial Deputies of Burgundy and the Lord of Beaufort Deputy for the Province of Sevennes shall in their Return homeward pass through the Towns of Sauve and Anduze and acquaint the Consistories there with the Intention of this Council and shall do their best Indeavours to reconcile the Sieurs Bony and Aldebert and put to their helping Hand that the Overseer of the Poor in the Town of Anduze and the said Mr. Bony do agree upon Arbitrators who may put a Period to their Differences 92. The Proceedings formed against the Sieurs Peris and Jolly were delivered unto the Provincial Deputies of Xaintonge and Higher Languedoc in which Provinces they both lived
before their Deposal And the Proceedings against the Sieur Beraut was put into the Hands of Monsieur Baux 93. The Council being informed of those excellent Gifts which the Lord hath liberally bestowed on Monsieur Godefrey Doctor of the Civil Laws and Professor of that Faculty in the University of Geneva ordered Letters should be written to intreat him because of his singular Knowledg in Antiquity that he would discover and publish to the World those Artifices and Disguises used by Cardinal Baronius and other Doctors of the Church of Rome to corrupt and alter the true History of the Ancient Church 94. The Lord Commissioner was intreated to write unto the Lord President of Tholouse in Behalf of Monsieur Bidac imprisoned at Sommieres for abjuring the Errors and Idolatry of the Romish Church and Mr. Petit was charged to carry unto that Parliament his Majesties Letters and Command and to join themselves with the young Mr. Galland the Lord Commissioner's Son who will be sent thither for this very End by his Father 95. The Lord of Candall is desired to pay unto Monsieur Mercurin the Sum of sixty Livers which were given him by the National Synod of Vitré and it shall be allowed him in his Accompt for the Moneys appertaining to our Churches 96. Mr. Mestrezat and d'Huysseau presented Letters from the Church of Paris most humbly petitioning that Monsieur Chauve whom they had so often and earnestly requested for their Minister might now at length be bestowed upon them The Deputies also of the Isle of France joined with them in their Petition But Mr. Chauve as earnestly intreated the Council that he might be continued in his Ministry unto the Church of Sommieres because of its great Afflictions and present Necessities And the Provincial Deputies of Lower Languedoc did with as much Importunity request that the Rights of that Church and of the Province might be preserved and he in no wise removed from his Pastoral Charge This weighty Affair having been maturely deliberated the Council considering the Desire of the Reverend Mr. Chauve and the singular Importance of the Church of Paris and the present Condition of that of Sommieres decreed That the Church of Paris should carry their Demand unto the next Synod of Lower Languedoc which is injoined to pay all just Deference unto this Request of the Church of Paris and to gratify them fully in it provided that it be not a Case of Conscience with that Reverend Minister and determined by him positively that 't is his Duty to live and die with his said Church of Sommieres 97. A Letter was read from the Church of Vigan and the Lord of Villencufve their Messenger and the Deputies of the Province of Sevennes were heard speak as to its Contents After which the Council gave leave unto that Church to seek a Pastor for it self without the Province of Sevennes and injoineth the Colloquy of Sauve to assist the said Church until such time as they be provided of a Minister to their Contentment 98. Mr. Constans and Mr. Belot represented unto the Council the great and pressing Necessities they labour under through their Inability of paying those Moneys they borrowed during their Imprisonment at Bourdeaux Whereupon the Receiver of the Province of Xaintonge was ordered to pay them thirteen Portions and an half which were given them for the Years 1627 1628 and 1629. out of the Arrears due in the Year 1621. And that the said Receiver may come to no Trouble about it he shall join the said thirteen Portions and an half unto those other Portions which were given them that so they may divide them equally between them as has been accustomed 99. If any Church in the Colloquy of Nismes should desire Monsieur Baux for their Minister who is at present Pastor of the Church in Cucque This Assembly decreed That he might have his Liberty and accept of such a Call without any Obstruction or Molestation 100. The Deputies of Sevennes are charged as they return homeward to pass through the City of Beziers and to recommend to the Judges and Counsellors of that Court the Affairs of the Church of Alez and of those Reverend Ministers Mr. Paulet and Banzillon 101. For as much as in the Dividend to the Province of Higher Languedoc there were two Portions couched for two Professors of Divinity in the University of Montauban although it had been before determined by this Synod that the said Professors should receive but an half Portion and give Acquittance unto their Church for it now the Lord of Candall is ordered to detain in his Hands one of those Portions and to accompt for it unto the next National Synod 102. The Relation of Mr. Banzillon's Troubles was read as also Letters written by the Lord Marquess of Varennes Governour of Aguemortes unto his Lordship his Majesty's Commissioner in this Assembly Whereupon the Lord Commissioner was most importunately intreated to intercede for Mr. Banzillon with the Lords Judges in the Court of Bezieres and with the said Lord of Varennes and it was unanimously voted that a most humble Petition should be presented unto his Majesty that his Majesty would be graciously pleased to permit our Churches and Ministers officiating in them their injoyment of that Peace and Liberty and their comfortable Effects which by his Edicts are accorded to us and that his Majesty would order the said Lord Marquess and all other Governours of Places to follow and imitate his Majesty in his favourable Inclinations and Disposition towards us and to cause his Subjects of the Reformed Religion both Ministers and People who live within their Governments and Jurisdiction to reap the refreshing Fruits of his Majesty's most gracious Favour and Protection Moreover this Council ordained that till such time as Mr. Banzillon may be restored unto the Exercise of his Ministry in the Church of Aiguesmortes that Church shall be supplied by the Neighbour Pastors to whose Christian Charity the said Church is in a most special manner recommended and that they would upon all Occasions assist it in its great and pressing Necessities 103. Mr. Petit made report of what had been done by him and Mr. Galland junior in their Conference with the Lord President in the Parliament of Tholouse and they presented his Lordship's Letters unto this Synod And they received the Thanks of this Synod for the Pains taken by them And an Answer was voted unto the Letters of the said Lord President and the Consuls of Montauban and Castres were desired to pass over to Tholouse immediately after Martin-mass and to sollicit the Enrollment of his Majesty's Letters of Command unto that Court of Parliament and to see that the Restrictions opposed by that Court unto his Majesty's Declaration be removed 104. The Deputies of Dolphiny giving an honourable Character of Monsieur Agard who had lately quitted the Convent of the Jacobins at Avignion a Vote passed in the Council That Report hereof should be made in the next National Synod
Holy Work and as you have been made a Spectacle to Men and Angels so do you persist to hold forth the Light of the Gospel in all Pureness and to fight the good Fight with the Weapons of Righteousness on the right Hand and on the left taking all possible Care that no Root of Bitterness do spring up which under the Shadow and Pretext of subtle Questions may weaken or diminish the Union of all your Members and whom 't is most indispensably needful you should firmly cement in an Uniformity of Confession to avoid those dreadful Distractions which will infallibly arise from a Diversity of Opinions and Affections All the Reformed Churches as far as ever we could learn were filled with Joy at those solid Declarations made in your National Synods against revived Pelagianism and at that singular Care taken by those venerable and Holy Councils to exclude it out of your Churches Now he that lowed those Tares in God's Field is not asleep but is still at Work wherefore there is need of continual Watchings there must be no relaxing of your Circumspection lest you should lose the things which you have wrought But we may forbear insisting any longer on this Argument nor is there any reason that we should exhort you to continue in your godly Purposes and Resolutions Sith your great Zeal is a most powerful Example to excite others It 's enough that we have thus opened our Hearts unto your Reverences and have largely experienced the harmonious Uniformity of your Holy Thoughts and Intentions And forasmuch as by these late Troubles some famous Universities have to our unspeakable Grief suffered very sad Eclipses and Interruptions we shall do our best and utmost Endeavour to keep burning that little Candle which the Goodness of our God hath lighted up in our poor Candlestick And our most honoured Magistrates have resolved to continue their Incouragement and Maintenance of our School and University which from its first Foundation had none other Design or End than to prepare Instruments who might be another Day capable of edifying God's Church And they conceive themselves at this time more especially concerned and obliged to serve your Churches because 't is but the Repayment of an old Debt We owing the Original of our Academy unto the worthy Labours of some of your most eminent and famous Ministers besides your favourable Respects have been exceeding serviceable to it in its Growth and Progress and they do receive with singular Consolation the Assurances of your good Will both from the Letters of the last Synod at Charenton and from your sending of Students hither to whose Advancement in Learning and Godliness we shall most willingly contribute whatever God hath imparted to us that so we may return them to you well improved and furnished with those requisite Talents for the Ministry in the Temple of the Lord. Moreover we do return you our most hearty Thanks for your kind Remembrance had of our Church in times past and we do bless the Lord for the Expressions of his Majesty's Love and Kindness towards our City which is a Continuance of those Royal Favours we have ever received from the Crown of France and consonant to his former Declarations that he would not exclude the Natives of this Town in case according to your excellent Discipline they should be called out unto the Ministry in the Churches of his Kingdom And we are so very well satisfied of your Love unto us that it the aforesaid Declaration should not be notified unto some of the Churches yet by your means it shall be so for the future and this will be a renewed Pledg and Confirmation of your ancient fraternal Charity and Affection to us Whereupon we do most affectionately salute in the Lord your Holy Synod and tender you our most humble Service intreating the Continuance of your good Will unto us and that you would strive together with us in your Prayers for us as we do continually recommend you unto our God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Word of his Grace and to his Spirit of Consolation and all your Churches Persons Labours and your whose sacred Assembly to his most blessed Protection beseeching the great Shepherd of Souls that he would daign to preside in the midst of you and make you perfect in every good Work to do his Will working in you what is well pleasing to him and accumulate upon you his best and most Heavenly Benedictions to the Glory of his Holy Name And subscribe our selves Most Honoured Lords and Brethren Your most affectionate Brethren and most humble Servants in the Lord the Pastors and Professors in the Church and University of Geneva and in the Name of them all Prevost Diodati B. Turretin Du-Pan The Superscription was thus To our most Honoured Lords and Brethren the Pastors and Elders of the Reformed Churches of France assembled in their National Synod at Castres The Answer of the Pastors and Elders in the National Synod of Castres unto the Letter of the Right Reverend Pastors and Professors of Geneva Most Honoured Lords and Brethren AMong the Consolations which the Goodness of our God hath granted us in this Place this which we have received from your Communion in Spirit with us and those cordial Affections which you have expressed to us have been therefore the more acceptable because that as we rejoice in the Lord so we cannot but be thankful to him for that after so many Troubles and Desolations we be yet permitted to assemble from all Corners and Quarters of this Kingdom to the upholding settling and confirming of his Holy Worship You also are come in by your Letters to bear your Parts in this sacred Harmony augmenting by the Union of your Hearts with ours the rich Blessing which the Prophet hath compared to that precious Oil poured out upon the Head of Aaron and to the Dew which descends from Mount Sion and this too with such an Efficacy that the bare hearing of your sweet Consolations and Holy Counsels hath by a most secret and powerful Motion sensibly operated upon us and raised up the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Head in us who doth unite us though many Members into one Body in the Lord. We do therefore imbrace you in our God and accept thankfully of your Prayers and Holy Affections giving Thanks unto our Heavenly Father that as you have piously confess'd it he made us an Example of his Compassions and having saved us out of divers Perils and Distresses he hath preserved us our Lives by no less a Miracle than that of old when as he preserved the Bramble-Bush from being consumed in the midst of those Flames of War which ravaged our whole Country Nor can we sufficiently adore his singular Loving Kindnesses that although the Sins of his People had so far provoked his Wrath as to throw down all our Fences and to demolish all our Fortresses and to wither that Arm of Flesh in which we had so
Causes over to the Provinces to be finally decided by them CHAP. XX. General Matters Article 1. IT having been reported in this Assembly that the Magistrates in divers Places have commanded the Professors of our Religion to hang their Houses and light out Candles on that Festival that goes by the Name of the Holy Sacrament and that several Persons thrô a deplorable Infirmity have so much forgotten themselves as to observe an Ordinance which obliges their Consciences to yield unto the Creature that self-same Honour which is due unto the Creator This Assembly wanting Words with which it may express its just Grief and Resentment for such an inexcusable Cowardliness doth adjure the Consciences of those Persons who have fallen into Sins so repugnant unto true Piety by the Fear of the Living God by the Zeal of his Glory by the Bowels of his Mercy in the Son of his dearest Love and by that special Care the Faithful ought to have of their Salvation that they would revive their Zeal and shew themselves Loyal Followers of the Faith and Constancy of their Fathers and testify by their Perseverance in Well-doing the Sincerity and Soundness of their Repentance and of their Affection to the Service of God Moreover the Consistory of those Places where such Scandals do fall out is injoined to rebuke them with an holy Vigour who give such an evil Example and all Synods are to proceed against them with all Ecclesiastical Censures and if they be Pastors and Elders who by their Connivance and Dissimulation have or for the future may favour such Offenders they shall not only be suspended but deposed also from their Offices CHAP. XXI An Act for a Publick National Fast 2. FOrasmuch as after a most desolating Drought which hath reduced the greatest part of the Provinces of this Kingdom to an extream Famine the Hand of God lifted up against us is not yet called back but continueth to visit his People by contagious and mortal Diseases which have overspread the whole Land and are every day more and more growing upon us This National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France assembled by his Majesty's Permission at Charenton acknowledging that the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven and poured but upon the Face of the Earth because of the Ungodliness of Men and of the Impenitency and Hardness of their Hearts to prevent the dreadful Judgment of this great and righteous Judg who resisteth the Proud and giveth Grace unto the Humble and to turn away the Floods of his Vengeance and to excite the Bowels of his fatherly Compassions and to impetrate from his Divine Bounty the continuance of his gracious Favours for the Prosperity and Repose both of Church and State doth exhort all the Faithful to bring forth Fruits worthy of Repentance and to cast off the unfruitful Works of Darkness and to return unto the Lord with broken humble and contrite Hearts And to this purpose it ordaineth That a Fart shall be celebrated in all the Churches of this Kingdom the first Day of January next following which shall be signified by the publick reading of this present Act. 3. Forasmuch as divers Provinces have craved Advice how we shall proceed against those Persons who occasion scandalous Reports prejudicial to the Peace of the Church and may hereafter propound Terms of Accommodation by mingling and blending of both Religions into one This Assembly recommendeth unto all the Churches the observation of that Canon which was made two and thirty Years ago in the National Synod of Montpellier whose Tenour followeth Syn. Montpel gen mat v. Forasmuch as 't is the Duty of all the Faithful heartily to desire the Reunion of all the Subjects of this Kingdom into the Vnity of Paith for the greater Glory of God for the Salvation of millions Souls and the singular Repose of the Common-wealth yet because of our Sins this being a Matter rather of our Desires than Hopes and that under this Pretext divers profane Persons do openly attempt to blend and mingle both Religions together All Ministers shall admonish seriously their Flocks not in the least to hearken unto any such Notions it being utterly impossible that the Temple of God should hold Communion with Idols as also for that such Wretches design only by this Trick to debauch easy credulous Souls from the Belief and Profession of the Gospel And whoever attempts such a Reconciliation be it either by Word or Writing shall be most severely censured CHAP. XXII An Act in favour of the Lutheran Brethren 4. THE Province of Burgundy demanding Whether the Faithful of the Augustane Confession might be permitted to contract Marriages in our Churches and to present Children in our Churches unto Baptism without a precedaneous abjuration of those Opinions held by them contrary to the Belief of our Churches This Synod declareth That inasmuch as the Churches of the Confession of Ausbourg do agree with the other Reformed Churches in the principal and fundamental Points of the True Religion and that there is neither Superstition nor Idolatry in their Worship the Faithful of the said Confession who with a Spirit of Love and Peaceableness do join themselves to the Communion of our Churches in this Kingdom may be without any abjuration at all made by them admitted unto the Lord's Table with us and as Sureties may present Children unto Baptism they promising the Consistory that they will never sollicit them either directly or indirectly to transgress the Doctrine believed and professed in our Churches but will be content to instruct and educate them in those Points and Articles which are in common between us and them and wherein both the Lutherans and we are unanimously agreed 5. If any Persons shall be hereafter deputed unto the Court by the National Synods during their sitting they shall be accountable for all Monies received by them for the defraying their Expenses whether those Sums do arise from their respective Churches or from his Majesty's Liberality that so whatever good Monies come in clearly unto the Churches being remitted into their common Stock may be disbursed to their common Profit and Advantage by Order of these Synods 6. Whereas contrary to his Majesty's Royal Word given unto the Deputies of the National Synod of Charenton in the Year 1623 That Strangers employed in the Service of the Churches of this Kingdom should be continued those Reverend and Learned Pastors Mr. Martinius and S. Sharpius are commanded to depart the Province of Dolphiny The Lord Commissioner is intreated immediately to issue out Letters Patents that may effectually hinder the execution of those new Orders and that all Foreigners received into the Ministry among us both before that time and since may not in any wise be molested or obstructed in performance of the Duties of their Charge and Calling 7. The Lord Commissioner declaring that it was his Maiesty's Intention that for the future our National Synods should beheld in this Place and nowhere else This Assembly in
Amyraud and Testard Messieurs and most Honoured Fathers and Brethren UNderstanding from good Hands That my Pains and Labour in the Defence of the Truth is very much blamed by persons of a contrary Perswasion I believed that as that Treatise Composed by me through the occasion of these new Controversies was submitted unto your Judgment so it was my Duty to undertake my own Justification and to wipe off those Reproaches wherewith I had been aspersed They say that I might have done well not to have medled with this Quarrel and that I am a Fellow who love to be embroyl'd and to fish in troubled Waters and who do presumptuously take upon me to prescribe my own private Notions as infallible Oracles You know Sirs that Messieurs Amyraud and Testard have kindled this fire which hath caused all this noise and hubbub and that 't is they who have fill'd all our Churches with those Books which in a very ill hour do remove the antient bounds by their new fangled Doctrines about the most important points of our Religion and that Monsieur Amyraud hath sent forth his Book of Predestination without ever submitting it to be examined by his Province or so much as waiting for its Approbation by them and that since that time contrary to the Advice of two Provinces and contrary to the Promise made by him unto Messieurs Vincent and du Soul he hath caused some certain Sermons of his containing the very self-same Doctrine to be Printed It was a long time before I stirred hoping that this Commotion would have calmed of it self and have found none to approve it But being well informed That this Distemper grew worse and worse and that this Sparkle might cause a great Conflagration I feared lest my Silence on such an urgent occasion might be interpreted for want of Zeal unto the Truth and be taken for an Approbation of their Errors I have none nor will I have any Quarrels with the Persons of those Gentlemen but only with their Doctrines It cannot be but ill resented that they should be permitted to Publish unto the World from the Press a new Doctrine and that it should be a Crime in me to Refute it in Manuscript I went about this Work with a great deal of Grief having nothing that lay heavier upon my heart or was more contrary to my Temper than to contend with my Brethren in the Work of the Lord especially now that my Age calls for Repose and that I am daily waiting for my Dissolution But I saw the Evil to be so great and its consequences so dangerous that I counted my self bound in Conscience to defend the Cause of God and to endeavour to discover the very bottom of the Imposture and the hidden Nature of it I very well know that your Assembly is made up of Persons of clearer and more piercing Judgments than my self nor would I be so presumptuous as to take upon me to be your Teacher but in what I have done I have satisfaction from my own Conscience nor durst I be wanting in my Duty unto God and the defence of his Cause But these Gentlemen who complain of me were not contented to keep within these Limits For besides the Printed Books wherein they have spread abroad their Doctrine they have now very lately Published a Treatise against me under the Name of Monsieur Vignier a Copy of which was sent unto the Provincial Synod of the Isle of France And I do not question but that they have disperst them elsewhere far and near I am also advised That Messieurs Amyraud and Testard do complain very much of a little Script of mine dictated not in the Publick School but in my private Chamber unto some few Scholars wherein I have changed their Names one of them into Greek and the other into Latin which I did out of fear lest if it should fall into the hands of any of the Romish Church they might understand my Discourse and learn out the Persons with whom I disputed of which little Treatise I never Communicated a Copy unto any one And understanding that these Gentlemen take this exchange of their Names in ill part I have Composed another more ample and exact than the former unto which I have set their Names that so I might give them content You be too Prudent not to observe that these Gentlemen do play at Tarriers with you and whilst they amuse you with Triftes their design is to take you off from diving into the bottom of their Doctrines and to divert you with idle Stories of my Practice and Custom instead of maintaining their own Cause 'T is but a small matter to change a French Name into Latin if compared with what they have done in changing the very Nature of God of the Law and of the Gospel I am informed that they make great out-cries for that in certain Letters written by me to Monsieur de la Millitierre I told him they endeavoured to make a new Religion a Hotch-potch of Popery and Cameronianism But let me not be misapprehended 't was never in my thoughts to charge the Doctrine of Monsieur Cameron who is now at rest with Heresy or that he intended to Model out a new Religion I only spake the Sence and Intention of de la Milletierre and the mark at which he aimed For he endeavours from the Doctrine of Monsieur Cameron to frame a new Religion and never speaks of him but as of an Oracle as of a most incomparable Person When we say that the Lutherans are equally bent both against Popery and Calvinism we do not thereby understand that Calvin was the Author of a new Religion I Honour the Memory of Monsieur Cameron and when there was need I defended it But yet I am truly of that mind That he had done very well if he had never over-turned the Order of God's Decrees as they were Explained and Asserted by the Synod of Dort and Approved by all the Reformed Churches of Europe and particularly by three National Synods at home which he had never done if he had soberly and seriously considered the consequences of his own Tanents For this new Method of his is that very Foundation upon which the Arminians have built all their Doctrines Nor can any one deny it but that one third part at least of all Cameron's Works is spent in the Confutation of Calvin Beza and the rest of our most Famous Doctors Yet notwithstanding these his Blemishes we are not to despise those Gifts and Graces God had so plentifully bestowed upon him and when I read his Works I cannot find that Doctrine which is now vented by those who boast themselves to be his Disciples and Followers and cover themselves with the Shield of his Authority I cannot find where he saith That the distinct knowledge of Jesus Christ is not necessary to Salvation nor that he saith That Jesus Chrict died equally and alike for all Men nor doth he Teach That the Reprobates may
about an Hundred Years agoe before any Edict was granted in favour of our Religion and was presented by them unto Francis the Second who then Reigned to give his Majesty a reason of their Hope and account of those Corruptions which they firmly believed to be in that Faith professed and Retained by the Church of Rome and that therefore it needed Reformation Insomuch as none of out French Protestants did at first nor can they now without being guilty of gross Prevarication change that form of Expression which hath from its very beginning been inserted into our Confession whereby to declare sincerely and in truth their common Belief authorised in the Year 1561 by the Edict of January and since by that of Nantes granted us by Henry the Great and Confirmed by the Late King and his Majesty now reigning Thirdly The whole Roman Catholick Creed was never nor can ever be truly qualified an Abuse and Deceit of Satan seeing that both the Church of Rome and the Protestants have no difference about the Doctrin of the Trinity and of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus which are the principal points of Christianity yet together with these Fundamental Verities and own'd by all Christians in France Germany and elsewhere there have been divers other Articles of Faith brought into the Romish Creed to which we cannot yield any Assent or Consent such are those of the Intercession of Saints of Purgatory of the Pope and sundry others which though they have been in Vogue in that Church for many Ages have notwithstanding been constantly opposed and contradicted by all Protestants both in France and other Countries So that should we abandon the Profession of our Faith permitted us by the Edict and that Confession we have made and declared of it with all Imaginable Sincerity and Truth in the Presence of God who searcheth our Hearts and cannot endure Hypocrisie nor an Evil Conscience we should render our Selves Guilty of a most inexcusable Imposture we should dissemble and Counterfeit in Religion and utterly ruin all our Hopes of Heaven and Everlasting Life by means of a Sacrilegious Profession not in the least believed by us Wherefore it is the hope of our pour Churches that his Majesty imitating the Examples of his Predecessors who granted to their Faithful Subjects the Liberty of their Consciences will the rather favour us with his Royal Support and Protection for that open Profession we do make of our Faith than if we had dissembled it or kept it secretly and close in our own Bosoms or uttered it in Ambiguous and Equivocating Expressions which would have turn'd our Religion into a Cheat and through a Fallacious Compliance full of Fraud and Imposture would have perfidiously Betray'd the Holy Faith of our Fellow protestants and be the Bane of our own Consciences Fourthly As to the Printer of Geneva he does not depend on the National Synods of this Kingdom nor hath he any Orders from us nor received any Command from his Superiors to use those Terms which he did and we wish he had forborn them though yet he Speaks and Prints nothing but what is the common Sense and Opinion of all Protestants in Europe who have all unanimously from the very first with One Consent impugned that Council of Trent as to the form of its Convocation the Proceedings Decrees and Anathema's thereof which also sundry Roman Catholick Princes have done who by their Ambassadors made and entred their Solemn Protests against it and its Decrees So did the Emperor Charles the Fifth from whom our King is Descended by his Mother's Side by the Lord of Mendoza So did Henry the Second by the then Lord Abbot of Bellozonne who was afterward Bishop of Auxerre And so did Charles the Ninth by Monsieur Ferrier who describing this Famous Assembly resembled it to a Scorpion pricking the French Church and used an Expression every way at Emphatical as that of the Geneva Printer whose Liberty is yet so displeasing unto their Majesty Fifthly Nor have our Churches been ever so unmindful of their Duty and Subjection as audaciously to assume unto themselves a power of being Judges in their own Cause and doing themselves right But the naked truth of the matter is this that being favoured with his Majesties Declaration which ratified the Edict of Nantes and those secret Articles and Concessions included in it which had been granted by our former Kings several particular Churches being restored unto their Ancient Right fully and compleatly they believed that it was no Crime on their part to make use of them according to the Intention of his Majesty Sixthly And it was upon this Innocent Supposition and which had not in it any the least tendency unto Disobedience against the Publick Government that the Exercise of our Religion accustomarily performed at Ribaute for Seventy Years together without any Interruption being violently hindred by the Lady of that Place and Monsieur Arnaud Pastor of Anduze who was invited by the People offering himself to Minister to them for their Edification according to the ancient Practice was driven away by meer Force by a Company of Soldiers commanded thither by the said Lady and he thereupon was imprisoned by Order from the Lord Lieutenant of Languedoc and notwithstanding his Appeal unto the Court of the Edict yet he was actually Condemned for which Grievance he is now prostrate at his Majesties Feet humbly imploring his Majesties Clemency and Justice according to the Edict Seventhly The Provincial Deputies of Lower Languedoc for the acquitting and discharge of their Churches which hath sent them do maintain that those Three Cities of Nismes Vsez and Montpellier having deputed the Sieurs Peyrol Vestrie and Fournier to tender in their Names with all possible speed their First and Bounden Duties unto his Majesty and their most Humble and Unfeigned Thanks for the grant of his Declaration They did also Petition for his Majesties Protection and Justice and with the lowliest Submission and Respect they demanded also a Reparation of the Infractions of the Edict according to the constant practice of our Churches so that they cannot be perswaded that those said Cities are fallen from the Duty which becomes good Subjects and whereunto they are obliged by their Consciences Nor are they at all to be blamed for Addressing themselves unto his Majesty against the Prohibition of the Lord Intendant though he used his Majesties Name directly contrary to his Majesties Intention notified to us and to the World by his publick Declaration Eighthly Nor is the City of Vsez guilty of violating the Edict no not in that particular Capitulation with his Majesty nor doth it need a new Grant for an ancient Usage which was never taken from them by any Previous Inhibition That Bell of which there is so much Noise and so loud Complaints made unto his Majesty was ever placed in the Steeple of the Temple from its first Foundation and continued there till a little before the Capitulation when the
made in this Ensuing Order Quest 5. Do not you believe that this great God who hath Created Heaven and Earth is one in Essence though distinguished into Three Persons Equal and Coeternal The Father the Son begotten of the Father from all Eternity and the Holy Ghost proceeding Everlasting from the Father and the Son Answ Yes Quest 6. Do not you believe that this Great God who never left himself without Witness hath manifested himself unto Men not only by his Works which ever since their first Production do uncessantly declare his Praise and Glory but also by the Revelation of his Counsel for the Salvation of Mankind contained in the Holy Scriptures called the Old and New Testament Answ Yes Quest 7. Do not you believe that all those Holy Scriptures are of Divine Inspiration and contain the perfect Rule of our Faith and Life Answ Yes Quest Do not you profess that you will even to the last Moment of your Life resist the Devil whom you have hitherto adored serving Idols made with hands or the Host of Heaven or those which by Nature are no Gods Answ Yes If the Catechumen be a Jew these Five following Questions shall be propounded to him omitting those Four above mentioned as properly belonging to the Heathen Quest 1. Do you not detest the Rebellion and Obdurateness of the Jews and do you not most humbly beg Pardon of God that you have been so long a time detained under it Answ Yes Quest 2. Do not you believe that the whole of God's Will which it hath pleased him graciously to reveal unto us is not only contained in the Books of the Old Testament but also in those of the new Answ Yes Quest 3. Do not you believe that Jesus the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary who was Conceived in her by the uneffable Power of the Holy Ghost and afterward Condemned to the Death of the Cross upon the malicious Accusation of the Jews by the Vnrighteous Sentence of Pontius Pilate and Raised from the Dead the Third Day and now exalted in Glory is God manifested in the Flesh the Eternal word of the Father by whom he Created and Sustaineth the whole World that blessed Seed promised unto Adam immediately upon his Fall by whose Power and Vertue the Head of that Old Serpent was Bruised whose coming in the Flesh all the Patriarchs believed and hoped for that great Prophet and true Messiah foretold by Moses and all the Prophets that lived after him Answ Yes Quest 4. Do not you believe that the Lord Jesus is the end of the Law for Righteousness unto all Believers the Truth and Substance of all his Types and Shadows the true Lamb of God who taketh away the Sins of the whole World and in whom all the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily Answ Yes Quest 5. Do not you believe that the Observation of the Ceremonial Law is now not only needless and Superfluous but also every way pernicious unto Conscience Ans Yes If the Catechumen be a Mahometan the Minister shall propound unto him these Six following Questions omitting those above mentioned which properly belong unto the Jews and Pagans Quest 1. Do you not believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament be inspired of God and contain his whole Counsel for the Salvation of Men and are the only perfect Rule of Faith and Life Answ Yes Quest 2. Do not you believe that Jesus the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary who was Conceived in her by the Vertue of the Holy Ghost and Formed as to the Flesh out of her own Substance is God and Man Blessed for evermore perfect God and perfect Man Man born of a Woman in due fulness of time and God begotten of the Father from Everlasting Answ Yes Quest 3. Do not you believe that the Lord Jesus from his first Conception after the Flesh was Holy Innocent without Blemish and separate from Sinners and that he did not suffer Death for his own Sins but for ours only Answ Yes Quest 4. Do not you believe that his Death is the Propitiation for our Sins yea and for the Sins of the whole World and that this Propitiation is infinitely Meritorious through which Everlasting Glory and Salvation were purchased for us Answ Yes Quest 5. Do not you believe that Mahomet was an Impostor and that his Alcoran is a Sacrilegious Heap of Idle Fancies full of Absurdities broach'd on design to set up a False and Abominable Religion Answ Yes Quest 6. Do not you believe that the Gospel of our Lord Jesus is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth and that in the Christian Religion only God the Father hath revealed his good Will and Pleasure for the Salvation of Men until the End of the World and that since its Revelation there is not any new Religion to be expired for that the Lord Christ is the only great Prophet promised unto the Faithful of the Old Testament and that God having formerly spoken at sundry times and in divers manners unto Men before the Law and under the Law hath spoken to the Church of the New Testament by the Mouth of his only Son the Lord Jesus Answ Yes Quest Give an Account of your Creed Answ I believe in God the Father Almighty Creator of c. In case the Catechumen be an Anabaptist the Minister having made all those Demands Printed in the Roman Character and omitted those in the Italian which more particularly belong either to Pagans Jews or Mahometans he shall thus proceed Quest 1. Do not you believe that the Lord Jesus is and shall be true God and true Man in those Two Natures everlastingly that he was according to his Human Nature like in all thing unto other Men Sin only excepted insomuch that he was the true Son of Abraham of David and of the Blessed Virgin descended from their Seed and Blood and that the Substance of his Body was not only formed in the Virgin but also out of the very Substance of the Virgin conformably to that Saying of the Apostle that he was of the Seed of David according to the Scriptures that he was born of a Woman and partaker of Flesh and Blood as all other Children Answ Yes Quest 2. Do you not believe that Infant-Baptism is grounded on the Scriptures and the perpetual Practice of the Christian Church Answ Yes Quest 3. Do not you renounce with your whole Heart their Error who reject Baptism And are you not penitent for your so long refusal of it Answ Yes Quest 4. Do not you believe the Authority of Magistrates to be an Ordinance of God unto which whoso will not yield Subjection do bring upon themselves Condemnation and that all kind of Obedience is due unto them Answ Yes Quest Do not you believe that this good God who calleth all of us by the Ministry of his Word unto Life and Salvation hath appointed certain Signs and Sacraments in his Church which do Seal and
acquaint the United Brethren what Entertainment and Acceptance the Reading of it had with their respective Assemblies which was done accordingly and to general satisfaction And because the Reader of the Acts of this Third National Synod of the Reformed Churches in France held at Charenton may not have seen and may be desirous to see what this Syncretism was between those Brethren in England I have here inserted them from my own Manuscript and printed Copies CHAP. XIII Heads of Agreement Assented to by the United Ministers in and about London formerly called Presbyterian and Congregational Preface to the Reader ENdeavours for an Agreement among Christians will be grievous to none who desire the flourishing State of Christianity it self the success of these Attempts among us must be ascribed to a presence of God so signal as not to be concealed and seems a hopeful pledge of further Blessings The favour of our Rulers in the present established Liberty we most thankfully acknowledge and to them we are studious to approve our selves in the whole of this Affair therefore we declare against any intermedling with the National Church-Form Imposing these Terms of Agreement on others is disclaimed All pretence to Coercive Power is as unsuitable to our Principles as to our Circumstances Excommunication it self in our respective Churches being no other than a declaring such Scandalous Members as are irreclaimable to be incapable of Communion with us in things peculiar to visible Believers And in all we expressly determine our purpose to the maintaining of Harmony and Love among our Selves and preventing the inconveniences which Human Weakness may expose to in our use of this Liberty The General Concurrence of Ministers and People in this City and the great Disposition thereto in other Places persuade us this happy work is undertaken in a Season designed for such divine Influence as will overcome all Impediments to Peace and convince of that Agreement which has been always among us in a good degree though neither to our Selves nor others so evident as hereby it is now acknowledged Need there any Arguments to recommend this Vnion Is not this what we all have Prayed for and Providence by the directest Indications hath been long Calling and Disposing us to Can either Zeal for God or Prudent Regards to our Selves remisly suggest it seeing the Blessings thereof are so important and when it s become in so many respects even absolutely necessary especially as it may conduce to the Preservation of the Protestant Religion and the Kingdoms Weal a Subserviency whereto shall always govern our Vnited abilities with the same disposition to a concurrence with all others who are duly concerned for those National Blessings As these considerations render this Agreement desirable so they equally urge a watchful care against all Attempts of Satan to dissolve it or frustrate the good effects thereof so manifestly destructive to his Kingdom Therefore it's incumbent on us to forbear Condemning and Disputing those different Sentiments and Practices we have expresly allowed for to reduce all distinguishing Names to that of United Brethren to admit no Vncharitable Jealousies or Censorious Speeches much less any Debates whether Party seems most favoured by this Agreement Such Carnal regards are of small moment with us who herein have used Words less accurate that neither side might in their various Conceptions about lesser matters be contradicted when in all substantials we are fully of one Mind and from this time hope more perfectly to rejoyce in the Honour Gifts and Success of each other as our common good That we as Vnited may contribute our utmost to the great Concernments of our Redeemer it 's mutually resolved we will assist each other with our Labours and meet and consult without the least shadow of separate or distinct Parties Whence we joyfully expect great Improvements in Light and Love through the more abundant supplies of the Spirit being well assured we herein serve that Prince of Peace of the increase of whole Government and Peace there shall be no end HEADS of AGREEMENT These following Heads of Agreement have been resolved upon by the United Ministers in and about London formerly called Presbyterian and Congregational not as a Measure for any National Constitution but for the Preservation of Order in our Congregations that cannot come up to the common Rule by Law Established 1. Of Churches and Church-Members 1. We acknowledg our Lord Jesus Christ to have one Catholick Church or Kingdom comprehending all that are united to him whether in Heaven or Earth And do conceive the whole Multitude of Visible Belieers and their Infant Seed commonly called the Catholick Visible Church to belong to Christ's Spiritual Kingdom in this World But for the notion of a Catholick Visible Church here as it signifies its having been collected into any formed Society under a visible human Head on Earth whether one Person singly or many collectively we with the rest of Protestants unanimously disclaim it 2. We agree that particular Societies of Visible Saints who under Christ their Head are statedly joyned together for ordinary Communion with one another in all the Ordinances of Christ are particular Churches and are to be owned by each other as Instituted Churches of Christ tho differing in apprehensions and practice in some lesser things 3. That none shall be admitted as Members in Order to Communion in all the special Ordinances of the Gospel but such Persons as are knowing and sound in the Fundamental Doctrins of the Christian Religion without scandal in their Lives and have a Judgment regulated by the Word of God and are Persons of visible Godliness and Honesty credibly professing cordial Subjection to Jesus Christ 4. A competent number of such visible Saints as before described do become the capable Subjects of stated Communion in all the special Ordinances of Christ upon their mutual declared Consent and Agreement to walk together therein according to Gospel Rule In which Declaration different degrees of Explicitness shall no way hinder such Churches from owning each other as Instituted Churches 5. Tho parochial bounds be not of Divine Right yet for common Edification the Members of a particular Church ought as much as conveniently may be to live near one another 6. That each particular Church hath right to chuse their own Officers and being furnished with such as are duly qualified and ordained according to the Gospel Rule hath authority from Christ for exercising Government and of enjoying all the Ordinances of Worship within it self 7. In the Administration of Church Power it belongs to the Pastors and other Elders of every particular Church if such there be to rule and govern and to the Brotherhood to consent according to the Rule of the Gospel 8. That all Professors as before described are bound in duty as they have opportunity to joyn themselves as fixed Members of some particular Church their thus joyning being part of their professed Subjection to the Gospel of Christ and are instituted means of
to them which is a most mischievous trick and abuse put upon those who see and converse with them Yea lastly this is contrary to those glorious Patterns and Examples of the Primitive and Ancient Christians who being in no wise able to brook such Disguises did repute and esteem them most Sacrilegious Impieties and would rather expose themselves to many Deaths than to swerve from the least Tittle of that Fidelity and Allegiance they had sworn unto God in their Baptism Wherefore this Synod ordaineth that such Offenders be strictly and carefully admonished not to persist in this their Hypocrisie for with whatsoever glosses and fine pretexts they may colour it over it is an open Mockage and Scorn both of God and Man a grievous Scandal unto their Brethren and a Mortal Wound unto their own Consciences And in case they shall obstinately abide in their Impious Resolution then all Consistories are injoyned to pursue and prosecute them with all Church-Censures as being Persons utterly unworthy of Communion with the Saints of God And that none may pretend Ignorance of this Act let it be Read and Notified publickly in all Places and Congregations where it may be judged needful An Act for the National Past 12. Forasmuch as the Patience and Long-suffering of God which leadeth Men unto Repentance hath been horribly despised by them so that his just Wrath and Indignation hath burnt like Fire against them for their great Ungodliness in every Nation and Country of Christendom and yet this fierce Anger of God is not turned away but his Almighty Arm is stretched out still and that Devouring Wars by reason of the Obdurateness and Impenitency of Sinful Men do menace them with utter Ruins and Desolations The National Synod assembled by his Majesties Permission at Charenton considering that the only means for removing so great and sore Judgments is the Conversion of Sinners and the humbling and abasing of their Haughty Hearts before the glorious Tribunal of that great God whom they have so much provoked unto Jealousie And whereas it is the indispensable duty and should be the perpetual practice of all Christians to become new Creatures to purge themselves from Dead Works and to serve the most holy God in all Holiness Righteousness and true Godliness The National Synod exhorts all the Faithful in general and particular to offer unto the Lord of Glory whom they have exceedingly dishonoured the reasonable Sacrifice of a contrite and a broken Heart and to lie prostrate in all Humility and Sincere Repentance at the Feet of his Divine Majesty And Provincial Synods are all of them required to proclaim publick and solemn Fasts in their respective Divisions according as their publick or private Necessities may demand And now that the Grace and Mercy of our Infinite and Almighty God may be implored and his Blessing and favour obtained for the establishing of an Universal Peace for the setting of the Kingdom for the conservation of his Majesties Sacred Person for his Divine Benedictions upon his Youth for the glory of his Crown and the happy Success of his Armies under the lawful Government of the Queen Regent and for the prosperity of the whole Royal Family it is decreed that a solemn Day of Fasting and Prayers shall be Observ'd and Celebrated in all the Churches of this Kingdom upon the Fourth Day of May now next ensuing and that the Faithful may be prepared for the Religious Observation of it publick Notice shall be given to them by all Pastors from their Pulpits by reading of this present Act. CHAP. XV. Particular Matters ARTICLE 1. ON the First Day of January being the Seventh after the opening of the Synod the Sieur de la Milletiere having distributed some certain Copies of a small Script of his just then Published in which he acquainted the World with the Reasons moving him to print another of greater bulk whereof he presented Two Copies unto this Assembly Intituled Instruction a la Foy Catholique and farther demanded that the Letters written by him unto this Assembly and left in the Hands of the Scribes might be read but they were not read the Lord Commissioner having desired the Tuesday following that they might be deposited with him to be sent unto his Majesty And the said Sieur de la Milletiere having on Monday the Eighteenth Instant obtained his Majesties leave to be present at this Assembly he was admitted into it when and where he discoursed of his Design and of the Subject of his Book and demanded that Commissioners might be appointed by the Synod for its examination which was absolutely refused him The Synod remembred the Judgment past against him by that of Alanson which had Seven Years agoe expresly ordred the Consistory of Paris to threaten him that unless he abandon'd his Opinions and Designs so very contrary to the Peace of our Churches to his own Conscience and to God's Truth he should not be owned as a Member of these our Reformed Churches Besides the Synod conceived that it was not reasonable to take off any of the Deputies from their Service and to imploy them in such an unprofitable Occupation or that they should contest with a Fellow who would not submit himself unto their Judgment and Authority and who hath told the World that for these Two last Years he had no other Intention than to incorporate himself into the Communion of the Church of Rome and to form a Party against all the Reformed Churches impugning with might and main the common Confessions of all Protestants perpetually accusing them of contemning the Catholick that is his Romish Church and of Schism from it and propounding to them for the Rule of their Faith the Acts and Canons of the Council of Trent against which they have all unanimously protested and do to this very Day protest against both them and it But the said de la Milletiere having given it under his own Hand in Writing that he would submit himself unto the Judgment of this Synod when as the Commissioners whom he himself had nominated brought in their report and the result of all their Conferences and Discourse had been read he changed the form of his Petition and varying from what he promised of receiving a Charitable Instruction he fell into a Contentious Dispute full of Wranglings upon the points in Controversie particularly upon that of Justification and would needs have two whole Days allowed him for this Debate with them However the Synod pittying his Weaknesses and desirous by all means possible to reclaim him back unto his Duty yeilded to his desires and ordered the Sieurs de Croy and de Langle Pastors of the Churches of Beziers and Rouan to confer with him And whereas the said de la Milletiere had begun to debate the point of Justification with Monsieur Amyraud Pastor and Professor of Divinity at Saumur the Synod thought meet that their Conference should be continued in presence of those Two forementioned Commissioners the remaining
great importance which is fitting you should be acquainted with now at the beginning of this Synod that so it may be the better ordered and ended the sooner I received in my Letters very lately an Express and particular Order concerning some certain Articles and Orders of which I before spake viz. That there is an Abuse committed by the Provinces in sending and communicating by their Deputies Letters from Strangers This his Majesty declareth to be contrary to his Edicts and prejudicial to the publick Peace and his own Service Wherefore I am commanded to be very careful and to provide herein that among your deliberations none other matters be debated but such as ought of right to be so by all the Deputies of the Provinces of this Kingdom and those Matters only which concern the Provinces and that you neither receive any Letters from nor hold any Correspondency with Strangers in any way or manner or for any cause or business whatsoever and you be most strictly forbidden to receive any Writings of what quality soever coming from Foreign Countries and not under his Majesties Jurisdiction nor may any one dare during the sitting of this Synod to publish or spread them abroad in this Town of Loudun And in case such a thing should happen and that such Papers are found I am injoyned immediately to suppress them and to proceed rigorously against such as vend or distribute them as is meet I should and to inflict such Penalties as I shall judge fit And farther I am most expresly and directly commanded to do what in me lieth for the shortning and speedy ending of this Synod Which Order I received in the last Dispatch that came unto this Town CHAP. IV. The Answer of Monsieur Daille the Moderator of the Synod unto the Speech of the Lord Commissioner AS soon as my Lord Commissioner had ended his Speech Monsieur Daille who was Moderator of the Synod made this Answer following in the Name of the whole Assembly unto his Lordship My Lord THE long interruption of these Holy Assemblies have made us but too sensible of their singular usefulness and how needful they be unto our Churches And this hath augmented our Joys to see that God hath at last touched the Heart of his Majesty our Sovereign Lord with that goodness as to grant us this present Synod And without doubt My Lord you observed Yesterday upon Reading the Letters of Commission from the respective Provincial Synods how deeply they were affected with the Mercy for they could not refrain the Expressions of their Sense and Resentment of it even in their Dispatches We therefore having received this singular favour from his Majesty do own and acknowledge it to be a mere and pure Act of his Grace and Clemency and take it as a Pledge and Earnest of his Majesties Good Will unto us and sincere purposes of keeping inviolate his Edicts Unto this his Majesty hath added another and more especial favour in pitching upon your Lordship to represent his Person in this Assembly even you my Lord who for Piety and Integrity for Faith and Vertue are renowned not only in our Churches but in the World it self In so much that the worst and greatest Adversaries of our Religion being won with the luster of that Justice and Uprightness which have ever shined forth in your Administration of that high Dignity and Office possessed by you these many Years in the first and chiefest Parliament of France do desire and continually demand that your Lordship may be their Judge and Reporter of their Causes and do account themselves happy in case they can obtain it Certainly my Lord his Majesty could never have made a more advantagious Choice for us and we render your Lordships our most humble Thanks that overlooking your great Age your many and weighty Affairs the tedious incommodities of Travel and of the Season of the Year your Lordship hath accepted of this Commission and closed with this opportunity which the good Providence of God hath put into your Hands for the Service of his Majesty and for doing all good Offices to our poor Churches which God knoweth have great need of so Fast and Faithful a Friend as your Lordship near his Majesty We need you my Lord and we intreat your Lordship that you would be pleased to testifie it with all Efficacy imaginable unto his Majesty and to his Ministers the Innocency the Simplicity of our Conduct that the Jealousies which our Ill-Wishers do suggest unto him against these our Assemblies may be abated and removed Our National Synods are in no wise prejudicial to his Majesties Service yea the very contrary is true for their first and principal use is to confirm us the more stedfastly in our Religion the First and most Illustrious Article whereof you know my Lord for you have been educated in it from your Infancy is the belief of the Sovereign Authority of Kings over all Persons whatsoever without Exception in their Dominions and of that indispensable Obligation lying upon all their Subjects to yield them in all things all Honour Service and Obedience not only out of Fear but for Conscience sake and such an intire and profound Submission that their respects are extended and performed unto all Officers acting by and under them and their Order and in whose Employments and Ministry there shineth forth any Beam of Royal Authority This Doctrin the Holy Apostles learnt us to be subject unto Kings and those who be Commissionated by them This Doctrin we received from the Primitive Christians that the King is next and under God and that there is no middle power intervening between God's and hiâ— and after that Service we owe unto our God there is none more Sacred or inviolable than his In the very first Sessions of this Synod your Lordship shall see every one of us subscribe this Holy Creed just as we have expounded it in our common and publick Confession and we trust that God will so enable us by his Grace that we shall more and more justifie the Confession we now make of it by a most constant and inviolable Fidelity in his Majesties Service And in the mean while we shall offer up our most ardent Prayers unto our God for the Health of his Majesty's most Sacred Person for the Prosperity of his Family for the happy Success of his Designs and for the Peace and Glory of the Kingdom But my Lord forasmuch as by the Orders of your Commission your Lordship hath presented to us divers points and of very great importance we beseech your Lordship to give way unto this Assembly to consider of them distinctly that our Answers may be returned with that Humility and Reverence which is owing by us unto the Will and Pleasure of his Majesty our Dread Sovereign And afterwards the Deputies did by the Mouth of their said Moderator add as followeth My Lord WE do acknowledge in the First place that it was a most signal effect of his Majesty's
as by the Grace of God we do make profession of Christianity and of a purer Reformed Religion so also do we hope that God will enable us by his Grace to excel all other his Majesties Subjects in a most perfect Loyalty and Obedience To which let me but add one word more that as we have formerly besieged Heaven with the importunate battery of our Vows and Prayers for his Majesty who now reigneth over us and as we upon God's gracious Answering of us did render to his Divine Majesty most solemn and abundant Praises and Thanksgivings so also shall we continue as long as we live to beg of the King of Kings that he would be pleased to preserve our King and that to the many Victories with which he hath favour'd his Arms he would superadd this ' vantage-Mercy to give him to establish his Kingdom in a long and profound Peace to bless his intended Marriage and that he may see the happy Fruits and Pledges thereof And having Reigned many long Years in all Prosperity and Felicity he may transmit the Scepter received from his Fathers unto the Issue of his own Body who may weild it in all Righteousness as long as the Sun and Moon endure CHAP. V. The Marquess of Ruvigny Sworn General Deputy 1. THIS Assembly acknowleding the Kindness of his Majesty in choosing the Lord Marquess of Ruvigny to succeed in the place of the Marquess of Arzilliers Deceased and to discharge the Office of General Deputy for the Churches of this Kingdom 'till such time as his Majesty should be pleased to grant Liberty for the Calling and Meeting of this Assembly unto which his Majesty permitteth the Nomination of such Persons as are to be presented unto this important Charge and the Lord Commissioner having told us from the King that this Assembly had full Liberty to deliberate about what concern'd the Office of the said Lord of Ruvigny who presented his Majesties Writ for his Election and designation to it offering to resign up his Office unto this Assembly Now after that he had received the Thanks of this Assembly for his great care and pains taken by him for the weal of the affairs of the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom this Assembly believed that they could not make a more advantagious Choice than of the Person of the said Lord of Ruvigny who hath been already so very useful and helpful to them Wherefore by a most unanimous Consent of all the Deputies of this Synod he was appointed and they do appoint him to exercise the Office of General Deputy in the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom near his Majesty And this Assembly being well assured by the Lord Commissioner that it would be acceptable to his Majesty if he were confirmed in the said Office they administred unto him the Oath which is requisite and accustomed to be taken and then granted him both his deliberative and decisive Votes as all his Predecessors before him ever had in the said Office and his Writ was again returned to him whose Tenour was as followeth 2. THis Third Day of August in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Six Hundred Fifty and Three the King residing then in Paris and being to provide a General Deputy for his Subjects of the Protestant Reformed Religion that Office being lately void through the Death of the Lord Marquess of Arzilliers after that his Majesty had cast his Eyes upon many of his Subjects he judged that he could not better fill it up than with the Person of the Marquess of Ruvigny Lieutenant General of his Armies who is a Professor of the said Protestant Reformed Religion and endowed with many good and laudable Qualities and who hath given signal Testimonies of his Fidelity and Affection on divers Occasions and of his Abilities and Capacity for his Majesties Service and his Majesty condescending to the most Humble Petition of his said Subjects of the Protestant Reformed Religion he hath chosen and appointed the said Lord of Ruvigny to be the General Deputy of those of the said Protestant Reformed Religion and is well pleased that he reside near his Person and follow his Court in the said Quality and to present unto his Majesty their Petitions Narrations and most Humble Complaints that so he may take such course in it as he shall judge convenient for the Benefit of his Service and the Relief and Satisfaction of his said Subjects of the Protestant Reformed Religion In testimony whereof his said Majesty hath commanded me to expedite this present Writ unto the said Lord of Ruvigny which he was pleased to sign with his own Hands and caused to be countersigned by me his Counsellor and Secretary of State and of his Commandments Signed LOVIS And a little Lower by the King PHELIPPEAVX 3. The Assembly expounding the Act by which the Lord Marquess of Ruvigny was constituted General Deputy declareth that their Intention is that his Lordship shall give his Judgment in all Affairs whatsoever that shall be treated and debated in it excepting those in which he shall be personally and particularly concerned or do relate unto his Office of General Deputy 4. The Sieurs Eustache Pastor and de Mirabel were ordered by this Assembly to go immediately to Court and to prostrate at his Majesty's Feet our most Humble Duties Submissions and Thanks and they were intrusted with Letters unto his Majesty to the Queen to his Eminency to the Lord High Treasurer to the Lord of Vrillieres Secretary of State in whose Division are those of the Reformed Religion and to my Lord of Herual Controller General 5. A Copy of the Synods Letter sent unto the King Sire THE Wisest of Kings to his Command of Fearing God joyned that of Honouring the King they be Two Duties inseparably linked together For Kings in this World do in some Sense hold the very place of God and are his most lively Portraitures in Earth and the steps and degrees of their Thrones do not raise them above the Generality of Mankind but to draw them nearer Heaven These Sire be the Fundamental Maxims of our Creed which we learnt in our Infancy and endeavour to practise during our whole Life and to devolve as an Inheritance unto our Flocks and those Favours which your Majesty vouchsafeth to pour down upon us every Day do more abundantly augment our Obligations to you among which we count this the first and chiefest that your Majesty assureth us by the Mouth of the Lord Commissioner of your Paternal Affection to your Subjects of the Reformed Religion and that you design to continue the effects of your wonted kindness to us as also this priviledge which you have granted us of Meeting together in this place which being a most singular mark of your Goodness we want Words great and emphatical enough whereby to express our resentments and gratitude and how deeply we stand ingaged by this new Favour to devote and consecrate unto your Majesties Service our Lives and Fortunes And the
to whose Jurisdiction the Authors of these Disturbances do belong and against whom the Opposition is formed The Sieurs Testard Pastor of the Church of Blois and Amyrald Pastor and Professor of Theology in the Church and University of Saumur came in Person unto this Synod and declared that they understood from common Fame how that both at home and abroad and by the Consultations and Proceedings of sundry Provinces as also from divers Books written against them and their printed Labours they were blamed for that Doctrin which they had published unto the World that therefore at the first opening of the Synod they presented themselves before it not knowing but that our Cause might be debated whenas the Confession of Faith came to be read and that they came to give an Account of it and such Explanations of their Doctrin as the most Reverend Synod shall judge needful and to submit themselves unto its Judgment and consequentially to demand its Protection for the support of their Innocency hoping that this Favour would not be denied them because they were fully perswaded in their Consciences that they had never taught neither by Word nor Writing any Doctrin repugnant to the Word of God to our Confession of Faith Catechism Liturgy or Canons of the National Synod of Alez and Charenton which had ratified those of Dort and which they had Signed with their Hands and were even ready to seal with their Hearts Blood And the Sieur de la Place Pastor and Professor in the Church and University of Saumur reported also from the said University that he was charged by it to render an account of the Grounds and Reasons which induced him to approve and license the Works of Monsieur Amyraud which he did according to the Priviledge granted by the Discipline unto our Universities Moreover the Lord Ouzan Elder in the said Church of Saumur being admitted into the Synod declared That the said Church understanding that Monsieur Amyraud one of their Pastors was brought in trouble for his Doctrin tho both by it and his most exemplary Godly Conversation they had been always exceedingly edified they had expresly charged him to testifie unto it before this Grave Assembly and most humbly to recommend unto their Reverences the Innocency and Honour of his Ministry There were also tender'd unto the Lord Commissioner the Letters which were sent unto the Synod from the Churches and Universities of Geneva and Sedan and from the Sieurs du Moulin Pastor and Professor of Theology at Sedan and Rivett Pastor and Professor at Leyden together with the Treatises composed by them and the collationed Copies of the Approbations given by the Doctors in the Faculty of Theology at Leyden Franequer and Groningen unto that Treatise of the said Professor Rivett which Letters being opened by the Lord Commissioner and their Contents perused by his Lordship he allowed the reading of them unto the Assembly The Assembly read the Letters writ by Monsieur Vignier Pastor in the Church of Blois and by Monsieur Le Faucheur Pastor in the Church of Paris in which they offer their Sentiments for reconciling the Controversies arisen about the Writings of the said Testard and Amyraud and their Opponents Moreover the Apologetical Letters of the Sieurs Vignier and Garnier Pastors of the Churches of Blois and Marchenoir were read who informed the Synod that in vertue of a Commission given them by the Province of Berry to examin the Theological Writings which might be composed either by the Pastors or other persons of their Province they had given their Attestation and Approbation to the Book of the said Monsieur Testard and had given an account of their Judgment unto the Provincial Synod assembled in the year 1634. and the Extracts of those Writings were produced Those Papers having been all read and the aforesaid Sieurs Testard and Amyrald having been divers times heard and the Assembly having in a very long debate considered the difficulties of those Questions raised by them did constitute the Sieurs Commarc Pastor in the Church of Vertueil Charles Pastor in the Church of Montauban De L'Angle Pastor in the Church of Rouan Petit Pastor and Professor in the University of Nismes Le Blanc Pastor and Professor in the University of Die de Bons Pastor in the Church of Chaalons upon Saone and Daille Pastor in the Church of Paris a Committee to digest and reduce into order the Explications which had been given by the before-mentioned Testard and Amyraud and that as soon as it was finished they should bring in their Report And the said Committee having discharged their trust and made their report unto the Synod the before-mentioned Mr. Testard and Amyraud were again introduced and protested with the deepest Seriousness before God that it was never in their Thoughts to propound or teach any Doctrin whatsoever but what was agreeable to the known and common Expositions of our Creed and contained in our Confession of Faith and in the Decisions of the National Synod held at Charenton in the Year 1623 all which they were ready to sign with their best and purest Blood And pursuiant hereunto explaining their Opinions about the Universality of Christ's Death they declared that Jesus Christ died for all Men sufficiently but for the Elect only effectually and that consequentially his Intention was to Die for all Men in respect of the sufficiency of his Satisfaction but for the Elect only in respect of its quickening and saving vertue and efficacy Which is to say that the Will of Christ was that the Sacrifice of his Cross should be of an infinite price and value and most abundantly Sufficient to expiate the Sins of the whole World yet nevertheless the efficacy of his Death appertains only unto the Elect so that those who are called by the Preaching of the Gospel to participate by Faith in the effects and fruits of this Death being invited seriously and God vouchsafing them all external means needful for their coming to him and shewing them in good earnest and with the greatest sincerity by his Word what would be well-pleasing to him if they should not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ but perish in their Obstinacy and Unbelief this cometh not from any defect of Vertue or Sufficiency in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ nor yet for want of Summons or serious Invitations unto Faith or Repentance but only from their own Fault And as for those who receive the Doctrin of the Gospel with Obedience of Faith they are according to the irrevocable promise of God made partakers of the effectual Vertue and Fruit of Christ Jesus his Death For this was the most free Council and gracious purpose both of God the Father in giving his Son for the Salvation of Mankind and of the Lord Jesus Christ in suffering the pains of Death that the efficacy thereof should peculiarly belong unto all the Elect and to them only to give them justifying Faith and by it to bring them infallibly
unto Salvation and thus effectually to redeem all those and none other who were from all Eternity from among all People Nations and Tongues chosen unto Salvation Whereupon although the Assembly were well satisfied yet nevertheless they decreed that for the future that Phrase of Jesus Christ's dying Equally for all should be for born that term Equally was heretofore and might be so again an occasion of stumbling unto many And as for the conditional Decree mentioned in the aforesaid Treatise of Predestination the said Mr. Testard and Amyraud declared that they do not not ever did understand any other thing than God's Revealed Will in his Word to give Grace and Life unto Believers and that they called this in none other sense a Conditional Will than that of an Anthropopia because God promiseth not the effects thereof but upon condition of Faith and Repentance And they added farther that although the Propositions resulting from the manifestation of this Will be conditional and conceived under an If or It may be as if thou believest thou shalt be Saved if a Man repent of his Sins they shall be forgiven him yet nevertheless this doth not suppose in God an Ignorance of the Event nor an Impotency as to the Execution of nor any inconstancy as to his Will which is always firmly accomplished and ever unchangable in it self according to the nature of God in which there is no variableness nor shadow of turning And the said Monsieur Amyraud did particularly protest as he had before published unto the World that he never gave the Name of Universal or Conditional Predestination unto this Will of God than by way of concession and accommodation unto the Language of the Adversary yet forasmuch as many are offended at this Expression of his he offered freely to raze it out of those Places wherever it did occur promising also to abstain from it for the future And both He and the Sieur Testard acknowledged that to speak truly and accurately according to the usage of Sacred Scripture there is no other Decree of Predestination of Men unto Eternal Life and Salvation than the unchangable purpose of God by which according to the most free and good pleasure of his Will he hath out of meer Grace chosen in Jesus Christ unto Salvation before the Foundation of the World a certain number of Men in themselves neither better nor more worthy than others and that he hath decreed to give them unto Jesus Christ to be Saved and that he would call and draw them effectually to Communion with him by his Word and Spirit And they did in consequence of this their Doctrin reject their Error who held that Faith and th' Obedience of Faith Holiness Godliness and Perseverance are not the fruits and effects of this unchangable Decree unto Glory but conditions or causes without which Election could not be passed which conditions or causes are antecedently requisite and foreseen as if they were already accomplished in those who were fit to be elected contrary to what is taught us by the Sacred Scriptures Acts 13.48 and elsewhere And whereas they have made distinct Decrees in this Counsel of God the first of which is to save all Men through Jesus Christ if they shall believe in him the Second to give Faith unto some particular Persons they declared that they did this upon none other account than of accommodating it unto the manner and order which the Spirit of Man observeth in his Reasonings for the succour of his own Infirmities they otherwise believing that though they considered this Decree as Diverse yet was it found in God in one and the self same Moment without any Succession of Thought or order of Priority and Posteriority The Will of this most Supream and Incomprehensible Lord being one only Eternal Act in him so that could we but conceive of things as they be in him from all Eternity we should comprehend these Decrees of God by one only Act of our Understanding as in truth they be but one only Act of his Eternal and Unchangable Will. The Synod having heard these Declarations of the Sieurs Testart and Amyraud injoyned them and all others to refrain from those terms of Conditional Frustratory or Revocable Decree and that they should rather chuse the Word Will whereby to express that Sentiment of theirs by which they would signifie the Revealed Will of God commonly called by Divines Voluntas Signi And whereas in sundry places marked in the Writings of the before-mentioned Mr. Testard and Amyraud they have ascribed unto God as it were a notion of Velleity and strong Affections and vehement desires of things which he hath not nor ever will effectuate they having declared that by those figurative ways of Speaking and an anthropopathical they designed to speak properly none other thing than this that if Men were obedient to the Commandments and Invitations of God their Faith and Obedience would be most acceptable to him according as was before expressed by them The Assembly hearing this their Explication did injoyn them to use such Expressions as these with that Sobriety and Prudence that they might not give any occasion of offence unto any Person nor cause them to conceive of God in any way unsuitable to his Glorious Nature And the same Monsieur Amyraud and Testard declared farther that although the Doctrins obvious to us in the works of Creation and Providence do Teach and Preach Repentance and invite us to seek the Lord who would be found of us Yet nevertheless by reason of the horrible blindness of our Nature and its Universal Corruption no Man was ever this way converted yea and it is utterly impossible that any one should be converted but by the Hearing of the Word of God which is the seed of our Regeneration and the Instrument of the Holy Ghost whose efficacy and vertue only is able to illuminate our Understandings and to change the Hearts and Affections of the Children of Men. And forasmuch as the Word of God hath always revealed the knowledge of the Lord our Redeemer the said Sieurs did farther protest that no one Man was ever nor can be saved without some certain measure of this Knowledge less indeed under the Old Testament but greater under the New the Death and Resurrection of the Son of God being most plainly and distinctly manifested in the Gospel And they hold it as an undoubted Truth that now under the New Covenant the distinct knowledge of Christ is absolutely necessary for all Persons who are come unto Years of Discretion in order to their obtaining of Eternal Salvation And they do from their very Heart anathematize all those who believe or Teach that Man may be saved any other way than by the Merit of our Lord Jesus Christ or in any other Religion besides the Christian And whereas divers Persons were much offended at the Professor Amyrald for calling that knowledge of God which Men might gain from the consideration of his Works and
by the said Lady then the Deputies of the Churches of St. Aignan and Mans shall go unto the City of Alanson to agree with that Church about the Proposan on whom the said Pension is to be conferred And in case of Disagreement between those Churches aforesaid about this Election in which those of St. Aignan and Mans shall have but one Vote the Election shall be done alternatively to wit the first time by the Church of Alanson which shall have the preheminency but the time the Churches of St. Aignan and Mans conjoyntly shall take place before that of Alanson and thus consecutively one after another And in this choice and nomination those aforesaid Churches shall see that the Will of the said Lady of La Harangere be faithfully observed who expresly ordered that the Children born in lawful Marriage of the Sieurs Bourdieu de Bloic de Portevize and du Hamel being Proposans and destinated to the Holy Ministry should be preferr'd before all others whether those Children born or to be born were descended from their Sons or Daughters Nor may any Proposan chosen to receive the said Pension injoy it any longer than the term of Four Years And when as the said Proposan shall be found fit and qualified for the Ministry and be admitted thereinto the Church of Alanson shall have the first choice to retain him in their Service and next the Church of St. Aignan and lastly the Church of Mans and in case neither of these Three should pitch upon him for their Minister he shall then be assigned unto one of the nearest Churches Moreover this Assembly doth for certain Reasons Ordain that the said Sieur L'arpent shall receive the said Pension for Four Years commencing from the Day of his Election which Term being expired they shall proceed unto a new Election according to the Canon aforesaid And this Assembly hath discharged and doth now discharge the said Church of Mans of all Demands Claims and Pretensions whatsoever that might be brought against it upon the account of those Sums which either Mr. Vignier the Father or his Son have received for that Pension during several Years excepting only what the said Churches may demand of the Heirs of the said Mr. Vignier And in case there should be any difference between the Churches of St. Aignan and Mans about those Elections which they are bound to make they shall be composed and terminated by the Synod of Anjou And the said Sieur de L'Arpent and all other Proposans receiving the said Pension shall be bound to give Security that in case through their default or neglect they do not attain to be Ministers of the Gospel or that they change their purpose and divert to some other Studies and Employment they make Restitution of the Monies they have thus received and this agreeable to the Canons of our National Synods 12. This Assembly having heard Mr. Le Croix du Val Deputy from the Heads of Families in the Church of Alanson who declared that he was sent by them to oppose a Proposition set on foot by some particular Members of the said Church and to be tendred unto this Assembly about changing of their Consistory and its ancient Order and that being come unto this City he met with the like Proposition made to their Provincial Synod of Normandy held in the Year 1655 and the Assembly having perused the Memoirs of the Deputies of that Province had remitted the whole affair unto the Synod of that Province Yet nevertheless having waited to see if any one should move about this matter and observing that none had done it he that he might discharge the Trust committed to him did tender unto this Assembly according to his Duty the Letters and Memoirs with which he was charged and opened before this Assembly the cause of his Deputation and the Arguments they had against any such Alteration and he did in behalf of those Heads of Families Petition and doth now again Petition that the Deputies of the said Province may declare whether they be ordered to set on Foot that new Proposition and whether they intend to speak of it who answered that they had no such design because that Affair had been remanded back unto their Provincial Synod The Assembly hath dismissed over the Letters Memoirs and the Act now presented by the said Sieur de la Croix du Val Deputed by the Heads of Families in the Church of Alanson together with the Cognizance and Judgment of this Affair unto the Provincial Synod of Normandy according as was before decreed 13. The Assembly being informed of the great Disorders in the Church of Sauvetat by reason of the difference between the Sieur de Carbon and the Inhabitants of that Town who compose the Church in that place Letters were voted to be written unto the Lord Duke of La Force to intreat his Grace that he would be pleased by his Prudence and Authority to terminate those unhappy Dissentions which menace that poor Church with no less than its utter Ruin and Destruction 14. The Assembly having received honourable Testimonials from divers parts of the singular worth of Monsieur Charles Pastor of the Church of Gap and taking into consideration his numerous Family great Deserts and low Estate in the World and the Inabilities of his Church doth highly applaud his Zeal Pains Care Diligence and Perseverance in his Masters Service having served the Lord and his Churches most faithfully for many years and eminently in this Church wherefore that he may have a competent Maintenance to supply his Necessities this Assembly judgeth him every way worthy of the Cares and Respects of his Province and of his own Congregation which is commended for the Tokens of their Love and Affection to him for his own and his Subsistence And whereas the said Church did agree and bargain at first with him to pay him during his Life the yearly Sum of Three Hundred Livres only they are now most earnestly intreated to extend their Charity and Thankfulness unto him and to augment his Maintenance by raising it up unto Four Hundred Livres a Year for his Life 15. The Province of Vivaretz received the praise of this Assembly for their fervent kindness to Monsieur Chenat formerly Pastor of the Church at La Gorce but now employed in the Service of that of Charenton and it is most earnestly exhorted to continue the yearly Sum of 150 Livres to him for the comfortable Subsistence of this good Servant of Jesus Christ whose Labours and Travels have been very great in the Work of the Lord. 16. The Memoirs and Letters of Monsieur Gabet Pastor of the Church at Osselon having been read and examined in this Assembly his Affair was dismissed over to the Province of Dolphiny which was commended for their Charity and Support extended to him and the said Province was intreated to continue their Cares for the Comfort and Repose of this poor Minister and to hear him in those matters which he shall
trieth your Reins and offer your selves to be inrol'd in the number of his Menial Servants and Gospel-Ministers Our great Lord Redeemer neither loveth the World nor the things of the World The design and end of his Coelestial Empire is to make all Men new Creatures and he serves himself of the Doctrin of the Cross that thereby be may Crucifie the World in you and you unto the World Sirs your own Consciences must needs reproach you that it is an affront unto the pure Eyes of his Glory that it saddens the Spirit of his Holiness that it must needs irritate his indignation when the Sons of the Prophets shall present themselves before him in the garb and habit of the World stuffed up and big-swoln with Vanities Pride and Indecencies and attended with its wonted Excuses Artifices and Deportments The Mysteries which our most blessed Saviour delivers unto his Servants that they may dispense them unto his People retain nothing of Earth savour nothing of this lower World they are all Divine and Heavenly And you cannot but acknowledge that it would be a darkning of their Lustre a Profanation of their Glory to manage them with impure Hands to vend and expose them in a strange Language and to search rather from the Wisdom of the World a Buttress to support their Authority than from the Eternal Verities of God's Wisdom and from the Lights of the Sacred Scriptures If none but the Spirit of God can reveal and manifest unto us the things which are given us of God is it possible we should make any considerable Progress and Proficiency in this Holy Study when we shall intend and prosecute it with the Spirit of the World and with Hearts filled and prepossessed with its Vanities To be short Sirs you be destinated unto an Employment in which there be no Advancements made but by Prayer and Prayers are never heard nor answered by God farther than they be sincere and they be not in the least sincere where the Hearts are not guided and purified by the Truth of God's Holy Word and Spirit who dictateth our Prayers and quickens and sanctifieth our Affections Do you imagin Sirs that God will give you his Holy Spirit without whom you are nothing and can do nothing unless you ask him of God And are you then qualified and fitted for Prayer a most holy Duty whenas your Spirit is stuffed up occupied and distracted with your Youthful Lusts and replenished with the provoking Objects of your Vanity Or can you bring unto this Sacred Ordinance to this most Religious Exercise that Attention Assiduity and Perseverance which is needful to the getting of gracious Answers and Returns from Heaven when as the better and far greater part and portion of our Time is wasted and consumed in worldly Companies and Conversations Certainly Sirs you will find it exceeding difficult to disintangle your selves from those Impressions you have first received and to empty your selves of the Vanities you have imbibed that you may be at Liberty to reflect and meditate upon God's Holy Word My Dear Brethren Honour and adorn that Profession whereunto you be devoted and it will reflect Beams of Honour again upon you Consider Sirs what is decent and becoming you and God will communicate what is needful for you to every one of you Let his Name and Glory be the principal Mark and Butt of your Condition and Studies and it will bring down toe choicest and chiefest Blessings of God upon you Let your Lives and Conversations be accompanied and crowned with all the Vertues and Graces of Reformed Christians with that Humility which becometh the Servants of God with that universal Modesty and Simplicity which God requireth from the Ministers of his Sanctuary in their Lives Actions Habits Language Behaviour and in your whole Course And then Sirs this your Sanctification will be most acceptable unto God and saving unto your selves it will bring your Profession into Credit and Reputation it will attract upon you the best Blessings of Heaven it will render your Studies and Employments prosperous successful edifying The Churches will be the better for you and the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus will be promoted and advanced by you In pursuance of an Order of the same Synod Messieurs Guitton and Bourdeau being at Saumur to pacifie the differences which were between some Members of that Church and Messieurs Amyraut and D'Huisseau Monsieur Guitton made this Speech Messieurs and most dear Brethren MY most honoured Colleagues together with my self were ordered by the Nationol Synod which was lately held and dissolved at Loudun to visit this Church and to assemble the Heads of its Families into this Consistory and to read unto you the Judgment of that venerable Assembly about the Differences fallen out among you and to endeavaur by the Grace of God and your Obedience your re-union which if already most happily begun between your two Pastors upon whose account you were divided and to ratifie that reconciliation of the Deputies of both Parties which you had sent unto it You shall hear their Judgment and the Act of our Commissions The Sieurs D'Huisseau Pastor accompanied with the Sieurs de Haumont Benoist and Favre did petition for themselves and on behalf of others the Heads of Families in the Church of Saumur that Monsieur d'Huisseau might be confirmed in his Ministry unto the said Church They appealed also from the Decrees of the first Synod held at Beauge in the Year 1656. and at Saumur in the Year 1657. and at Preuilly in the Year 1658. and in the second held at Beauge in this year 1659. and from the Orders of the Consistory of Saumur bearing Date the 16th and 27th Day of March 1659. And they complained of all that had been done in pursuance of those Synodical and Consistorial Decrees On the contrary part the Sieur Amyrald Pastor and Professor of Divanity in the said Church and University of Saumur together with the Sieurs Druett and Royer as well for themselves as for the other Deputies of that Consistory and of divers Heads of Families in the said Church together with the Deputies of the Province of Anjou did abet and maintain all the Acts Ordinances and Decrees of those Synods and Consistories before-named They were also heard declaring the Grounds of their Differences The Committee also who were appointed to examin and verifie the Acts of both Parties brought in their Report and at the same time Monsieur de Bois jardin Pastor of the said Church had Audience given him by the Assembly Upon the whole Debate this National Synod censured the Consistory of Saumur for that in stead of blaming the Deputies of the Assembly of the greater part of the Heads of Families held without their Order the 17th of September 1655. they did contrarywise receive them and at their instant earnest Suit had enjoyned the Sieur D'Huisseau to withdraw himself from the Service of the said Church against his Will and in contempt of
Sieur Doul in that of Professor of Eloquence without suffering the said Nomination to be made a Precedent and on this condition that the said Professor Doul do every three Months keep a Publick Act. And this Assembly hath likewise approved and ratified that Canon of Agreement betwixt the Consistory and the said University for taking Cognizance of all Affairs depending upon both those Assemblies And that this present Decree may be put in Execution the Sieurs Guitton and de Bourdieu Pastors and the Sieur des Champs an Elder are deputed to pass over unto Saumur and to visit the said Church which is ordered to defray their Expences Now Sirs let me add what was given me in charge from this Holy Synod to deliver to you Ton cannot be ignorant of what the Faithful in all Ages have generally owned and confessed and which the Church of God hath always sung to its Consolation that there is nothing better nothing more pleasant nothing more desirable for your selves nothing more advantagious for the Interest of God than to see Peace on Earth in the midst of its horrible Confusions than whilst the Children of Rebellion who are possessed by the Devil do by their turbulent and intollerable Passions turn things upside down to see the poor Church of God in Peace Zion a quiet Habitation all the Faithful united the whole Houshold of Faith of one Heart having the same Love enjoying the same Hope and wholly busied and taken up in the Works of their common and holy Calling 'T is by this that God their Heavenly Father is most especially glorified This Peace is not of this World nor sustained by carnal Interests which may either by time be abolished or by corrupt Affections changed This is that Peace of God which his well-beloved Son our Lord Redeemer Christ Jesus hath left as a Legacy unto us and which is nourished and supported by that precious Blood which he shed for us and it shed abroad in our Hearts by the Holy Ghost who is given unto us of which the World shall never deprive us as long as we cherish and value it When once this Peace dwells and rules abundantly in our Hearts whenas our Holy Communion is strengthened by it whenas it leaveth Characters and Marks of its Glory upon us and our Souls tast its Sweetness then is Heaven above us reconciled with us then is the Sanctuary of our Hope opened to us then are the Bowels of God's Compassions yearning on us then is his Jealousie excited for us and then shall we obtain the most glorious Deliverances a Troop an Heap a Multitude of Divine Benedictions Sirs I never think of this Heavenly Blessing but that my Head is Waters and mine Eyes Fountains of Tears and mourn bitterly for those Sad Divisions which have so long time reigned among you These are horrible Scandals and noised abroad in the whole Kingdom By these Breaches hath Satan the Prince of this World got admission into your Hearts by these breaches is your Faith exposed to extream danger and I tremble at the Indignation of the God of Peace against you For when he seeth his Peace despised his Church distracted and dismembred and that Service owed him by your Consciences altered and abated and the profession of the Truth exposed to the Laughter and Scorn of his Adversaries he hath too just cause of being exasperated against you and to correct you with his Severest Judgments This Gracious God hath forborn you a long time he hath supported with wonderful Patience and Indulgence your grievous Disorders he hath compassionated your Infirmities he would rather remove them by the sweetness of his Grace than cut you off by the Sword of his just Vengeance He assembled when you least hoped it even at your Doors the Deputies of all the Provinces of this Kingdom who having as to your Concerns none other Interests than that of your Salvation did according to that Authority which God hath given them over your Consciences put a period unto your differences and compose them with singular Equity in order to your Peace When I consider Sirs what I was formerly in this City and Academy the least among you in all respects instructed by them who are your Instructors that profound respect which I have ever conserv'd in my Heart for you causeth me to fear and tremble whilst I am speaking to you For my own part I had much rather that this important Commission had fallen into any other Hands than mine that it might have been discharged by a Person much more worthy of your esteem and commendation but the most wise God hath disposed otherwise by the Suffrages of his Servants and 't is his Call by them that incourageth me to execute it That great deference which I know you have for our Church-Discipline this holy Order set up by God himself in the midst of us in his own House raiseth my Hopes that you will not so much reflect upon the Messenger that speaks unto you in Earth as upon his Message now brought unto you from God who is in Heaven and who doth great things and marvellous among his Saints by the weakest Instruments I beseech you most Honoured and Dear Brethren for the sake of our common Saviour that you would with Heart and Soul accept of that Peace which is now by God himself exhibited and offered to you Forget all past matters consider what is to come look not behind you but before you you are entred into a new World open the Doors of your Hearts to our Lord Jesus who demands it by my Mouth suffer this King of Glory to set up the Standard of his Cross in your Souls to pour into them the Consolations of his Love Let him crucifie your Old Man and all his Actions let him make your many Hearts to be but one all your Souls but one Soul that so he may live in you all and as you live by him so you may live for him Yon stand obliged unto this by his Grace the Commands of God demand it of you The example of your Rverend Pastors is a powerful motive to ingage you to it Be you Followers of them in Love imitate that Charity which they have first Sworn in the presence of Christ Jesus Consider them as Persons in the same Office imploy'd in the same work and pay an equal Respect unto them Encourage their Hearts and strengthen their Hands in the Service of God and of your Souls by your Affectionate and orderly Carriage and Obedience Pray for them as they do for you Love them as they love you Repay their Love unto them with Interest Evidence yours unto them by all kind of good Offices they are studious to approve themselves unto you by their Zeal and Labours for you And if you practise these Counsels all the Churches will be filled with joy you will be blessed by all the Children of God the Adversary will be confounded and the God of Peace will dwell among
they and their Monies together yet this great Redeemer who bought his Inheritance neither with Silver nor Gold nor precious Stones but with his own most precious Blood hath no mind to lose thee he would not have thee to perish with thy Mony Thou knowest he hath not grudged thee any thing he denieth thee nothing he hath given his dearest Heart Blood for thee This is an Hour of Grace a Season of Mercy an opportunity wherein God may be found The Cock Crows run out of the High Priest's Hall flee out of Babylon and weep bitterly Tarry not a Moment longer in it Cry out mightily unto God I have sinned Lord I have sinned against Heaven and before thee Say unto thy Soul O my Soul 't is the Lord who hath redeemed thee 't is the Lord who hath redeemed thee and he will pluck thy Feet out of the Snare he will draw thee out of the horrible Pit out of the Miry Clay even he will redeem thee from thine Iniquity Thou knowest that it is natural for Man to sin and that he hath shut up all under unbelief under the guilt of their Rebellions that he might have Mercy upon all Thou art included in the number of this All thou art not excepted Call then upon God humbly and penitently fervently and fiducially and thou may'st yet obtain a Pardon Do not harden thy self in thy sin Remember the Words of David Abyssus abyssum vocat the abyss of thine Obdurateness will plunge thee into the bottomless abyss of Destruction Pray then unto God with thine whole heart that he would pour the Oyl of his Grace upon thy smoaking weik Cry unto him earnestly and importunately and tell him Lord I will give thee no rest Night nor Day 'till thou hast pardoned my great Iniquity Thou knowest that the Kingdom of Heaven is taken by Violence and that the Violent do take it by force Force thy Soul then to cry out unto God for Mercy Cry daily cry continually cry without intermission without interruption and God will be merciful But my Friend do not address thy Orisons and Devotions to He or She Saints that 's bootless that 's unprofitable The Scriptures of truth tell us those Divinely inspired Writings assure us yea and the Ancients also that the Dead know not the things which are done here below but God only who as thou well knowest doth pardon Sins for his own Names Sake Are thy Sins as red as Scarlet know it if thou dost not yet know it that if thou call upon him he will wash thee and cleanse thee and thou shalt be as white as Wooll But and if thou neglect this duty this thy bounden duty thy Sins shall remain in thee thy Guilt and Filth shall abide upon thee For he hath spoken it That he who is Filthy shall be Filthy still and because thou wouldst not be purged thine Iniquities shall never be purged O then do not live in thy Sin one moment longer sith God is well pleased with Repenting Sinners Say as David Lord I have gone astray like a lost Sheep O seek thy Servant and bring me back again unto thy Fold with the Fourscore and Nineteen Just Persons My Friend O my dear Friend I beseech thee come out of thy Spiritual Sodom Do not look behind thee lest thou shoul'st die there Be grieved as David that thou hast sojourned in Mesech and dwelt so long in the Tents of Kedar Thou knowest that without Christ thou canst do nothing Never object unto me that 't is in vain for thee now to return having made Shipwrack of thy Faith thou canst be no longer a Minister 'T is true thou hast none other Calling whereby to subsist to provide a Livelyhood for thy self and Family and among the Papists whose Party thou hast espoused thou maist possibly meet with Employment because they have promised thee and it may be as to this World an Employment much more advantagious and Beneficial But mayst not thou be cheated I am very much mistaken if thou hast not had already an Earnest of their Fraudulent dealing with thee Many Persons who like thee have left the Truth to be of their Religion being inticed with a multitude of Golden Promises can assure thee from their sorrowful experience how much they have been gull'd and choused by them But my dear Friend over-look these matters and lay by all human Considerations and say in this case as the Father of Believers Jehovah Jireh the Lord will provide Besides who ever saw the righteous forsaken or his Seed begging Bread Yea contrariwise they have been ever Lenders Thy Soul my Friend is a most precious Jewel of inestimable Value If thou losest it who can redeem it What Ransom wilt thou give unto God for it Get it in a state of Salvation I say again see that it be in a state of Salvation Fear not them who can kill the Body but rather fear that God who can cast both Soul and Body into Hell Fire for evermore Thou knowest Friend that the Church is God's Garden that God himself planted it and that every Plant which is not of his planting shall be grubbed up by the Roots This Consideration should make thee tremble thou hast plucked thy self up and cast thy self out of this Garden I advise thee that before thou hast taken root elsewhere thou intreat the Keeper of the Garden to new set thee that thou mayest bring forth better Fruits hereafter than heretofore that he would dress thee with his own Hand that he would water thee with the Dews and Showers of his Grace warm and quicken thee with the Eye and Beams of his Love Then I shall rejoyce at thy Recovery and glorifie God for his singular Mercies to thee Thou knowest also that he who having been once enlightned and hath tasted of the Heavenly Gift if he shall fall away 't will be impossible for him to be renewed unto Repentance O! Labour hard that thou mayst be restored Seek God whilst he may be found Or else there will a time come when thou shalt crie Lord Lord and he will not hear thee but as a Worker of Iniquity thou shalt be cast off Tug hard then at the Oar of Prayer chasten thy proud Flesh with Fasting give Alms of thy Substance unto the Poor and say unto God Convert me Lord and I shall be converted Rend thy Heart to pieces before it grow callous left God should swear in his Wrath that thou shalt never enter into his Rest The Sin against the Holy Ghost is never pardoned neither in this World nor in that to come Repent then and be not obstinate do not harden thy self against these wholsom Counsels of thy most Faithful Friend Be zealous and believe in God For whosoever believeth in him shall never be ashamed shall never be confounded Call upon him not upon He or She Saints but upon the Holy Name of Jesus and thou shalt be saved Come my Friend consider what thou hast done Thou are
repent rouze up thy self out of thy Spiritual Lethargy Awake then and give Glory unto God the God of Heaven and Earth and he will raise thee up again tho thou art fallen Call upon him for who knoweth but that he may have Compassion on thee He hath not forsaken thee but thou hast forsaken him and thou canst tell in what place thou shookst Hands with him Don't consult with Flesh and Blood go seek and find him out in the beginning of thy Sin that yet he may recover thee His Gifts and Callings are without Repentance Thou hast quitted the Pastoral Office to be a wandring Sheep a Sheep wandring after the Voice of a Stranger However thou knowest what the great Shepherd saith by St. John on this occasion make use of it to thy best advantage and if thou canst not be a Pastor yet at least become a Sheep of Christ's Fold In the mean while my dear Friend I will humbly beseech God from the bottom of my Soul and with all my Heart that he would recover thee from this thy most dangerous Malady by some proper and most effectual Remedy For I know him by good Experience to be the best Physician and that he can purge out of thee all thine Errors all Humane Considerations and corroborate the good infeebled in thee through the perverseness of the former that he can again enlighten thee ingraft thee into Christ tho thou hast broken thy self off from him and give Rest unto thy Soul in the Bosom of the Church Militant that so in the Church Triumphant thou mayst enjoy those everlasting Blessings which he hath prepared for them who persevere unto the end And I being filled with Joy at thy Recovery will take thee by the Hand and we will go together into the House of our God there to render him according to our poor Abilities that Sacrifice of Thanksgiving which is his Due and our Duty Now then under this Quality and with this Hope I subscribe my self Dear Friend Excuse if my Superscription do omit these Titles which once thou hadst and I am ignorant of what thou now bearest Thy Humble Servant Aide de Dieu Help of God A Monsieur Monsieur Martin at his House in Montoire CHAP. XXII Remarks upon the Deputies 1. MR. Boschart Pastor of the Church of Caen a Man of vast Learning and reputed one of the most able Scholars in all France His Hierozoicon and Phaleg proclaim his Worth to the whole World Christina Queen of Sweedland invited him into that Kingdom and he was for some time a Professor in the University there 2. Peter de la Musse Here is a Marquess of that Name in London a faithful Confessor for Christ having forsaken his Estate are embraced the Cross rather than part with his Religion and his God and I think the same Deputy 3. Monsieur Mussard Minister in the Church of Lyons but a Native of Geneva he married Mr. Beza's Granchild By a Trick of the Jesuits which he told me he was outed of the Church of Lyons The Cardinal of Villeroy Archbishop of that City and Diocess had an esteem and value for him For he was a Person of great Worth an excellent Scholar and a most eloquent Preacher The French Church of London invited him over to their Service and he died in the Pastoral Office of it There be Printed of his Works a Volume of Sermons in French in Quarto 2. Historia Deorum satidicorum 4 to And 3. Les Conformites des Ceremonies Modernes avec les anciennes His Modesty made him not put his Name to his Works But he himself told me he was the Author of them Les Conformites doth speak English for I have seen the Translation in a Booksellers Shop 4. Monsieur de Bourdieu Pastor of Montpellier this reverend and ancient Servant of the Lord Jesus resides in London and Preacheth tho 95 Years old 5. Monsieur Guitton Pastor of the Church of Sion fled here upon the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes into England and was some time in London but since for want of Employment left the Kingdom and retired I think into the Netherlands 6. Monsieur Amyraud the Famous Professor of Saumur His Learned Writings are well known I shall say more of him God willing in my Icones 7. Monsieur Daille Pastor of the Church of Paris A most Learned and Eloquent Preacher My Worthy and Reverend Friend Mr. Soreton an eminent Nonconformist Minister in Devon translated his Commentary upon the Colossians into English His Book of the Right Use of the Fathers was translated into English and highly valued He writ against Brachet Sieur de la Millitiere a Tool of Richlieu's to compound and reconcile if possible the Two Religions Millitiere at last turned Apostate He hath a most accurate Treatise De Imaginibus Apologie des Eglises Reformees and a great many other things of which and him I shall give an Account at large in my Icones 8. Monsieur Homel Pastor of the Church of Sojon a most pious and zealous Preacher he died a constant and Faithful Martyr His Execution was most barbarous being broken upon the Wheel and left under Torments for several Hours before his Inhuman Persecutors would give him the Coup de Grace as they call it the last Blow upon the Breast to put an end to his Torments But God filled him under his greatest Sufferings with the Consolations of his Spirit I have writ a larger Narrative of his Martyrdom and shall insert it into the Life of the Great Chamier for a Great Grandson of the Famous Chamier suffer'd about the same time unless my memory fail me with him FINIS
That if after they had perused it it were approved or should be approved upon their amendments I may have the liberty of Printing it For I could not without this restriction handsomly consent to such an unprofitable formality which served only as an entertainment of curiosity and discourse and to sparkle out new Alterations And I farther craved the benefit of two Laws in this our Commonwealth which do not only grant a Licence for Printing but a Privilege also against all Occurrences and new Translations of the Bible and Annotations on it provided that they have been approved This was plainly understood from that Judicious Approbation given unto the merit of the Work and not an Act of Arbitrary Power or of Absolute Will and Pleasure To this so just a demand and of common right some opposed an Article of the Synod of Alez which others endeavoured to back and re-inforce by Letters begged from certain Persons of great Name and Merit who were known to be in the same Sentiments with mine Opponents and engaged to maintain whatever had once proceeded from them especially they would have made this pass for granted with all the World That this Work had been generally rejected by all your Churches not so much for the substance of it as for its design and that therefore it was precisely prohibited But I made it appear that they were very much out in their reckoning and produced several Letters from Persons of as great Quality and more in number who highly approved of my Undertaking and applauded those Essays which had gone abroad and earnestly insisted upon its Impression I wave that Article of the Synod of Alez because there be just exceptions against it This Affair was only superficially and overtly treated of in it the Provinces came not prepared for it yea they had not so much as been consulted about it I was never heard nor any one for me that my Labour was but then a meer Embryo as it were in its first Conceptions that it could neither be seen nor examined That they took for granted on erroneous supposition viz. That I designed to eclipse or suppress our common Translation a thought of which never so much as came into my mind and if I had thought it I could never do it And lastly this pretended Judgment under which I and my Work Laboured had no foundation in any Law neither Antient nor Modern neither Canon nor Civil and therefore this Article being defective both in matter and order of Juridical Judgment could only be admitted as a simple prudential Counsel subject to examination by reason and second thoughts However our Magistrate bearing a very high respect unto your Churches and being jealous of what does any wise relate unto you would not in the least grant me my demand but desire that this Affair might be put off till the meeting of another National Synod in which I also acquiesced but with this protestation That after I had paid you my Duties informed and acquainted you with my Reasonings I did take it for granted that I might freely enjoy that right which hath been from time immemorial in the Christian Church to wit That it hath been permitted to all those who have the gift and faculty to serve the Church in this kind of Labour as well as in any other Theological Writings and that in case the advantage of the Laws on this account should be denied me here I would seek for it in some other place where I might accomplish my design in peace which would be very easie for me to do considering the great number of Friends and Favourers of my poor Labours which God hath graciously given me 'T was at this Post that my Affair stuck in this City and I hope the true Narrative I have made you of it will discharge and free me from all prejudices taken up against me I proceed now to report those Reasons with which I have always armed and fortified my Spirit against the many oppositions that have attacqued me And I most humbly beseech you to bear with me in my relating of them because I was ever condemned upon meer prudential accounts without any consideration had of Law Reasons or Examples which yet ought to be the ground and rule of all riglit Judgment in matter of Doctrine Conscience Necessity or where the great profit of the Church is concerned as it is in this now before you in which it is not permitted to be led and byassed by any respects whatsoever 'T is Lawful indeed and Expedient to endeavour an Accommodation of the whole by some fitting Temperament and Reconciliation if such may be found but in case it cannot be had we must pass over my first Argument For sith it hath been the constant practice of all Ages from the very birth of Christianity that all Nations and Languages have not only suffered but even carefully Collected and Embraced a Diversity of Translations of the Holy Scripture as is evident beyond all possibility of contradiction they having received some from Jews others from Hereticks attested to us by the Famous Hexapla of Origen there is then no reason why it should be now prohibited and that I should be made the first Precedent a new and unheard of instance and example in this old Age of the World My second is this That forasmuch as no considerable inconvenience hath ever risen from this Liberty Time having suddenly suppressed the vicious and ill performed and given Authority unto good Translations which by their own strength could bear a Trial and on the other hand this Liberty having very much contributed to the growth of Light and Knowledge and the defects of one Translation being supplied by the perfections of another it is unreasonable to Judge that there should be other manner of effects now than heretofore especially when as in this Learned Age matters of base allay will be soon discovered and decried and what cannot subsist upon the lively roots of Solidity will suddenly wither and be mowed down Antiquity reaped much Fruit this way as St. Augustine and divers others have witnessed but the Christian Church in our days hath enjoy'd it most abundantly For the sweet Odors disperst abroad by the new Translations of the Bible in divers Languages within these five and twenty or thirty years is wonderful and they have largely contributed to the Edifying Instruction and Confirmation of Saints The English Translation for its great Fidelity and Clearness weareth a shining Crown of Glory upon its head Those two German ones of Piscator and Cramerus for their Noble Qualities and Conditions are exceeding useful and have done a great deal of good The new Polonian made and Printed at the instance of the Prince of Radzeville is of that esteem as to allure the present King of Poland to read it and to enamour him of it tho' he be a Prince of a contrary Religion The new Dutch Translation which is just now coming into the World sets persons