got out of God's Ark and the Deluge is about thee Where wilt thou pitch the Sole of thy Foot Go then as the Dove and return unto thy place Salvation is not to be had any where else Thou knowest it as well as I. Whether art thou gone Where art thou a going Dost not thou know that Jesus Christ only hath the Words of Eternal Life Thinkest thou to find it any where else Why Man He only is the Way the Truth and the Life Thou hast changed thy Riligion thou hast quitted thy Party thou hast abandoned thy Flock Good God what hast thou done O Friend I forbear to speak my Fears But once again What hast thou done Thou hast quitted the Rich Pearl with the Cock in the Fable for a Grain of Wheat See from whence thou art fallen and consider I beseech thee Dear Friend what thou hast gotten by thy Fall Thou embracest a Religion patch'd up of Human Ceremonies Thou knowest it well a Religion which is an Hodge-podg of Jewish and Pagan Ceremonies blended together Thou hast thrown thy self into its Arms thou liest in its Bosom thou wearest its Livery and art marked with its Marks And thou very well knowest why and wherefore Thou wast remiss in thy Duty Thou wast not payed thy Sallary This was thy frequent Complaint Thou idle and slothful Servant oughtest thou to forsake thy Lord's Service and his Flock Thou wast not serious enough nor caredst to take pains in thy Calling Instead of studying and giving thy self to reading thou hauntedst wicked Companies which thou knowest corrupt good Manners and being such an one thy self thou couldst not chuse better Birds of a Feather will Flock together More I might say but I spare thee Well Man what hast thou done Consider I beseech thee and I adjure thee to it by the Bowels of our ancient Friendship that 't is the true Religion which thou hast forsaken and that only in which Salvation is to be had and that the very Church of Rome her self believeth all the Articles that the Reformed Church believeth And I can speak it and thou knowest it as well as I that in case she were divested of all her Jewish Ceremonies and Human Inventions and of Men's Traditions which are set up in the room of God's Word the Romish Religion would be no longer Roman but Reformed What then hast thou done Thou hast took the Shadow for the Substance the Ceremonies for the Truth I protest unto thee upon my Soul that thou art out of the way Friend Give me thy Hand and I will once more set thee in the right way and thou shalt taste how gracious the Lord is to them that fear him that he is ready to forgive most willing to shew Mercy and if thou hast recourse unto him by Prayers and Supplications in the Name and Merits of his Dear Son thou shalt certainly obtain the Remission of thy Sins thro his Name My Friend thou hast joyned thy self to the Communion of Idols and art a Partner with Idolaters and dost thou think in their Communion to work out thy Salvation Be not deceived God will not be mocked No Idolaters shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Ah! dost not thou know that our Religion which thou hast quitted giveth the Glory of Man's Salvation unto the Christ of God only That it ascribeth the Salvation of Believers to the Lord Jesus only That it preacheth nothing else but what the Elect Apostle of the Gentiles preached even Jesus Christ and him Crucified That it putteth Confidence in none but God And as David seeketh for none in Heaven but God That it adoreth no Creature whatsoever but adoreth God only Father Son and Spirit Three Persons in one God That it invocateth God only because besides him there never was nor never will be any that can help save and deliver That with the blessed Virgin she calleth him her God and her Saviour That it teacheth not the Doctrin of Devils nor forbiddeth Marriage nor to obstain from Meats which God hath created to be used by the Faithful and those who have not known the Truth with Thanksgiving That it is not Sacrilegious to rob the People of the Cup against the express Commandment of God That it reacheth God to be a Spirit and that such as worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth That it teacheth to fear God and to honour the King whom may the Lord of his Mercy long preserve To sanctifie the day of Rest but not Festivals which are only Men's Inventions To keep Promise and Covenant tho to a Man's Loss and Hurt Rather to serve God than Men And forasmuch as God hath spoken the Word that he will not give his Glory unto another nor his Praise unto Graven Images it teacheth all to ascribe Glory unto God only and to give him the Thanks of all our Mercies because he is the sole Author and Donour of them Our Religion doth not take away any of God's Commandments nor suffereth any Images to be made nor Pictures to be hung up that they should be served and adored A Religion neither addeth to nor taketh any thing from the Holy Word of God for it well knows that such as do so the Plagues written in that Word shall be inflicted on them and their Names shall be blotted out of the Book of Life It teacheth with St. Paul that the Divine Scriptures can make us wise unto Salvation and with St. John that the Blood of Jesus cleanseth us from all Sin and that there is none other Purgatory for our Sins than Christ's Blood Time would fail me and I should but waste it if I told thee That the Death of the Son of God is our Life his Wounds our Health and that there is none other Sacrifice for Sin than that one only and never to be repeated Sacrifice of his Death Friend our Religion teacheth that by this Sacrifice we have the Remission of all our Sins and that where the Remission of Sins is there is no more Oblation for Sin and therefore no Mass Take heed unto thy self Friend for if thou sinnest wilfully after Admonition after that thou hast received the knowledge of the Truth know of a Truth that there is no more Sacrifice for Sins Do not then count the Blood of the Covenant a prophane thing for thou knowest that 't is a most fearful thing to fall into the Hands of an incensed God Be zealous therefore and Repent In short thou knowest that all the Doctrins of our Religion are contained in thâ— Holy Scriptures and yet thou hast quitted it What hast thou done Thou art return'd unto Babylon from which God hath brought thee forth in the Loyns of thy Fathers that thou mightst not participate in her Sins nor in her Plagues Thou hast return'd with the Dog unto thy Vomit and with the Sow that was washed to wallow in the Mire My Friend my Bowels are troubled for thee Believe and follow my Counsel Awake and
transmitted Difficulties shall be maturely examined and the Arguments on both sides urged being fair and carefully written down shall be sent unto the National Synod And forasmuch as our present Circumstances will not admit any great Number of Ministers and Elders in this National Synod we are of Opinion that for this time only and during these Difficulties that the Brethren assembled in each Provincial Synod should choose from among them one or two Ministers and as many Elders of the ablest and most expert in Church-Affairs to be sent in the Name of the whole Province who shall come furnished with good Memorials and premeditated Thoughts upon those Difficulties which had been communicated to them The Provinces shall not prescribe any set time or term unto these their Deputies for returning but shall let them tarry in the said Synod as long as there may be need of them and the Charges of the said Deputies shall be defrayed by their respective Provinces And that the National Synod may be no more imployed in Matters already decided by former Synods the Provinces shall be advised to read over carefully the Acts of the past Synods before they prepare their Memorials and to send nothing but what is general â—nâ— of common concern to all the Churches or else that which merits the Resolution of the said National Synod And the Churches of Poictiers which is charged with the calling of the next National Synod shall be informed of all this that they may intend their Duty CHAP. XI General Advertisements unto the Churches XXIV THE Printers in every Province shall be advised That whereas at the end of psalm-Psalm-Books and Catechisms they do add the Confession of Faith of our French Churches that they do especially this which begins with these words We believe and confess that there is but One GOD c. and which hath an Epistle prâ—fixed to it dedicated to the King and not that other Confession which begins thus Forasmuch as the Foundation of Faith c. not but that both are conformable in Doctrine And hereof also Notice shall be given to the Printers of Geneva Elders not to be displac'd without great cause XXV Although the Elders Office as now used by us be not perpetual as is exprest in the 35th Article of the Discipline nevertheless the Churches shall be admonished not to discharge their Elders but for great Causes whereof the Consistories shall take Cognizance that so the Church may be be conducted after the bed manner by Persons well verst in her Government XXVI Ministers in places appointed by the King and in all others are advised not to receive the Members of any other Churches unto the Lord's Supper without a sufficient Attestation produced by them under the hand of their Pastors or Elders if it may be had No Books must be written ridiculously but Modesty is to be observed in them XXVII Ministers and others whom God hath endowed with Gifts and Abilities to write in Defence of the Truth are requested not to publish their Thoughts in a ridiculous or injurious manner but to keep to that Modesty and Gravity which becomes the Majesty of God's Word and to observe that self-same Modesty and Majesty in their Sermons and in their ordinary Stile to use the Language of God's Spirit in the Holy Scripture Schollars to be maintained by the Churches in the Universities XXVIII Because there is every-where a visible decay and a great want of Ministers and that some provision may be made for a Succession the Churches shall be admonished by our Brethren the Provincial Deputies that such as are rich would maintain some hopeful Schollars at the Universities who being educated in the Liberal Arts and Sciences and other good Learning may be fitted for and employed in the Sacred Ministry XXIX Altho' in our Churches for the most part the Lord's Supper is administred only sour times a Year yet the more frequent Celebration of it is very desirable due Reverence in approaching to it being always observed because it 's most beneficial for God's Children to be exercised and grow in Faith which is done by the frequent usage of the Sacraments as also because this was the Practice of the Primitive Church Nâ—â—â—e mâ—n may not carry with them in their Journeys the Ministers of the Churches leaving them â—â—â—upplied XXX Ministers being given to the Service of the Church and not to the Persons and Palaces of Great Lords altho' their Families may equallize in Numbers some Churches yet their Lordships shall be desired not to carry away with them in their Removals or Travels abroad with their Families the Churches Ministers least thereby they be left unprovided XXXI Lords and Gentlemen shall be censured according to the Discipline of our Churches if after frequent Admonitions they entertain in their Houses scandalous and incorrigible Persons especially if they suffer Priests to sing Mass or by Dogmatizing to debauch their Domesticks or if having cashiered them they shall again receive them into their Service XXXII The Churches shall be admonished to beware of a Book written by Mr. Charles Du Moulin Entituled Vnio quatuor Evangelistarum because in it there be divers Errors as about Limbus Free-will and the Sin against the Holy Ghost and the Lord's Supper and in particular about the Calling of Ministers and Church-Discipline which he treats with scorn and would totally subvert The Faithful also are warned not to assist at any of his Sermons or Sacraments it being against the Discipline of our Church Modesty to be kept in Attire See the Synod of St. Foy General Matters Art 2. The Faithful must use Charity towards their Brethren or Sisters that have forsook their Monastries XXXIII Ministers shall exhort their People to be modest in their Habits and that they themselves do in this and all other Matters give them the best Example forbearing all Gaudery in their own Persons and in their Wives and Children XXXIV They whose Brethren and Sisters have quitted their Monastery that they might serve God in freedom of Conscience shall be exhorted to admit them unto a part of their Estate at least they shall be compelled by all Censures to afford them Maintenance and a competent Pension according to their ability For they would otherwise shew themselves void of Natural Affection The End of the Second National Synod of Paris THE ACTS DECISIONS and DECREES OF THE VI. National Synod OF THE Reformed Churches of Christ IN The KINGDOM of FRANCE Held in the Town of VERTVEIL and Province of AVGOVLMOIS the First Day of September 1567. THE CONTENTS of this SYNOD CHap. I. Moderator Alterations and Annotations upon the Church-Discipline Chap. II. Marriage of Excommunicated Persons and Infidels Provincial Synods Reading of the Holy Scriptures Bread in the Lord's Supper to be taken by them who can't the Cup Church-Government Loan of Ministers Pastors deserting their Churches Rejection of Church-Officers Chap. III. A Case of Conscience about a Deaf and Dumb Man's
it IX Under the Second towards the End this shall be added And the said Elders shall be admonished not to declare unto the Consistory their faults without just Cause and in much Charity according to the Rule of God's Word No Person at the first Report of his Miscarriage shall be mention'd by name in the Consistory On this Article the Lord-Admiral propounded That Persons upon the first Report should not be mention'd by Name unto the Consistory until they had first resolved whether they should be called into it or no. And there was added That no Person for the first Report ought to be named unless the Consistory for good and vallid causes should think fitting so to do X. Under the Third towards the End shall be this Addition If they be fit and in case of want and hindered by Ministers CHAP. VII General Matters Thursday the Fifth of the same Month. I. THere shall be added to the Third Article of Elders and Deacons That none others besides the said Deacons shall intermeddle with the Administration of the Poors Money II. This Article shall be added The Elders and Deacons may be present at Propositions of the Word of God made by Ministers besides their ordinary Sermons as also at Censures and shall have their Priviledge of Voting in all Matters Doctrine only excepted Of the CONSISTORY III. THE Fourth Article shall be thus formed Ministers and Elders compose the Consistory in which Ministers shall always preside and the Deacons may be present if so be the Consistory do judge it fitting IV. On the Seventh Article after these Words For tryal of their Ability shall be added which yet shall not be done without great Prudence and Discretion with promise of Secrecy V. There shall be this Addition made to the Close of the Eighth Article And if there be any other Counsels they shall be supprest VI. After these words in the Ninth But principally at the Auditing of Accounts there shall be this Addition of which the People shall have notice given them VII The Tenth Article was thus Explained If there should arise any Contention concerning Doctrine it shall be out of hand notified unto the Colloquy subordinate unto the Synods where also the Elders and Professors in Divinity may be present to give their Judgment on the Points but the Decision of these Controversies shall especially belong unto the Ministers and Professors of Divinity VIII In the Twelfth instead of Adjured to speak the Truth there shall be Exhorted and Summoned in the Name of God to speak the Truth IX On the Sixteenth after these words Propositions of the Word of God shall be added Among Scholars Of Delinquents and Censur'd Persons and what are these Offences which render them obnoxious unto Censures No copy of Excommunication or Church-censures to be given X. THE Question being mov'd whether a Copy may be given of the Excommunication or of any other Censure It was answered That because the whole Process was a Matter of Conscience it ought not to be given And as for the publick Act it 's subject properly to the Magistrates Jurisdiction XI The first Article was approv'd of but after those words And if notwithstanding all this they do not convert but persist in their Stubbornness and Obstinacy there shall be added On the fourth Lord's-day the scandalous Persons shall be Excommunicated either in this or such like form as shall be advised on by the Consistory we do declare unto the whole Congregation that we do not own him for one of the Members of our Church and in the Name and by the Authority of our Lord Jesus we cut him off from it XII On the third unto those words After they shall have continued firm shall be added without expecting the Advice of a National Synod Of Provincial SYNODS XIII ON the first Article instead of once a Year shall be inserted at least twice XIV In the second after the first Period shall be added And the said Ministers and Elders shall produce their Orders of Deputation XV To the sixth This Article is the 11th in the Chapter of Provincial Synods in the Book of Discipline this Article of the Synod of Vertueil shall be added If there arise any difference between two Synods they shall choose a third to reconcile them Of BAPTISM 1571. Synod VIII XVI AFter these words in the second Article This is the 4th Article in the Chapter and Book of Discipline Quit and resign their Right unto the Sureties shall be added As to Instruction And a little before shall be added If the Parents do consent The second and third Article shall make but one Papists and excommunicate Persons being joyned together XVII And the fourth after these words And is wholly null shall be abridg'd and cut short and shall be thus expressed Baptism administred by a Person who hath neither Call nor Commission is wholly null and void CHAP. VIII Acts passed upon Friday the Sixth of the said Month. I. IN the sixth Article the word Alliance shall be removed and it shall suffice to say thus much That fellowship among the Faithful may be maintained by Conjunction of Friendship and instead of Conceited shall be put Contentious II. Instead of these words in the Eighth Although the Husband have an unbelieving Wife yet he is not excusable shall be put these words Altho' the believing Husband have a Wife of contrary Religion yet is he not excusable III. After these words in the Ninth The Ministers shall reject shall be added as much as is fitting IV. This Article shall be added The Consistories shall have an eye over them who detain their Children from Baptism too long a time Of the LORD's SVPPER Beneficed persons not to be admitted to the Lord's Supper V. THis Article shall be added Beneficed Persons retaining the Name and Title of their Benefices and those also who dabble with Idolatry in their said Benefices shall not be admitted to the Lord's Table but such as hold those Benefices by the King's Gift and make a true and publick Profession of the Reformed Religion owning and avowing it with sufficient Considence may be received unto the Lord's Supper only they shall be exhorted to apply the yearly Profits of those their Benefices to pious Vses This is the 7th Article in the Chapter of the Lord's Supper and Book of Discipline VI. After these words in the sixth Article And striving as much as in them lieth shall be added yea also they shall put the Cup unto their Mouths that so they may prevent all Offence which might otherwise be taken VII At the End of the tenth Article there shall be this Addition And therefore the National Synods shall take care about it as the Good of the Church shall require This Article is the 14th in the Chapter of the Lord's Supper and Book of Disline Of MARRIAGES VIII THere shall be this Addition made unto the first Article This is the
2d Article in the Chapter of Marriages and Book of Discipline That all Persons young or old tho' they have been formerly married if they refuse to pay that Honour and Duty unto their Parents of Acquainting them with their intended purpose of Marriage shall be sharply reprov'd by the Consistory This is the 6th Article in the Chapter of Marriage and Book of Displine IX After these words in the third Touching Consanguinities and Affinities the Faithful may not contract Marriage with Persons And in lieu of what follows 1571. Synod VIII Forasmuch as great scandal may proceed from it whereof the Church shall take Cognizance there shall be put unless it be permitted them by the King's Edict X. This Addition shall be made unto the seventh This is the 16th Chapter of Marriage and Book of Discipline And if the Parties resolve to solemnize their Marriages in any other place than that where their Banes were published they shall take with them a sufficient Certificate of their Banes having been thrice published XI And farther Additions shall be made unto this Article 'T is a part of the 21st Article in the Chapter of Marriages and Book of Discipline in these words As for Persons suspended the Lord's Table they shall notwithstanding this their Suspension be permitted Marriage but with this Proviso That they confess their Faults with true Repentance XII This also shall be added That notice be given unto the Faithful That divers Difficulties arising about Marriage-promises may be prevented Promises of Marriage shall be made in words de praesenti they shall â—or time to come make the said Promises in pure and plain words de praesenti nor shall the Consistories admit the Banes of any others to be published in the Church From which promises according to God's Word the said Parties can never be discharged XIII Instead of they shall be admonished This is the 23th Article in the Chapter of Marriage and Book of Discipline in the 19th Article shall be put they may be admonished and at the end shall be added But if it should be the Case of any Church-Officers tho' they Received again their Wives yet shall they be displac'd from that Office they held and exercised in the Church XIV After those words in the twentieth who shall acquaint him with his Liberty according to the Word of God This is the 29th Article in the Chapter of Marriage and Book of Discipline there shall be inserted yet nevertheless because of the many Difficulties we advise the Ministers of this Kingdom not to marry those Parties tho' they be at Liberty to provide themselves elsewhere And after these words And as for what concerns the offending Party the Remainder shall be thus abridged This Liberty after great and mature deliberation shall be declared to him And a definitive Sentence having been obtained from the Civil Magistrate the Consistories may proceed unto the Celebration of that Marriage XV. Touching the fourth Article of particular Matters treated in the Synod of Vertueil and dismissed over to this Synod We have advised That the Wives of Priests and Monks which had been married unto those of them who have since revolted should not cohabit with them as Women with their Husbands least God's Holy Ordinance of Marriage should be loaden with Reproach and Infamy altho the Marriage be not dissolved But illae vocatae sunt ad caelibatum they be called out by God's Providence unto a single Life CHAP. IX Acts passed on Saturday the seventh Day of the same Month. I. To the Head of Marriages the Canon decreed at Vertueil shall be added This is the 21st Article in the Chapter of Marriage and Book of Discipline The Banes of Widows shall not be published till four Months and an half after the decease of their first Husband that the Evil and Scandal which otherwise would fall out may be avoided II. And this also It 's convenient for the keeping up of Discipline in the Church These two Articles make up the 24th in the Chapter of Marriages and Book of Discipline that no Marriage be solemnized on Communion-days And this Canon shall not be dispensed with but for very weighty Causes and those also approved by the Consistory III. Item Marriages shall not be solemnized on days of Fasting Concerning Particular ORDERS IV. THere shall be added after the Word This Article is the 2d in the Chapter of particular Orders Lands belonging unto Castles this word And the Titles in the first Article V. To the third Article there shall be this Addition Judges shall not be reproved for giving Sentences in Causes concerning Ecclesiastical Goods and the Execution of the King's Edict This Article is divided into the 5.6 and 7. Articles of particular Orders in the Book of Discipline And Arbitrators shall in no wise intermeddle with any of those Matters which either directly or indirectly do concern Idolatry Advocates shall be admonished neither to demand nor give Councel in Causes belonging to the Execution of the said Edict VI. On the 4th Article the Queen of Navar demanded our Advice whether through want of others she might with a good Conscience Receive and Establish Roman Catholick Officers in her Dominions This is the 13. Article in this Chapter and Book of Discipline as also in her Conrt and Family To which the Synod humbly replied That her Majesty should take special heed about her Domestick Officers and as much as possible only to imploy Persons fearing God and of the Reformed Religion And that she should cause the Papists that are peaceable and of unblameable Lives to be instructed and that she should utterly discard those Traytors who forsook her in her Necessities and cruelly persecuted God's Saints in these last Troubles VII After those words in the 6th They may address themselves This is the 8th Article in this Chapter and Book of Discipline shall be added in case they be sent by the Magistrate VIII After Brethren and Sisters in the Eighth Article shall be put and other Parents And the last Clause shall be thus couched This is the 16th Article in the Chapter and Book of Discipline And they shall be exhorted to assist and provide for them according to the Laws of Humanity and Book This present Body of Church-Discipline having been diligently examin'd according to God's Word by all the Ministers and Elders of the Reformed Churches of France was in all its Heads and Articles approved by the said Deputies who in their own Names and for their Churches did Promise and protest to keep and observe it for the Edification of the Church the Conservation of Order and their mutual Union that God might be the better glorified by them N. B. The Discipline was kept most strictly forty Years after this Synod and then they began to lax the Reigns yeilding too much to the Iniquity of the Time CHAP. X. Particular Orders about publishing of Books
their Principals That they believed it to be true that they would teach it as such and procure to the utmost of their powâ—r that it should be taught and believed in and by all their Churches and Provinces CHAP. V. Observations on Reading of our Church-Discipline Article 1. St. Maixant Observat 2. THE Deputies of the Province of Orleans and Berry having noted it it was ordered that after these words in the close of the fourth Article in the first Chapter His ordination being compleatly finished in that Church whereunto he is sent the following words shall be razed then there shall be Deputed three Ministers to Present him unto the People in lieu of which these shall be substituted Which shall be informed of his Election by Act and Letters from that Synod or Colloquy carried and read unto them by a Pastor or Elder Art 2. The 5th Article shall begin with these words He whose Election is declared and published to the Church shall make a Proposition c. Art 3. See Syn. of Rechel obs 4. The 7th Article shall not begin with these words when Ministers are to be ordained but with these following All which as before having been observed two Pastors Deputed expresly by the Synod or Colloquy to ordain by imposition of hands the Minister Elect being come unto the Church He of them who is to Preach shall treat of the nature and manner of ordination c. Art 4. St. Maixant Obser 4. Whereas the Deputies of Burgundy moved about the sence of the 7th Article as to the hand of fellowship and of the newly Elected Pastors presence at the Acts of Colloquies and Synods after his Election This Assembly judgeth that the hand of fellowship ought not to be given him but immediately after his ordination and that this is the sence of that Article and tho he may be permitted entrance into the Colloquy or Synod yet shall he not be admitted to give his decisive suffrage the first Sessions after his Ordination Art 5. In expounding the 19th Article of the same Chapter this Canon was made Orltans Art 3. That none of the Pastors Ministring in the Houses of Princes and great Lords should be chosen Deputies unto our National Synods unless it were for that particular Province unto which their Church and Consistory is joyned at the very instant time of their Deputation Art 6. The Deputies of the Isle of France insisting for a change of some words 1 Par. 22 which their Provincial Synod judged needful to be altered in the 47th Article of the same Chapter This Assembly thought it inconvenient to make any alteration Art 7. The Deputies of Vivaretz demanding that in the second Article of the 7th Chapter the number of Elders which are to be sent unto Synods or Colloquies might be reduced to the same with that of Pastors and that one Elder only might be Commissionated with the Pastor The Assembly ordained that there should be nothing changed in it Art 8. As to what hath been observed by the Province of the Isle of France on the 5th Article of the 8th Chapter this Assembly ordains that the Article shall not be changed but these words following shall be added to it Saving always their power to prosecute that ungratefull Church according to the Judgment of the Provincial Synod Art 9. On the 5th Article of the 3d. Chapter after these words They shall herein follow the Common form there shall be these added And they shall suffer none other books to be read but the Canonical books of the old and new Testament Art 10. In the 2d of Article the 11th Chapter instead of these words that he were chosen Doctor it were best so that all Ambiguities may be removed to read both Doctor and Minister Art 11. The Province of Berry remonstrating by their Deputies that the 5th Article of the 13th Chapter had been changed at Privas without the Consent of the Provinces and demanding that it might stand as it had been couched by the Synod of Gergeau which also was demanded by the Province of Lower Languedoc and Sevennes This Assembly ordained that the Article should remain in that very form as it was framed by the National Synod of Privas Art 12. Vertâ—eil 26. At the request of the Deputies of the Isle of France this Assembly considering the 32d Article of the 13th Chapter treating of Monks and Priests revolting from the truth of the Gospel which they had once embraced and returning like Swine to Wallow in the Mire of Idolatry doth Judge meet and fit for the removing of all Ambiguities that these following words should be added to it viz. Chaunting Masses and entring again into their Cloysters Art 13. 1 Paris P. M. 17. Do not evil that good may come lest the end should be destruction The Deputies of Higher Languedoc moved that because of the great advantage would accrew unto us by Monitories gotten out of their Ecclesiastical Courts against those of the Church of Rome especially in compelling them to confess the truth it would be very convenient for us to allow the demanding of them and that the 11th Article of the 14th Chapter might be razed out But this Assembly ordained that the article should abide in its full force and nothing at all to be changed in it Art 14. Montpellier p. m. 16. Altho the Deputies of Sevennes demanded it yet this Assembly did not conceive that the 32th Article in the same Chapter concerning Duels needed any further explication wherefore it shall continue as it is the words being very clear and plain and their sence obvious to any common Understanding and their exact and careful observation of this Canon is recommended unto all the Consistories Our Church Discipline being read the Assembly approved of it in all its Articles and all the Deputies Promised and Sware for themselves and their Churches and Provinces that they would observe it in their own persons and use their best endeavours that it should be most carefully observed in their respective Churches and Provinces CHAP. VI. Observations on reading the Acts of the National Synod of Privas Art 1. Privas Art 3. after the List of the Deputies IN reading that Article concerning such as will not yield to the Majority of votes in our General Assemblies the Deputies of the Province of Xaintonge craved advice how to Censure them that will not acquiesce in the votes and resolutions of our General and Provincial Assemblies whether Ecclesiastical or Political but set themselves vigorously against their Execution This Assembly ordains that such refractory persons in any of those Assemblies shall be prosecuted with all Ecclesiastical Censures according as Consistories Colloquies Provincial and National Synods shall Judge meet Art 2. The Lord de la Millitiere Deputy General earnestly demanding both in his own name and in their's also who were joynt Deputies together with him for the Reunion that the Censure past on the Sieur de Barjac which
of humanity and Consanguinity CAN. XVI Neither Ministers nor other Members of the Church may print any Books composed by themselves or others concerning Religion nor may they at all publish them until they have first Communicated them unto the Colloquy or if need be unto the Provincial Synod And in case the matter be urgent requiring speedy dispatch unto the Universities or to two Pastors appointed by the Synod who shall attest under their own hands that they have perused and examined the said Writings CAN. XVII They that handle the Histories of holy Scripture in Poems are admonished not to blend or intermingle Poetick Fables with them nor to give unto God the names of a false God nor to add unto nor take any thing from the Sacred Scriptures but they shall confine themselves as near as they can unto the words of it CAN. XVIII Neither the Canonical nor other Books of the Bible shall be transformed into Comedies or Tragedies CAN. XIX Churches which have Printers belonging to them shall advise them not to print any Books concerning Religion or the Discipline of the Church without having first Communicated them unto the Consistory because of those manifold Inconveniencies which have formerly happened upon this account And neither Printers nor Booksellers nor Hawkers shall sell any Books of Idolatry or that be Scandalous stuffed with Ribauldry or Impiety which tend to the corrupting of good Manners CAN. XX. Although Priests cannot lay any just claim or title unto Tyths in regard of their Ministry yet nevertheless they must be paid because of the King's Command and for the avoidance of Scandal and Sedition CAN. XXI According to his Majesties Edict the Faithful shall be exhorted to give none offence by working upon Holy-Days CAN. XXII All Usuries shall be most strictly forbidden and suppressed and matters of Loan shall be regulated according to the Kings Ordinance and the Rule of Charity CAN. XXIII All violence and injurious words against the Members of the Church of Rome as also against Priests and Monks shall not only be forborn but also as much as may be shall be totally suppressed CAN. XXIV Swearers who in passion or levity do take God's holy Name in vain and others who blaspheme the Divine Majesty shall be most severely censured and if after the second admonition they be not reclaimed they shall be then suspended from the Lord's Table And all Outragious Blasphemers Forswearers and such like Persons shall in no wise be tolerated in Church-Communion But immediately for their first offence shall be suspended the Lord's Supper and if they continue in their Ungodliness they shall be publickly Excommunicated CAN. XXV The Churches shall admonish the Faithful of both Sexes to retain Modesty and that most especially in their Habits and shall take care that all Superfluities heretofore committed in them may be retrenched But yet our Churches shall not make any Decree about it because it is an affair properly belonging unto the Civil Magistrate yet may they endeavour by their Remonstrances that his Majesties Edict concerning these matters be more diligently observed CAN. XXVI No Person shall be deprived of Communion at the Lord's Table for wearing any fashion of Apparel which is ordinarily and usually worn in this Kingdom But under this head those ought not to be comprised which carry with them a notorious Badge of Lasciviousness dissolution or over-curious novelty such as naked Breasts Painting and the like with which Men and Women cloath and abuse themselves And Consistories shall do their utmost to suppress these Impieties and shall proceed against the Refractory by Suspension from the Lord's Table N. B. That Clause in the middle of this Canon Printed in another Letter is found in my Parisian and Quevilly Editions of the Discipline yet injoined by the National Synods held at St. Foy 1578. Canon 21. of General Matters The second of Rochel 1581. Art 41. Explaining the 26 Canon in the last Chapter of the Discipline and the Synod of Montauban 1594. Canon 45. of General Matters CAN. XXVII All Dances shall be supprest and such as make a Trade of Dancing or make Custom of being present at Dances having been sundry times admonished in case they prove contumacious and Rebellious they shall be Excommunicated and all Consistories are charged to see that this Canon be most heedfully kept and observed and in the name of God and by the Authority of this Synod that it be read publickly in their Churches And Colloquies and Provincial Synods are exhorted to have an observing eye on those Consistories which shall not perform their duty in this particular that they may be censured N.B. Provincial Synods is left out by pure omission from my other Editions but those of Paris and Quevilly CAN. XXVIII Mummings and Juglings shall not be suffered nor Wassail-days nor keeping of Shrovetide nor Players at Heypass nor Tumblers nor Tricks of Goblets nor Puppet-Plays and Christian Magistrates are exhorted not to permit them because they do feed curiosity and cause a great deal of waste and loss of time Moreover it shall not be lawful for the Faithful to go to Comedies Tragedies Interludes Farces or other Stage-Plays acted in publick or private because in all Ages these have been forbidden among Christians as bringing in a corruption of good Manners but then most of all when as the Sacred Scriptures come to be profaned Yet nevertheless when as in a Colledge it shall be found profitable for Youth to represent any History it may be tolerated provided always that the subject matter thereof be not comprised in the holy Scripture which was never given us for matter of sport but purely to be Preached for our Instruction and Comfort And this also shall be done very rarely and with advice of the Colloquy which shall first have the sight and perusal of the Composition CAN. XXIX All Plays forbidden by the Kings Edicts as Cards Dice and other Games of hazard avarice lasciviousness notorious loss of time or scandal shall be suppressed and the Persons reproved and admonished in the Consistories and censured according to Circumstances No Lotteries can be approved although they were or were not allowed by the Civil Magistrate and the godly Magistrates professing the Reformed Religion are exhorted to restrain them N. B. This last Clause of the Canon is only in my two Editions of Paris and Quevilly CAN. XXX It is a thing purely indifferent to be present at those Feasts and Banquets which are made by those of the Popish Religion when as they are Espoused Married or their Children are born However the Faithful are admonished to use them for edification and seriously to ponder with themselves whether they be Masters of so much strength as to resist the dissolutions and other evils committed at them and especially whether they can reprove them And under these Feasts those are not to be comprised which Priests make at the Celebration of their first Mass for it is utterly unlawful for any one who
Consistory of that Church where these Persons are Members shall judge of the lawfulness of those Promises In a particular Affair the Common Cause is not to be concerned XL. No Church shall undertake any Matter of great consequence wherein the Interest or Damage of other Churches is of right to be comprised without consulting the Provincial Synod if it may be conveniently assembled But if the business be urgent they shall communicate it to other Churches of the Province and obtain at least by Letters their Advice and Consent XLI These present Articles of Discipline are not so ordained by us but that if the Churches Profit do require they may be changed But it shall not be in the Power of any one particular Church to change them without having first Advised with and got the Consent of a National Synod CHAP. III. Particular Matters Propounded and Decided in the aforesaid National Synod held in PARIS Such as have Popish Licenses to Marry shall not be married without having first confessed their Sin 1. AS to that Case of Conscience propounded by the Minister of Diep it was answer'd That such as had Licenses from Popish Vicars or Curates to Marry where they pleased should not be married in the Church of God unless they do confess this their Offence before the Congregation wherein they be married And the Minister of the Gospel shall be instant with them to evidence their Repentance by Tearing of the License But whether the Tearing of it in pieces be done in the Church or Consistory that is left unto the Church's Prudence where this Matter may fall out None can be discharged of their Marriage-Promise upon pretext of Religion II. As to the Question propounded by the Minister of Anger 's it was answered That he who had espoused a Maid of the Popish Religion but is himself since converted although the said Maiden refuseth to be married in the Church of God is nevertheless bound by his Promise wherefore he ought sollicite her to accomplish it but if she will not consent unto it he must contain himself until such time as the Bond be broken either by her Marriage or Whoredom The same Advice was given in the like case by Mr. Calvin Whether the Children of Papists are to be receiv'd into the Church III. The Minister of Castelherand having moved this case A Papist displeased with the Creasme and Spittle and other Ceremonies added unto Baptism by the Popish Church desireth him to Baptise his Child It was queried Whether he should do it But because there was another Question first to be debated viz. Whether the Children of Papists ought to be received into the Church of Christ Divers Arguments having been banded on both sides the Decision thereof was remanded to a more full Assembly What Course is to be taken with the Broachers of Heresies IV. As to what was related by the Minister of Poictiers concerning Lavan who for a long time hath publickly Taught and printed strange Doctrines Schisms and notorious Heresies The Brethren may if they judge meet cite him to appear before the next Provincial Synod or privately Commune with him and if he be found Obstinate there being made a diligent and faithful Collection of his Heresies they shall be brought into the Provincial Synod that so they may be according to the Rule of GOD's Word condemned However out of hand the People shall be admonished to avoid so great a Plague V. And whereas our Brother of Poictiers hath declared in private Conference That an Heretick is not to be punished as an Heretick but as a Disturber of the Civil Government we say That were there no other Fault but this yet he should be admonished not to create Troubles unto the Church but there being other Circumstances reported unto this Assembly and these in particular That he hath very proudly scorned Counsel given him and basely Calumniated the Minister his Tutor and the whole Consistory calling him A blind Leader of the Blind and notwithstanding the many Remonstrances made him not to frequent a certain Schismatical Heretick nevertheless he continues to keep him company Therefore for these causes we advise that he be cut off by Excommunication from the Fellowship of the Faithful VI. The Minister of Poictiers having demanded Whether it be well done to take their Oaths who are newly received into the Church not to discover their Brethren Whether an Oath may be take from such as are received into the Church Again these Novices being made Prisoners for the Gospel's sake and the Magistrate tendring them an Oath to declare the Truth whether notwithstanding their first Oath they should discover their Brethren As to the former it was answer'd That respect must be had unto the circumstance of Places that so they may obviate the Levity and Malice of those Persons who otherwise by their Imprudence and Malice would endanger an whole Church Whether a Man notwithstanding his former Oath may yet afterward declare his Brethren And as to the second Question It is most certain that the end of that Oath being to glorifie God and preserve Charity the latter Oath does not oblige to speak or do any thing contrary unto these But it were better that they did Protest at first never to speak any thing that might redound to the Dishonour of GOD or the Damage of their Neighbours Whether Children may be baptized without a Sermon and where no Church is VII Is it necessary that Infants should be baptized in a Publick Church-Assembly Or may it be done without such a Congregation as in a private Family where there be very few People We answer That where a Church is already constituted publickly there the Children shall be baptized publickly But where there is none gathered nor publickly established and Parents through Infirmity are afraid to carry them to a publick Assembly far distant from them there to be baptized Ministers may yeild what in Prudence they may judge convenient for them Whether the Faithful may write their Childrens Names in the Registers of Popish Priests VIII Our Brother of St. John d' Angely demanding Whether the Faithful might lawfully suffer their Childrens Names to be recorded in the Registers of Popish Priests It was answered That because it was a Civil Ordinance of his Majesty the Ministers and Consistories should specially observe the Design and End of him that it and admonish him that he be very careful lest thereby he be taken for a Papist Whether the Faithful may Rent Ecclesiastical Revenues IX Advice hath been taken upon what was proposed by the Minister of St. John d' Angely viz. Whether the Faithful might lawfully Farm the Ecclesiastical Revenues of Monks and Priests c And it is our Judgment That it is in no wise lawful for the Faithful to intermeddle with any Matter that hath Idolatry conjoyned with it as the Patten or the Baise-mains or to cause Masses or Vigils to be said or sung
Monsieur de Beza acquainted the Assembly of those Heresies disperst abroad in Poland and Transylvania by divers Persons against the Unity Divinity and humane Nature of our Lord Jesus Christ receiving the Errors of ancient Hereticks particularly of Samosatenus Arrius Photinus Nestorius Eutyches and many others yea and of Mahomet himself also Whereupon the Synod unanimously voted their Detestation of all those abominable Errors and Heresies and adviseth all Pastors Elders and Deacons and generally all the Faithful vigourosly to oppose their Admission into the Churches of France IV. Information was also given concerning the Errors of Cozain by the Minister of Normandy and Monsieur de Chandieu and Monsieur de L'estang were ordered to examine the Table of the said Cozain and to bring in a Report of it and finally it was condemned rejected and detested And the English Bishops shall be desired to suppress the Books of the said Hereticks which began to be in vogue among them V. The Nine and twenty Articles of the Confession of our Faith and the others concerning Church-discipline being read and propounded by the Minister of Bourdeaux notice was given concerning a certain Physitian who maintained the Supremacy of the Magistrate as Head of the Church and had published certain Writings under his own Hand and Name containing the Reasons of his Opinion Whereupon the whole Assembly ratified the said Articles of it's Confession and rejected the Error of the said Physitian and of all others who would abolish Church-discipline confounding it with the Civil Government of the Magistrate It condemns also those Errors proceeding from the afore-mentioned Tenent VI. Moreover the Synod ordered Monsieur de Beza to answer them who impugned the aforesaid Articles of our Faith and the Discipline of our Church and in special the above-mentioned Physitian and our Brother the Minister of Bourdeaux shall deliver unto Monsieur de Beza the Points Collected by him that must be answer'd and the whole shall be communicated to the Brethren of Geneva Union must be placed instead of Unity in the Art concerning these two words in the 26. Art see Synod of Nismes g. m. Art 20. And the 3d. Synod of Rochel Art 8. concerning divers Obsenric in the Confession of Faith VII Instead of Vnity there shall be replaced the Word Vnion in the six and thirtieth Article of our Confession of Faith And whereas the Deputies of the Isle of France and Brie do conceive it needful that the said Article be explain'd in that Clause of it which treats of the Participation of Christ's Substance in the Sacrament of his Supper After a long Conference it was at last resolved That the Synod approving the said Article rejecteth their Opinion who will not receive the Word Substance By which word the Synod doth not understand any Confusion Commixture or Conjunction after a carnal Manner nor in any wise Natural but a most true and intimate Conjunction after a spiritual Manner by which Jesus Christ is so far made ours and we his that there is no Conjunction of Bodies either Natural or Artificial which can be so close and intimate nor is this our fence and meaning as if by the Conjunction of Christ's Person and Substance with ours there did result a kind of third Person and Substance No but this only That by his Vertue all that is in him needful for our Salvation is hereby most freely and intimately given and communicated to us Nor do we consent with them who say that we communicate in his Merits Gifts and Spirit without his being at all made ours But with the Apostle in his Epistle to the Ephesians admiring this Supernatural and to our reason incomprehensible Mystery we do believe that we are made Partakers of his Body delivered to the death for us and of his Blood shed for us so that we are Bone of his bones and Flesh of his flesh and that we receive him together with all his Gifts by faith wrought in us through the incomprehensible Vertue and Efficacy of his Holy Spirit and thus do we in this Sence understand these Words of our Lord speaking Who so eateth the Flesh and drinketh the Blood of the Son of Man hath everlasting Life Item I am the Vine you art the Branches and we must abide in him that we may bring forth much Fruit and that we are Members of his Body and of his Flesh and of his Bones And as we derive our death from the first Adam because we participate of his Substance so must we as truly partake of the second Adam Christ Jesus that we may derive life from him And therefore all Pastors and the Faithful in general are required not to yield unto the contrary Opinions because what is now asseretd by us hath firm footing in the express Word of God Three Original Copies of the Confess 〈◊〉 of Faith the 〈◊〉 at Rochel 〈◊〉 2d 〈…〉 and the 〈…〉 VIII Finally when as the Confession of Faith was read and ended the whole Synod decreed that without any Additions there should be three Copies fairly written in Parchmin whereof one should be kept in this City of Rochel another in Bearn and the third at Geneva and all three should be subscribed by the Ministers and Elders Deputies of the Provinces of this Kingdom in the Name of all the Churches Moreover her Majesty the Queen of Navarre and my Lords the Princes of Navarre and Conde and the other Lords here present in this Synod are also requested to subscribe it with their own hands CHAP. III. Observations upon the Church-discipline Tuesday the Third of the same Month. I. THE Discipline being read it was judged needful that under the Head of Ministers there should be made this following Addition viz. The most diligently that may be II. Under the fourth Head to these words It shall be granted because of our present Circumstances shall be added the Ninth Article of the Synod of Vertueil III. Under the Eight shall be added Although the Vsage of Imposition of Hands be good and holy yet it shall not be reputed necessary as if it were of the Substance of Ordination The Form of Ordination IV. The Form of Ordination was drawn up by Monsieur de Chandieu in these following Words The Minister who presenteth to the People the Person to be Ordained shall briefly treat of the Institution and Excellency of the Ministery alledging for this purpose these or the like Texts of Holy Scripture viz. 4. Eph. 11. Luke 10.16 John 20.22 2 Cor. 5.19 120. 1 Cor. 4.1 Exhorting every one to take special heed that both Minister and People discharge their proper Duties The Minister shall acquit himself with the greater care and diligence in his Calling because he knows of what high price and excellent account it is with God And the People shall with all Reverence receive the Message of God brought unto them by this his Embassador The Form of Prayer at Ordination was first framed in the Synod
of Maiâ—ant 1609. 4th Article of Observations upon the Discipline Then shall be read in the hearing of the whole Assembly 1. Tim. 3. and 1. Titus Where the Apostle delivers the Characters and Qualifications of a true Minister and that the Elect Person may be enabled by divine Grace faithfully and conscientiously to perform the Duties of this holy and honourable Office a pithy and fervent Prayer suitable to the occasion shall be powred out before the Lord for him in the close of which he shall Impose his hands on the Head of the Elect Person beseeching God that as he is consecrated unto his Service So that from the year 1559. to the year 1609. there was no stated Form of Prayer to whose words the Minister in Ordination was tied up necessarily and invariably so he may be replenished with the Graces of his Holy Spirit and that he would vouchsafe to bless his Ministery and pious Labours unto the Glory of his great Name the Edification of his Church and the Salvation of this elected Minister V. Under the Ninth shall be added And the Church-discipline and Confession of Faith shall be signed and subscribed by the Minister Elect. VI. The Tenth and Eleventh Articles shall be explained and conjoyn'd in one and after these Words They shall be Ministers during life there shall he this Addition If they be not lawfully discharged upon good and sufficient Grounds and those approved by the Provincial Synod Moreover there shall be added And deserters of the Ministery shall be excommunicate by the Provincial Synod in case they repent not And after these Words And as for those who be sent unto any Church shall be added for a time VII The Twelfth which was the Thirteenth shall be thus corrected Altho ' a Minister do tell it publickly that he was forsaken of his Church or persecuted yet shall he not be received by another Church without evidencing unto the Colloquy or Synod his conduct in this Matter and the said Colloquy or Synod shall act therein according to their best judgment and discretion VIII Under the Fourteenth after these words Such who intrude themselves into the Ministery in lieu of Places shall be inserted Provinces IX Under the Seventeenth after these words or expecting the Determination instead of the Council there shall be put in of the Colloquy or Provincial Synod and before instead of Sent there shall be Lent X. To the Eighteenth shall be added with the good Will and Consent of the said Minister XI The Two and twentieth Article shall abide unchanged only with this Addition And all Advises and Letters shall be sent unto one particular Church and not unto any one particular Person This Article iâ— the 37th of the Chapter of Ministers in the Book of Discipline XII Under the Twenty Seventh in lieu of those words After he was summoned there shall be put Three Months being past the first Summons Also after those words It may be lawful for him to joyn himself unto some other Church shall be added by the Advice of the Colloquy or Provincial Synod which shall consider both the Poverty of the Church and the Estate of the Minister And in case of urgent necessity the said Colloquy or Synod may shorten the said Term of Three Months and it shall be lawful for them to censure those ungrateful People even with Excommunication CHAP. IV. Acts passed on Wednesday the Fourth day of the said Month. This Article is the 19th in the Chapter of Ministers in the Book of Discipline I. UNder the 11th Article of Ministers which had been lain by whilst the Princes sate among us there shall be these Alterations for General shall be put Provincial and National and at the end there shall be added As shall be Advised on in an amicable Conference of Ministers of both sides that so what is most expedient may be followed And this Article was approved by the Queen of Navar and by the Princes of Navar and Conde and by my Lords Count Lodwick and the Admiral II. Under the 31st there shall be this Addition The Provinces shall be informed by each other of the deposed Minister that so the Deposed may not be received into other Churches III. Under the 32th after those words During the time of his Ignorance shall be added And this in case the said Minister abiding in his Ministry do bring greater scandal than Edification unto the Church whereof the Synods shall take Cognizance IV. On Article the 38th Monsieur Beza having propounded according to the Commission given him by our Brethren of Geneva that there might be some certain Person chosen to answer those many Books published against our Doctrine and that those Answers might be brought into the Provincial Synods and there perused by them and so to be Printed either with or without the Author's Name as the Synod should judge most convenient This Motion was well approved by the whole Assembly And it was also ordered That in whatsoever Churches there were sound Books Printed against our Doctrine they should be sent unto the said Deputies CHAP. V. V. THE Catalogue of Vagrants being read the Names of these following Persons were rased out of it Torteveau P. Bouleu La Tornevie Roberty and there were inserted into it Le Breuil of Lazan together with Merillo Paul de Haye Rouseau John Bougayott Bavillardy an Albigensis And the Churches were warned by Monsieur Beza to beware of them and of John Tevignon a Burgundian c. Claudius Alexius who bore about him a Certificate under the Hand of Mr. Melancthon deceased and yet both deposed by the Classis of Monbelliard VI. Ministers must use no other Calling but their Ministery This Article was added unto the former concerning Ministers Ministers shall be forbidden to practice Physick or any other Calling Trade or Vocation whatsoever VII Another Article was also subjoined That Ministers who had Estates of their own might nevertheless receive Wages from their Churches but in so doing they ought to consider the Necessities of the Church and the Rules of Charity CHAP. VI. A particular Matter about Elders and Deacons VIII MOnsieur * * * He is called in two other Copies Vires and in a fourth Virel Vercelle Deputy of Brie declareth unto this Synod that the Elders and People of Meaux are dissatisfied with the first Article of particular Matters and complain that they be deprived of their Freedom and Priviledge in Elections Whereupon it was advised that inasmuch as they had been divers times heard and particularly that by the Synod of La Ferte under Joarre they had been largely instructed in the Will of God from his Holy Word in this Article Letters should be dispatcht unto them from this Assembly exhorting them to acquiesce in the Order of Discipline received in our Churches of France and in case they will yet have the Business heard over once again they shall apply themselves unto their own Provincial Synod about
saying of St. Augustin That Medicines which are more hurtful than profitable should be wholly forborn And sith in particular Facts many Circumstances occur concerning which a Special Law cannot be enacted we ought therefore to be the more discreet wary and considerate And the whole is left to the Wisdom of the Consistory VI. There shall be added to the Twenty Eighth Article concerning Ministers these words Nevertheless it were expedient that Ministers took Wages because of its consequence and that others may not be prejudiced VII The Sixteenth Article concerning Ministers shall begin thus The Minister who shall have intruded himself c. VIII After these words in the Thirty fourth Article concerning Ministers That have preached Heretical Doctrine there shall be added And does obstinately maintain it IX In the first Article of Provincial Synods instead of those words At least there she ll be put in As much as possible X. In the first Article of National Synods after those words Within a Year shall be added If it be possible XI Before the Title of Provincial Synods shall be put Titles with Articles of * * * Classes Colloquies And the first Article shall be this The Neighbour-Churches shall assemble themselves in Colloquies four times a Year if possibly they can and each Minister shall come accompanied with one Elder not only for this end that Ministers in their respective turns may handle a common place in Divinity from the Scriptures but that by mutual common Counsel they may compose those emergent Difficulties which trouble their Churches For it is thus ordained by the Discipline and generally to provide whatever they conceive expedient and necessary for the Conservation of the Churches XII The second Article concerning Elders shall be thus enlarged to wit after these words The Elders Office is to convene the People unto Publick Assemblies there shall be this addition And in general to watch but most especially over the Church And after these words To make Reports of Scandals there shall be added And in conjunction with the Ministers to judge and decide And after those words And other such-like Matters shall be added Which concern the Order Preservation and Government of the Church XIII At the end of the Title of National Synods this following Article shall be added That the Acts and Articles of Synods may be preserved and that they may be of use in time to come for the deciding Controversies resolving Cases that may be propounded in the Synods the said Articles of things past or to come and others concerning Synods as also the Articles of our Discipline together with the Confession of Faith of our Reformed Churches shall be all deposited with the Deputies of that Province which is impowered to call the next National Synod and is charged to bring them forth at their first meeting XIV At the end of the Twenty second Article of Marriages there shall be this added And the betrothed Woman shall have the same liberty with the betrothed Man in case the said Man shall have fornicated after the aforesaid Promises XV. The Article concerning Professors of Divinity shall be thus enlarged Doctor and Professors of Divinity shall be chosen by a Synod or †††Collâ—ay Classis after good proof and sufficient tryal had of their Life and Doctrine And they shall be acquainted that they be wholly dedicated for their Lives unto the Service of God and his Church and to be imployed according to the appointment of the Classis or Synods to whose Authority they shall yield Obedience Moreover they shall subscribe the Confession of our Faith and Church-Discipline And whenever any difficulty in Doctrinal Points does occur they shall be called forth if they be upon the place to assist at its decision The Regents also shall make the same Subscription XVI Towards the close of the Fifth Article concerning Elders there shall be this addition And Professors of Divinity lawfully and duly called unto their Offices XVII The Fourth Article concerning Consistories shall be couched in these words Deacons may and ought to be Memâ—â—â—s of Consistories The Ministers of God's Word together with the Eldership do constitute the Churches Consistory in which the Ministers ought to preside and Deacons may and should be present in the Consistory that so by their Advice the Church may be served as hitherto in these difficult times we have happily employed them in the Government of the Churches and called them forth into the Eldership And for time to come all Deacons thus chosen or continued shall joyntly together with the Pastors and Elders have the Rule and Conduct of the Churches CHAP. IV. This Article is the â—ast in the Chapter of Consistories XVIII THis following Article shall be plac'd next in order to the 10th of Consistories If one or more of the People stir up strife and thereby break the Churches Vnion in any Point of Doctrine Discipline or the Form of Catechising Administration of Sacraments How such are to be dealt with who raise Contentions in the Church about our Doctrine Discipline or Worship Catechising and Marriage or of Publick Prayers and Celebration of Marriage and that private Admonitions prove ineffectual to suppress them then the Consistory of that Church shall presently endeavour to compose and appease the whole without any noise and with all sweetness by the Word of God And in case the Dissenters should not acquiesce in their determination that Consistory shall intreat the Colloquy to meet at such time and place as may be most convenient having first of all oblig'd the Dissenters in express terms and those on Record not in any manner of way to spread abroad their Opinions until the meeting of the said Colloquy on pain of being dealt with as Schismaticks excepting always freedom of Conference with Pastors and Elders in case they have not been sufficiently instructed But and if the said Dissenters refuse to give those fore-mentioned Promises then shall they be censured as Rebellious Persons according to the Discipline And the Colloquy being met shall proceed as was above directed And in case the said Dissenters after a patient Hearing and Refutation rest fully satisfied the whole business shall be Registred But if not and extraordinary necessity so require the Provincial Synod shall be intreated to meet at such a time and place as the said Colloquy shall judge most convenient the former Promises having been once again repeated by the Dissenters And the Synod being assembled they shall with very great and mature deliberation advise and consider of the Matter Places Times and Persons whether it be expedient that another Conference be held with these Dissenters and publickly with open doors before the People and whether liberty of speaking may be granted unto any of the Assistants which if it be yet the determination of the Point in Controversie shall not be left unto them but to the Provincial Deputies according to the known Rules of our Discipline And
then if the said Dissenters refuse conformity they shall promising as before be dismissed over to the ordinary National Synod or if there be one at that time extraordinarily assembled they shall be heard in it with all holy freedom And here shall be the final and absolute Decision made of this Controversie from the Word of God whereunto if they refuse a full and entire Obedience and in plain and express terms do not renounce their recorded Errors they shall be cut off by the Sword of Excommunication from the Body of their Churches A Pastor or Elder breaking the Churches Vnion or stirring up contention about any Point of Doctrine or Discipline which he had subscribed or about the Form of Catechising Administration of Sacraments Publick Prayers or Celebration of Marriage and not conforming to the determination of the Colloquy shall be then suspended from his Office and either the Provincial or National Synod shall finally proceed against him CHAP. V. The manner of Electing Ministers XIX THE Fourth Article concerning Ministers shall be couched in these terms A Minister shall not be chosen by one only Minister with his Consistory but by two or three Ministers called into the said Consistory and if there be one in being by the Colloquy or if it may be by the Provincial Synod Afterward he shall be recommended to the People who shall hear him two or three weeks following or for some longer time if it be conceived fitting that he may be known to them and his Method in Teaching the Congregation also shall be expresly informed that if any one of them know a just cause or reason why the called Minister should not be chosen or if they be dissatisfied with them that they would declare it unto the Consistory who will readily receive and patiently and freely hear their Exceptions against him And in case there arise contention on one side or other the Election shall be suspended and the whole Affair shall be brought before the Provincial Synod who shall take knowledge both of the Justification and Reception of the said Ministers who though justified shall not however be imposed upon that People against their will or to the discontentment of the major part of them And on the contrary the Peoples Silence shall be taken for their full consent Finally the said Pastor shall be presented unto the People and be ordained by laying on of hands And if any Ministers be desired by particular Churches to be employed in their Service they shall be sent with good Testimonials of their Life and Doctrine unto the Colloquy or Synod of the Province whereunto the Churches that demanded them do belong and that Colloquyor Synod shall first hear them and in case the Ministers thus sent have never before exercised the Pastoral Office they may examine them and afterwards depute three or four Ministers to nominate and present them unto the Churches which desired them who having heard them preach shall finally receive them or if the People do oppose it the whole Affair shall be determined according to the Order before appointed and all at the Costs and Charges of the Churches which demanded them XX. At the close of that Article concerning Excommunication under the Head of Delinquents these words shall be added And during the Publication as well of the said Excommunication as of the Reconciliation it shall be lawful for those of the People who never consented to give Notice of it unto the Consistory and they have all holy liberty for so doing and the Consistory shall consider of it whereas the silence of others shall be taken for consent And in case of opposition or discontent they shall not proceed unto Excommunication without advising with the Colloquy yet nevertheless the said Suspension shall stand and remain in its full vigour and effect XXI To the first Article of Particular Orders there shall be made this short addition And to nourish Monks XXII In the 27th Article concerning Ministers after these words To shorten the Term of Three Months there shall be added And the said Colloquy shall consider how those ungrateful Persons shall be dealt with weighing maturely and considering seriously all Circumstances and above all having in their eyes the Glory of God the Edification of his Church and the Honour of the Ministry And what remains of that Article shall be razed out XXIII After the 18th Article concerning Consistories this present shall be subjoyned In those places where the Exercise of the Reformed Religion is not established the Faithful shall be exhorted by the Neighbour Colloquies to choose unto themselves Elders and Deacons and to observe the Discipline of the Church and the Colloquy shall advise unto what Church most commodiously both for Minister and People they may be annexed and this shall be done by consent of all or the major part of them and they shall not depart from that Church without having first consulted the said Colloquy Provincial Synods have Power of changing Ministers XXIV The 16th Article concerning Ministers shall be couched in these following words Authority is granted unto Provincial Synods for certain Causes to remove Ministers their Churches being first heard and their Reasons duly pondered but in case of difference the Cause shall be finally decided by the National Synod and till that Sentence be obtained Ministers shall abide where they were XXV There shall be this addition made unto the Article of Provincial Synods And the said Deputies shall come at the common Charges and Expences of their Churches XXVI To the sixth Article of Baptism this Clause shall be added And after they have made Profession of Religion XXVII To the third Article of Elders after these words As also the Sentences of Suspension shall be done there shall be this addition Without any mentioning of Name XXVIII Unto the end of the 7th Article of Elders shall be this added And they shall be diligently exhorted to continue in their Offices as long as may be because frequent changes brings damage unto the Church The Faithful may not be present at any Stage-plays XXIX There shall be this addition at the end of the 18th Article concerning particular Orders It shall not be lawful for the Faithful to be present at Stage-Plays Comedies Tragedies or Farces whether they be acted publickly or privately because they have been ever condemned by God's ancient Churches for corrupting of good Manners especially when as the Holy Scripture shall be profaned by them But if a Colledge judge it meet for their Youth to represent any History not comprised in the Sacred Scriptures which was never given us for our sport and pastime but to be preached for our conversion and comfort and provided this be done but very seldom and by the Advice of the Colloquy which shall first peruse the Composition it may be tolerated XXX The fifteenth Province shall be divided into two Forest Auvergna and La Marche shall make one Burgundy Lyonnois and Benujolois another and
Orange shall be joyned to the Province of Dolphiny XXXI This Clause shall be added to the end of the 8th Article of Marriages After which time the Marriage shall be publickly blessed in the Church according to the Word of God CHAP. VI. General MATTERS I. THis Case was moved about the Elders viz. Whether they ought to be presented to the whole Church and in the face of the Assembly to receive their Charge and the Church itself to be reminded of its Duty to them or that they should be presented to the Consistory only The Synod judging it a matter meerly indifferent leaveth the Churches to their liberty herein II. Hath not a Colloquy the same Right to redemand a Minister as his Church It was answered in the Negative for the Colloquy hath not the Churches Right in its Power as was determined by the last National Synod III. A Query was made about Marriages Whether Doctors and Professors of Divinity were not bound by the 18th Canon of our Discipline to put away their Wives if guilty of Adultery or else to be deprived of their Professorship in our Schools and Churches Unto which there was this Answer returned That that Canon did purely relate unto Pastors not unto Professors nor is there a parity of reason for the one as for the other Ministers being Publick Officers in the whole Church are to be exemplary in their Persons and Families for holiness and therefore must not receive again an Adulterous Wife into their Bosoms which would be a Scandal to the Church Moreover Professors of Divinity are not to correct and reprove as Pastors are so that they may if they please pass by the wickedness of their Wives and notwithstanding their Adultery enjoy their Professor's place among us and not be deposed from it IV. This Advice was given to the Deputy of Poictou That such as revolted in the times of War from the Profession of the Gospel in case they bore no Office in the Church shall not make any publick reparation nor shall the Civil Magistrates but only in the Consistory and that too without mentioning them by Name nor shall they stand up But as for others who were publick Church-Officers they shall give publick satisfaction and repair the Scandal given by their Fall in a publick manner before the whole Church and then without any farther severity and with all possible sweetness shall be re-admitted to the Peace and Fellowship of the Church V. Is it necessary that the Confession of Faith should be read before Sermon and upon Sacrament-days before we go up unto the Lord's Table We answer The thing is meerly indifferent and therefore no Canon shall be made about it but the Church shall be left unto its liberty VI. The word Senate of the Church shall be changed into that of Consistory VII In case the Children of Believers will contract Marriage with Unbelievers against their Parents will their Parents shall not at all consent unto such Marriages nor by publick Instrument assign them any Dowry nor any other way or manner approve of such a Marriage VIII This Case was propounded After Promises of Marriage had passed reciprocally by words de proesenti one of the betrothed Persons falleth sick of the Leprosie and contracts a most loathsome stinking savour and a Disease utterly incurable may these Espousals be broken and dissolved Unto which there was this Answer returned That in case one of these betrothed Persons had not been informed of the said Sickness when the Promises were made she may not be compelled to accomplish them for there being Errour and Deceit in the Case there can be no Consent so that she may be set at liberty And in this business we must have a double respect 1. To the Publick and then 2. To the Interest of that private Person As to the Publick Special Care must be taken that incurable Vices and Diseases be not multiplied and that their Contagiousness be not propagated nor run in the Blood And if there were no particular private Interest in the Case yet before that this Marriage be consummated it s against all Prudence and Godliness to suffer Persons who have begun ill to be conjoyned together and that they should all their Life after live in a perpetual hatred and abhorrency of each other because of the said loathsome Stench and Distemper IX A Man hath abused his deceased Wife's Sister and got her with Child may he now marry her No for this commixture is incestuous nor may she become his Wife and both of them are to be censured most severely Yet he may marry another X. If a Man hath married a Wife out of his own Church and there be no Evidence of the Marriage he shall be called into the Consistory and prove his Marriage and in case he cannot do it because it was done during the Civil Wars the Consistory shall advise prudently how to censure him whether publickly or only privately within the Consistory for the Churches edification XI May Doctors of Divinity be created and admitted unto their Dignity and Office by Doctors of Law assisted with a Minister of God's Word in the University of Orange or elsewhere It 's answered That Lawyers and Physitians may be thus admitted but not Divines for our Discipline hath expresly provided against such an abuse as this is XII How may Consistories demean themselves about Banes of Marriage whenas those of the Romish Religion do make opposition and will not appear before the Consistory but before the Civil Magistrate We answer That if the Civil Magistrate will take Cognisance of the Fact the Consistory shall not proceed any farther least the Magistrate should thence take occasion of Offence and complain of the Consistory for intermedling with his business and intrenching upon his Authority And this will be direction enough as to that particular Case of Monsieur Cyprian XIII If any of our Brethren in the Ministry have lying by them any Relations of memorable Events relating to the History and State of God's Church in these times they be desired to send them to the Pastors of the Church of Lions who will model them into good order and publish them to the World XIV A Father having his Son murdered compounds with the Murderer for a Sum of Money what course is to be taken with this Father We answer That the Father is bound to prosecute the Murderer in a Court of Justice and to file a Bill of Indictment against him But in case he cannot do it and it so fall out that he and the Murderer do agree the Matter between themselves to his own private advantage he shall only be admonished by the Consistory and that prudently too according as they find Circumstances XV. May those Commanders Places and Dignities of Knighthood in the Orders of St. John of Jerusalem be counted among Benefices and whether these Knights may be kept off from the Lord's Supper We answer That if they hold their Benefices and Commanderships
Monsieur de Lestang-Godion Minister of Coue in Poictou and Monsieur de Chauveton Lord of Beauvois and Minister of the Church of St. Martins in the Isle of Re were also voted to be Scribes CHAP. II. General MATTERS I. ALL the Deputies protested in the Name of the Churches of their respective Provinces that they would persevere in the Union of that Doctrine and Confession of Faith which was formerly subscribed in the National Synod held in this City in the Year 1571. and now exhibited read and recognized in this Assembly Moreover the said Deputies certifyed and declared that they had not the least notice given them of any manner of opposition to it but a general Acquiescency in the said Doctrine and Confession of Faith in all their Churches For which they did unanimously praise God One Minister enough to ordain another II. The Book of Discipline being read It was ordained that the fourth Article in the Chapter of Ministers should remain entire as it was excepting that instead of three or four Ministers required to present the new elected Minister unto the Ministery one only should be sufficient III. In the Margent of the 5th Article this shall be inserted That the said Article was only appointed for such a time when as a Province had no Churches constituted in it and not for the present Day when as blessed be God every Province in the Kingdom hath divers of them IV. These were declared Apostates by the Isle of France and their Declaration approved of by this National Synod Toussainct le Gibou in Normandy Launay in Brie And Panctier in Picardy a Deserter Grenet a Minister of La Garnache in Lower Poictou a Vagrant and Quenet in the Colloquy of Vsez and Monsieur Beazer was ordered to make inquiry about one called du Plessis V. The 22d Article of the Synod of St. Foy concerning Ministers who Practice Physick having been read was Approved as being consonant to the Word of God And this Assembly being informed that divers Ministers do more employ themselves in Physick than in the Duties of their Ministery The Deputies of the Province in which they live were ordered to exhort them to intend and mind their Ministery and to yield plenary Obedience unto God's Word in this Article or otherwise the Colloquies and Synods shall proceed against them according to the Rules of our Discipline VI. Princes and great Lords shall be advised to observe the Articles of our Discipline and to send their Ministers to our National and Provincial Synods and Colloquies VII The 12th Article of our Discipline and the 21th and 33d of the Synod of Figeac were thus confirmed 'T is the Judgment of this Assembly that a Pastor being duely discharged from his Church if the Colloquy or Provincial Synod in which he served do not within a Month provide him another Congregation he may accept of the first Call given him by any other Province and this according to the Canons of our Discipline VIII The 15th Article of our Discipline concerning Ministers was confirmed but with this Proviso That these words Composed of six at the least shall be left out IX And that the said Article may be the better understood After these words Who shall have intruded into a Church this shall be added Altho' he had been afterwards chosen by the People X. And whereas in the 16th Article it was thus written The Reasons it shall be added And the Reasons being well examin'd XI And to that of Professors shall be added Regents and School-masters XII Elders in the Pastor's absence may warrantably perform that Duty of publick Common-Prayer especially if they have been thereunto appoint-by the Consistory XIII Whereas in the 6th Article concerning Elders and Deacons it is said that no Elders shall pretend to Primacy Let this be added neither in Election nor Precedency nor in order of Suffrages nor in any other thing belonging to their Office of Elders XIV The 7th Article concerning Elders and Deacons shall be most diligently observed XV. Ministers and Elders are required to use their utmost Endeavour that the Twelfth Article in the Chapter of Consistories be punctually observed XVI Advise was taken on the Third Article of Consistories which treats of Certificates given unto Passengers That for time coming good and vallid Causes moving us hereunto The first Certificates shall neither be kept nor broken until such time as they be come unto their journies end mentioned in them and then and there the said Certificates shall be detain'd and cancelled and Certificates shall be given very rarely unto any Persons XVII The Tenth Article of Figeac shall be closed up with this Addition If it be not with Consent of the Consistories no Offences shall be discovered to the Civil Magistrate The 5th Penny of all Charities shall be applied towards the Maintenance of Proposans XVIII His Majesty the King of Navar and his Higness the Prince of Conde and other Lords professing our Holy Reformed Religion shall be most humbly desired to contribute liberally towards the Maintenance of poor Scholars and Proposans designed for the Ministery And all Churches are exhorted to press this Duty vigorously upon their richer and more substantial Members that so every Colloquy may be able at least to give Subsistance unto one Proposan and if it can be conveniently the fifth Penny of all Charity-monies shall be allotted to this very purpose XIX That the 13th Article of Consistories may be executed concerning a Collection of all memorable Acts relating to the Church's Sufferings it is thought meet that every Colloquy do depute a Minister to whom all the Churches shall send their Memoirs that they may be brought unto the Provincial Synod and thence unto the National XX. Such Professors as range abroad to hear the Word in one Church and receive the Sacrament in another shall be admonished of their Duty to fix themselves to some particular Church of Christ and in case of neglect they shall be censured XXI In the first Article concerning Delinquents next after these words Nor the Cause of it shall be added this nor in like manner the Restitution and these words shall be razed out Lest they be defamed CHAP. III. XXII IT being desired that the 3d Article of the Synod of Figeac might be explained the Assembly voted that towards the close of it there should be this Addition viz. That it was left wholly to the Prudence of the Consistory whether they would mention by name or not those who had a long time since revolted but as for them who were but of late Apostates Censures shall be pronounc'd against them according to the Tenor of that Canon unless that by such a Personal Denunciation of those Sinners the Consistory might foresee some great and notable Danger like to betide the Church In which case nothing shall be done without the Advice of the Provincial Synod XXIII If the Members of one Church fallen into Idolatry happen to take up their abode in
Synod hath advised hereupon That a Publick Declaration shall be made of the Incompetency of this Judge who granted the Prohibition and if notwithstanding this they will yet proceed in their Contentions an Appeal shall be then made unto the Chamber of the Edict and the Church shall prosecute the Censure they have commenced and in case the Minister be troubled for it we judge it necessary that the whole Body of the Consistory do unanimously defend him And this self-same Resolution shall serve as an Answer to what was propounded by our Brethren of Anjou that some Magistrates would compel them to give in Writing an Account of Matters debated and resolved on in their Consistories XX. That Church in which the National Synod did last meet is ordered to send the Acts of the said Synod unto the Province which is obliged to convocate the next Synod XXI * * * There is engraven on the Seal a Burning Bush in the midst whereof is written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and round the Circle Flagror non Consamor a true Emblem of the Christian Church It was resolv'd That a Seal should be made for the use of the National Synod that all Letters of Importance written in its Name may be sealed by it and this Seal shall constantly be sent unto that Province in which the next is to be celebrated XXII This Assembly seriously considering the many Judgments with which we be threatned as of War Pestilence and Famine the foul Apostasies of divers Professors the little Zeal and Reformation in the generality of our People It doth Ordain a Publick Fast to be celebrated most solemnly in all the Churches of France on the last Week in July according to the conveniencies or our Churches XXIII The Observation of the 28th Article of the fifth Chapter of the Discipline is lest to the prudence of the respective Consistories XXIV The Deputies of the Isle of France demanding what course is to be taken with ungrateful Persons to their Ministers and such as refuse to contribute to the defraying of Ecclesiastical Expences This Assembly adviseth That because of the Calumnies and Reproaches unto which the Churches are exposed the Duty of such Persons shall be prest upon them by lively Remonstrances and Exhortations and if it be thought needful it shall be done in the Assembly of the principal Heads of the Families belonging to the Church However they shall not for this be kept back from the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper A Minister deputed to another Provincial Synod hath his deliberative Voice XXV Our Brethren the Deputies of Anjou craved Advice in this Matter Whether a Minister delegated by his Provincial Synod unto the Synod Colloquy of another Province upon business common to them both ought to have his deliberative Voice This Assembly answereth Yes and not only as to that particular Affair upon which he came but also in all others excepting what may concern himself only during the whole Sessions Whether a Minister be bound to visit the sick of the Magâ—e XXVI The Deputies of Poictou demanded Whether it were expedient that Ministers should visit Persons sick of the Plague This Assembly leaves the decision of this Case unto the Prudence of the respective Consistories only judging that if it be done at all it must be upon a very urgent cause that so a whole Church be not expos'd to danger for the sake of a single Person Unless Visit may be so managed as to be without danger of Infection he speaking at a distance to the diseased Party However we give it as our Counsel unto the Minister who foreseeth the approaching danger that in the ordinary course of his Preaching he do prepare his Church to a patient submission unto this terrible Providence and that by proper and pertinent Texts of Scripture he do in his Sermons comfort and revive their drooping and desponding Spirits XXVII The Articles of Discipline ordained for the Conduct of our People shall be read publickly and Colloquies may make an Extract of such Articles as they shall judge needful to be known by all which shall be read publickly at some extraordinary season as the prudence of the Consistory shall determine CHAP. III. Containing the Canons which were removed Observations changed in and added to those in the Body of our Church-Discipline CHap. I. 4. At the Fourth Article of the first Chapter the Second Section after those words The whole shall be related you must add Vnto the Colloquy or Synod CHap. VII At the end of the Seventh Article instead of saying According to the Form which hath been ordained it shall be said As followeth And there shall be brought and inserted here all the said Form which is at the end of the Articles of our Discipline CHap. XIII The 13th Article shall be removed unto the Chapter of the Colloquies CHap. XXI The One and twentieth Article was wholly razed and instead of it there was this placed Lords and Princes demanding of a Church a Minister to serve theirs for some certain time shall be careful not to demand him of that which hath but one And he shall not be granted them without leave first had from his Church and Colloquy The Twenty third Article is wholly razed CHap. XXVI The Sixth and Twenty third Article shall be totally razed and instead of it there shall be this substituted If that a Minister intrude into a Church although he were approved by the People yet shall he not be approved by the Neighbour-Ministers or others but the Cognisance of this Matter shall be referr'd unto the Colloquy or Provincial Synod 'T is now the 29th Article of the Discipline CHap. XXXI The One and thirtieth Article shall be wholly razed out and to the end of the Thirty third Article there shall be this Addition made Or to the Colloquy in case the Churches be of one and the same Colloquy This is now the 30th Article of the Discipline CHap. XXXIV The Four and thirtieth Article shall be wholly razed out and formed a new after this manner Ministers may with their own consent be lent by the Consistory if it make for the Churches edifying and yet this Loan shall not be without consulting two or three Ministers or the Colloquy if it be for any longer time than six Months CHap. XXXVI XLV The Six and thirtieth and the Five and fortieth Articles shall be wholly razed out This is now the 41st Article of the Discipline CHap. XLVII Towards the close the Seven and fortieth Article instead of these words That so by those worldly Cares he may not he diverted from his Work there shall be this inserted That so he may be freed from all suspicion of Covetousness This 〈◊〉 â—ow the 4â—â—â— Article of the Discipline CHap. LV. Towards the end of the Fifty fifth Article in lieu of those words The Consistory shall judge this shall be inserted Those who ordered the Deposition shall take Cognisance of it
This is now the 50th Article of our Disicipline CHap. LVI The Fifty sixth Article shall be thus worded National Synods shall be informed by the Provinces of their deposed Ministers that so they may not be entertained by them CHap. LVII * * * This is now the 57th Article of our Discipline In the Fifty seventh Article instead of National read Provincial Synod CHap. LIX After Vagrants in the Fifty ninth Article there shall be inserted Apostates and in the end of that Article there shall be this clause And a Catalogue of these shall he brought from the Provinces unto the National Synods Chap. II. 4. After these words in the Fourth Article To be employed in the Ministry This is now the 53d Article of our Discipline this shall be added Ever preferring the Children of poor Ministers if ingenious whereof the Colloquies shall take special care Chap. III. 6. The Sixth Article of the Third Chapter shall be thus read but the decision of Points of Doctrine is principally reserved unto Ministers and Pastors of Churches Chap. V. 20. The twentieth Article of the Fifth Chapter shall be wholly razed because 't is included in the One and twentieth and Two and twenty foregoing Articles the Four and twentieth shall be also blotted out Chap. VIII 6. In the Sixth Article of the Eighth Chapter next after these words And one of the Pastors shall be President there must be added Together with one or more Scribes This is now the 11th Article and instead of the Provincial it is the National Synod that is to provide for those Widows and Orphans of deceased Ministers CHap. XII Artie To th of the Twelfth Article there shall be this added And where the Province becomes ingrateful the Deputy thereof shall make report of it unto the Provincial Synod which shall provide for them Chap. IX 6. To the sixth Article of the Ninth Chapter there must be added And Ecclesiastical CHap. VIII In the Eighth Article after these words Ample Memoirs shall be added With lawful excuses for their absence CHap. XI To the last clause of the Eleventh Article these words shall be added Which shall before-hand be advised to prepare for it Chap. X. 3. To the third Article of the Tenth Chapter in the close of it shall be this added As much as may be done considering the conveniency of Times and Places CHap. V. And to the Fifth Article these words shall be added And such as accompany the Dead unto their Graves are exhorted to demean themselves with all Christian Modesty meditating according to the Nature of the present Object upon the Misery and Brevity of this present Life and that blessed Hope of Immortality in the World to come And the Tenth Chapter shall be closed up with this Article Forasmuch as Mourning lieth not in the Habit but Heart the Faithful shall be advised to comport themselves with all Modesty shunning all Ambition Hypocrisie and Superstition Chap. XI 11. In the Eleventh Article of the Eleventh Chapter instead of these words Attributed unto God in the Scripture shall be added As Emanuel and all others Chap. XIII 7. In the Seventh Article of the Thirteenth Chapter instead of those words The Synods do esteem shall be inserted They do declare CHap. VIII IX Between the Eighth and Ninth Articles this shall be placed The betrothed Person may not marry the Mother of his deceased Spouse CHap. X XI Between the Tenth and Eleventh Articles this shall be inserted A Man shall not after the death of his Wife marry her with whom he had committed Adultery whilst she was living unless the Consistory have first had Cognisance of the same and maturely considered thereof CHap. XXII After these words in the Two and twentieth Article Solemnly married there shall be this addition 〈…〉 Whether that their Offence were known before or after the solemnizing of the Marriage And those words shall be razed If they demand to be And in the same Article this word also shall be blotted out And forasmuch and these shall be inserted Although this had been avoided before the Celebration of the Marriage yet he shall proceed to c. CHap. XXII XXIII This Article shall be placed between the Two and twentieth and the Twenty third That those Inconveniences may be avoided which ensue upon a long delay of solemnizing Marriage all Pastors of Churches and others in whose Power the espoused Persons are shall he advertis'd not to defer the celebrating of their Marriage above six weeks after their Espousals Chap. XIV 1. This word Much shall be left out and the last clause of the first Article And to the Fourth Article these shall be added Vnless in case it be for suppressing the Preaching of God's Word and the setting up of Mass CHap. XIX These words excessive and scandalous shall be left out of the Nineteenth Article CHap. XXI The word Excommunication shall be left out in the close of the One and twentieth Article and instead of it this shall be inserted Suspension from the Lord's Supper CHap. XXIV XXV This ensuing Article shall be placed betwixt the Twenty fourth and Twenty fifth Swearers and Blasphemers of the Name of God shall in no wise be tolerated in the Church but they shall be admonished with the greatest seriousness to desist from those sins and in case of non-forbearance they shall be prosecuted with all Church-Censures as the Consistories in their Wisdoms may judge most fit CHAP. IV. Particular MATTERS I. WHereas Monsieur de Tourfillant formerly denosed from the Ministry hath most humbly petitioned that he may be restored to it this Assembly having seriously considered the enormity of his Crime of which he had been accused and convicted before the Civil Magistrate and that as yet he retains his old Inclinations to the self-same sin yea and that his supplicatory Letters do rather justifie him than exprese his Contrition and Repentance as is evident to any one who doth but cursorily read and peruse them therefore it is ordained that he shall not be re-admitted to the Exercise of the Gospel-Ministry II. The Brethren Deputies of Normandy desired our Resolution in this difficult Case A Widow of the Church in was contracted to a Man by words de praesenti and duly informed by the Ministers of that Church to which she belonged of the importance of such Promises yet nevertheless a while after to his very great grief she separates herself front this her Spouse by Sentence of the Official pleading for herself That she was ignorant of the meaning of those words de praesenti and futuro and afterward marries another Person according to the manner of the Romish Church not at all regarding the Remonstrances given her either by Ministers or by him to whom she was first contracted before and after her last Espousals This Assembly judgeth That the first Promise in itself and of right is indissolvable and that therefore the Second Marriage is of right null and void So that
themselves 5. To the 28th Article as it is in some other so in all Copies for the future the word Vertue shall be added to that of Efficacy for the better explaining of the sence and in imitation of the Apostle who joyneth both those words together in the close of the first Chapter to the Ephesians 6. The Printers shall be informed for the future never to forget or omit those words in the 38th Article they being the express words of Institution by our Lord himself Take and eat and drink ye all of it 7. That their Insolency may be restrained who reject this word Substance both in our Confession of Faith and Form of Celebrating the Lord's Supper the Churches shall be informed that this present Synod doth ratifie the Resolutions formerly decreed on this Point in the Synods of Rochel and Nismes The aforesaid Confession of Faith having been read in its several Articles orderly and distinctly was confirmed and approved by all the Deputies of France in the Name and behalf of all the Churches CHAP. III. Observartions made in reading of our Church-Discipline 1. THis following addition shall conclude the 2d Article of the Chapter of Ministers And Imposition of Hands shall not be given them no more than unto Persons of whom we have not the least knowledge unless it were in a Provincial Synod 2. The 18th Article shall be closed up with this addition As against them also whoso much employ themselves in the teaching of Youth that they are thereby hindred from performing the principal Duties of their Office 3. After the 21st Article there shall be this ensuing addition made Consistories erected in the Palaces of Princes and other great Lords shall be distinct from the Consistories of the Churches of those places where for a time they make their abode unless it be in a matter of common concern unto both the Consistories or in case of some very great and notorious scandal given unto the whole Church by a Domestick relating to the said Prince or Lord or in any other Affair in which the two Consistories shall see meet that there should be a mutual concurrence and conjunction 4. After those words with special Prayers in the first Article of the third Chapter there shall be this added And their Names shall be by an audible clear Voice mentioned in the Consistory And after these words If there be no opposition you must add They shall be publickly received on the third Sunday standing before the Pulpit with solemn Prayers 5. There shall be added to the end of the first Article of the fifth Chapter these words As also in all other Church-Meetings 6. This following addition shall be made to the end of the 16th Article And in case of an Appeal the said Appeal shall be notified without naming of the Person or declaring the Censure inflicted by the Consistory 7. Instead of those words publickly known in the 21st Article shall be inserted Notoriously 8. Towards the close of the 27th Article these words shall be added However 't is left unto the prudence of the Consistories to use otherwise if they shall judge it more expedient for the Churches edification 9. This shall be added to the 28th Article If any Persons professing the Reformed Religion shall Appeal their Pastors Elders or the whole Body of the Consistory before the Civil Magistrates to force them to give in evidence against those Delinquents who have confessed their sins to them they shall be proceeded against by all Church-Censures yea even to excommunication itself 10. There shall be this ensuing clause added to the end of the 4th Article of the 6th Chapter And if any particular Church or Churches refuse Payment of their Contributions to the defraying of those Expences which are unavoidably contracted by Journies and Attendance in Synodical and other Ecclesiastical Assemblies kept and held up for the common good and service of all the Churches they shall be deprived of the Ministry of the Gospel and be reputed and accounted Deserters of that holy Vnion which ought to be maintain'd among us for our general preservation Only Notice shall be given them hereof some competent space of time before that they may not complain of being not warned nor duly admonished of their Duty and that they are surprized And all Ministers in such Churches are interdicted the Exercise of their Ministry upon pain of being denounced Schismaticks 11. After the word Memoire in the second Article of the ninth Chapter you must add these signed by one Pastor and one Elder 12. Alter these words And the removing of Ministers from one place unto another in the 10th Article of the 8th Chap. these shall be added And from one Church unto another 13. After these words in the 3d Article of the 9th Chapter With a sufficient Testimonial these shall be added Signed by the Moderator and Scribe of the Provincial Synod 14. After these words Both Ministers and Elders in the third Line of the 11th and last Article of the same Chapter you must add these Of Matters onely which have happened during that Action 15. After those last words in the 2d Article of the 10th Chapter Who shall cease to have shall be censured add these following As those also who do not uncover their Heads during the time of singing from the beginning of that Ordinance to the end 16. After these words Instructed in the true Religion the 4th Article of the 11th Chapter shall be thus concluded The Children also of Gypsies the French call them Bohemians and Saracens may be baptized in our Reformed Churches upon the Terms before-mentioned and provided there be no ground to believe they have been already baptized and after that the Sureties have been previously and seriously admonished to bethink themselves how they may discharge that Obligation and Promise which they make unto the Church 17. This ensuing Article shall be the 8th in the 11th Chapter of our Discipline No Member of another Church shall be admitted a Surety for any Child at Baptism unless he bring with him an Attestation from his own Church 18. After those words in the 15th Article Being signed by the Child's Godfather and by the Minister who baptized him these shall be added And whenever Children shall be presented unto Baptism the Parents or Sureties shall bring with them a Paper in which are writ down the Names of those Children and of their Fathers and Mothers and of their Godfathers and Godmothers and of the day of their Birth 19. The 20th Article of the 13th Chapter of Marriages shall be thus concluded And the Marriage shall be publickly solemnized and blessed in the Congregation of the Faithful by the Ministry of the Pastors and not of any Elder or Deacon 20. The 31st Article of the 14th Chapter shall be placed in order before the 21st and thus couched All Swearers who in passion or hastiness do take the Name of God in vain and others who affront the Divine Majesty shall
Scripture provided always that there be nothing indecent in them XXXII Such as receive from His Majesty's Royal Bounty a Sine Curâ a Benefice without Cure of Souls shall be exhorted to dispose of a considerable part of its Revenue to pious and charitable Uses as towards the Maintenance of God's own holy instituted Worship and Relief of the Poor otherwise we will proceed against them by Suspension from the Lord's Table XXXIII The 9th Canon in the 12th Chapter of our Discipline binding Pastors as much as possible to distribute the Cup at the Lord's Table shall be in full force Pastors and Elders must communicate at the same Time and Table XXXIV Elders of the Church shall communicate together with the Pastors at the Lord's Supper in the first place and the residue of the People in such order as the Consistory judgeth most expedient for the Churches edification In Case of Appeal from an Inferiour to a Superiour Judge Marriage may not be celebrated Nicodemites are in the same Classis with Infidels XXXV Altho' the Parties cannot obtain the Consent of Parties yet if they that have that of the Magistrate unto their Marriage by his Judicial Sentence the Pastors in our Churches may celebrate such Marriage unless there lie an Appeal in the Case XXXVI To the Case propounded by the Deputy of Berry and Orleans this Synod returns its Answer That the Churches shall declare it publickly that whosoever whispereth in private that he is a Protestant and of the Reformed Religion altho' he do not make an open profession thereof that this Person is to be accounted no better than an Infidel until such time as he he have totally renounced the Superstitions and Idolatries of the Romish Church XXXVII The Deputies of Xaintonge having declared the Inconveniences arising in several Churches from Promises of Marriage expressed by words de praesenti and that it were better that for time coming all such Promises should be uttered in words de futuro The Decision of this difficulty is remitted over to the next National Synod whereunto the Provinces are required to come with due preparation XXXVIII The 12th Article of the 13th Chapter of the Discipline is remitted over to the consideration of the next National Synod and in the mean while Mr. Beza and Mr. Daueau are intreated to couch in Writing their Arguments about it that they may be perus'd and examined by that Synod that so we may know Whether it be lawful for a Brother to marry the Widow of his Wife's Brother Whence proceeds Impotency and tying of the Point and its proper Remedy XXXIX When divers Persons in our Churches are afflicted with that Plague of Impotency by those who tie the Point the Pastors shall remonstrate to them in their Sermons that the cause of this Evil is Unbelief in some and weakness of Faith in others and that Charms used to untie them are detestable as also the means used by others in consulting Witches the Devils Ministers this Remedy being worse than their Disease whenas Fasting Prayer and Reformation of Life thorough the Blessing of God would effect the Cure XL. In the Form of Excommunication pronounced publickly at the Lord's Table next after the word Idolaters there shall be added All Sorcerers Charmers and Inchanters as also upon another account after the word Mutinous there shall be added Murderers XLI Whereas Publick Notaries in divers Churches keep open Doors on the Lord's Day and pass all manner of Contracts and Transactions whereby very many Souls are taken off together with themselves from the Religious Sanctification of the Lord 's holy Sabbath It is decreed by this Synod That for time to come the said Notaries shall pass no manner of Contracts on the Lord's Day unless it be Contracts of Marriage Last Wills and Testaments Articles of Agreement between dissenting Parties and the amicable terminating of vexatious Law-Suits and such other business as cannot possibly be delayed under which head fall in Matters of Necessity and Mercy and such Contracts may be dispatcht on the most Holy Days provided always that such Writings be not drawn up nor executed during the time of Divine Service and of the Publick Worship of God and their Offices shall be shut if possible whilst they be thus employed XLII Nothing shall be changed in the first Article of the 14th Chapter of our Discipline but all endeavours shall be used to prevent those Abuses which are usually committed XLIII The Deputies of Gascony demanded Whether it were lawful to take a new Lease of the Lands and Demeans belonging to the Popish Church-men upon condition of bringing them their Rent home unto their Convents and other Houses of those Ecclesiasticks To which it was answered That there was no inconvenience in it provided that it were not in any matters relating unto Idolatry as the carrying of Incense Wax to make Torches and other such-like things XLIV The second Article in the 14th Chapter of our Discipline concerning Patronages shall not be altered Yet notwithstanding Lay-Patrons may enjoy their Priviledge of laying claim by Protestation unto their Rights and Emoluments that so their Title to them may be preserved grounding their Protestation upon this that the present Collation is contrary to our Religion against which they dare not in Conscience act And this is according to the Edicts of Pacification And this Affair shall be further debated in the Assembly of St. Foy XLV The 26th Article of the same Chapter shall remain entire only the word Poincons a Houpe shall be left out and because now that Habit is wholly out of Fashion among us and such as paint and shew their naked Breasts shall be dealt with more severely than heretofore and weaker Persons shall be born withal as much as possibly we can for their edification or in case they be censured it shall only be by a simple suspension from the Sacrament that so they may be reduc'd unto Christian Modesty XLVI The Deputies of Xaintonge moved well and this Synod decrees upon it that whosoever are received hereafter Members into Communion with our Churches shall subscribe if they can write the Act of their Reception and a Register shall be kept in all the Churches of their Names and of the time of their Deaths XLVII Upon another motion of those Deputies it was decreed That exiled Members from their Churches refug'd in another shall yet notwithstanding contribute to the subsistence of their ancient Pastors if so be they are fled only with an intention of returning to their former Habitations but in case they resolve to remove elsewhere it is not reasonable they should be compell'd thereunto XLVIII Upon another motion of the same Deputies concerning Proposans Candidates for the Ministry who having been for some time maintained at the Churches Charges in order to their future Service in the Ministry not meeting with a Call unto it or having since upon other grounds altered their minds and took up another Vocation the Synod
Higher Guyenne Master Michael Beraut Minister of Montauban Master John Baptist Botan Minister of Castres Master Gabriel Turonier Doctor of the Civil Law and Master John Lisandre Doctor of the Civil Law both Elders For the Lower Languedoc Master Christopher Barjac Lord of Gasquetz Minister of Vigan Master John Gigord Minister of Montpellier together with Daniel Darnand Lord de la Cassagne and John de Boyere Lord of Camion Elders For Vivaretz Master Anthony Mercier Minister of Chasteuneuf and of Chalencon and Master John Valeton without Elders For the Lower Guyenne Master Moyses de Ricotier Minister of Clerac Master Signeron du Fon His Majesties Advocate in the Court of Casteljaloux For Xaintonge Aunix and Augoumois Master Fresnon du Vigier alias du Vergier Lord of Moustier Minister of St. John d' Angely and Master Michael Texier Elder For Poictou Master Jonas Chesneau Minister of St. Maixant and John Renoy Esq Lord of Braconnier Elder in the Church of Poiré and Belleville For Anjou Tourain and Maine Master Francis Grelier Lord of Macefer Minister of Saumur without an Elder For Provence Balthazar de Villeneuve Esq Lord of Tortonne Syndick of the Churches in the said Province No person appeared at this Synod for Burgundy Lyonnois and Forrest The Synod being opened by solemn Invocation of the Name of God Monsieur Berault was chosen President and Monsieur de Montigny Assessor and Monsieur Macifer and Monsieur Cartaub Scribes Monsieur Du Moulin Deputy for Orleans being sick divers Churches of that Province together with the Deputies of Normandy and the Isle of France substituted in his stead Monsieur le Noir which was well approved by the Synod and a Decree passed in it that the Provinces should nominate three or four Persons for the future to represent them in these National Assemblies that in case of sickness or any other accident which might hinder their attendance there might be some others to supply that default The Provinces of Normandy Anjou and Vivaretz were censured for not sending Elders together with their Ministers Because of the great Desolations and Dispersions of the Churches in Provence the Synod granteth unto their Deputy his Vote in all Debates controverted Cases between the Provinces only excepted and this for that he wanted his Letters of Deputation CHAP. II. Observations upon the Confession of Faith OUR Confession of Faith being read was universally approved in all its Articles by the whole Assembly Printers are admonished to prefix no other Title than what is usual unto this Confession and for time to come they shall not add these words Revised and Approved in such and such a Synod CHAP. III. Observations upon the Church-Discipline I. THE Second Article in the First Chapter concerning Ministers being read That instead of these words In a Provincial Synod these shall be inserted By and with Advice of the Provincial or National Synods II. The Churches shall be exhorted to observe exactly the 4 5 11 and 13 Articles of this First Chapter together with that Ceremony of Imposing Hands in Ordination and the Refractory shall be censured III. The last clause of the Article concerning Printers shall be struck out because it is comprised in the fifteenth Article of Particular Orders IV. The Churches of the Isle of France desiring an Explanation of the 38th Article of the first Chapter of the Discipline the Synod adviseth That difference be made between Ingratitude and Inability and that where the Ingratitude on the Churches part is visible the Article shall be observed but not otherwise V. And that the 45th Article of the first Chapter and the eleventh Article in that of Provincial Synods may be more carefully observed this Assembly injoyneth the Provincial Synods to bring with them unto the National an Attestation of their Duty performed unto their Pastors who through Sickness are disabled from Exercising their Ministry as also of what hath been done by them for the Widows and Orphans of such as are deceased that in case a Church-Colloquy or Province have not wherewithal to relieve them Provision may be made for them by the National Synod VI. After these words in the * * * It is now the 44th 43d Article Great and small there shall be these subjoyned Of whatsoever Condition or Quality they may be VII For the better keeping of the fourth Article in the second Chapter and that all Obstructions may be removed the Synod enjoyneth all Deacons to bring unto their Colloquy or Provincial Synod the Accounts given by them of the Poors Money that we may know whether the Fifth Penny hath been defaulked and laid by for tho maintenance of our Proposans VIII Instead of these words in the fourth Article of the second Chapter It were good shall be inserted It is necessary IX To prevent those Disorders which daily happen from Attestations given unto the Poor the Synod decreeth That all Churches do their endeavour to maintain their own Poor and in case any one through necessity be obliged to travel from home the Ministers shall carefully examine the grounds thereof whether just and valid and so shall give them Letters Recommendatory unto the next Church leading directly unto that place whether their Affairs call them specifying the Name Age Stature and Hair of the Dearer and the Place whereunto they be going and the Cause of their Travel and the Relief that hath been given them which said Certificate the Ministers to whom they apply themselves shall keep by them and give them another directed also unto the next Church and whatever Attestations have been given formerly or may be in time to come any otherwise than as now prescribed shall be null and torn in pieces X. To those words in the 16th Article of the fifth Chapter And which giveth great scandal to the whole Church there shall be subjoyned And those also who contrary to the godly Counsels given them do marry according to the Popish manner and Parents who consent unto such Marriages of their Children and they likewise who carry their Children unto Popish Priests to be baptized by them or become Sureties for those Children so baptized XI The Church of Castres moved this Case Whether an Extract of some few or more Articles of our Discipline might lawfully be communicated unto the Magistrates of both Religions for their better Conduct in the Exercise of Justice This Synod resolveth affirmatively yea and that the whole Body of our Discipline may be presented them there being nothing in it but what ministreth unto edifying XII Because of the present Distress and Poverty of bur Churches and till such times as the Lord shall have blessed us with greater abilities it is ordained by this present Synod That the National Synods shall be convened only once in three Years unless it be in case of very great necessity as of Heresie and Schism whereof the Province charged to convene it shall take special Cognisance and on this Condition that every Province do send their full number of
Brocard Elder of the Church of Dijon and President of the Exchecquer in that Parliament and Province And for Lyonnois Monsieur Levis Turquet Elder of the Church at Lyon For the Province of Higher Languedoc and Higher Guyenne there came the Tenth Day of May Master Michael Beraud Pastor of the Church of Montauban and Master John Gardesy Pastor of Villemur with Monsieur John de Lupe Lord of Maraval Elder of the Church of Puy Caskay and Henry le Renier Lieutenant particular in the Seneschalsee of Armagnac and Elder of the Church of Lectoure Moreover there appeared for Sedan Master Eusebius Gantois Minister of the Church of Sedan and Anthony Drelincourt Elder of the said Church Prayers being ended Master George Pacard Pastor of Rochefoucauld was chosen President of the Synod and Master John Lieuin Lord of Beaulieu Assessor he was Pastor of the Church of Auverne and Master Daniel Chamier Pastor of Monlimard and Josiah Mercier Lord of Bordes Elder of the Church of Paris were by common Suffrages chosen Scribes CHAP. II. Observations on Reading the Confession of our Faith I. ON reading the Confession of Faith the Title of the Epistle to the Hebrews was noted to have been changed in the last Impressions of the Geneva Bibles wherefore Letters were ordered to be written unto our Brethren of Geneva about it and about several Annotations affixed on the Sacred Text in those Bibles II. The Confession of Faith being read the Pastors and Elders did all unanimously protest to live and die in the said Confession and that it is the Doctrine taught in the Churches of their Provinces III. Monsieur Chamier propounded That the Jesuits and other Doctors of the Romish Religion having charged our Doctrine especially among the People with divers Calumnies it were convenient to justifie it from those Slanders by printing an Apology together with this Confession as hath been done in England and Germany It was decreed That whoso of our Brethren would undertake it should bring it with them unto the next National Synod CHAP. III. Observations made on Reading of our Discipline I. BEginning with the first Article after those words Of their Doctrine shall be added And if they be fit to teach II. Instead of those words in the third Article During the times of their Ignorance shall be put The times past III. The fourth Article shall be couched in these words A Minister of the Gospel shall be chosen by the Colloquy or if it may be by the Provincial Synod and in Times of Persecution or other great Calamity by two or three Ministers together with the Consistory IV. In the same Article instead of these words The said Election shall be suspended shall be placed The said Reception shall be delayed V. And that Article shall be thus concluded As also the Pastor shall not be imposed upon a Church against his will VI. After these words in the fifth Article To another Church there shall be put For to be employed in the Holy Ministry and a little lower these shall be subjoyned And also they shall examine them if ever c. VII There shall be this addition made unto the beginning of the Eighth Article The Ceremony of Imposing Hands in Ordination and receiving Ministers shall be always observed VIII Provincial Synods Colloquies and Consistories are all charged to see that the 12th Article in every part and tittle of it be most punctually observed and there shall be this clause added to it Nor shall their Doctrine be handled in the manner of Scholastick Disputation and they shall carefully avoid an intermixture of Languages and also Consistories Colloquies and Provincial Synods shall see to it that in the ordinary course of their Ministry they beginning with a Text or Portion of Scripture shall not break off till they have finished the whole Paragraph IX After these words in the 18th Article Physick shall be added in both places Nor the Civil Law and in the end of that Article Whereunto Provincial Synods Colloquies and Consistories shall bear a most vigilant and careful eye yea and may suspend them from the Ministry X. After these words in the 43d Article Great and small these also shall be added Of whatsoever rank or degree they are XI The word As shall be left out in those words of the 44th Article As those who being convicted of Heresie XII These words shall be razed out of the 4th Article Even such as enjoy Ecclesiastical Revenues XIII Touching the execution of that clause of that aforesaid Article it was decreed That Ministers should inform their Churches that the Fifth Penny of all Moneys collected for the Poor is to be laid by for the maintenance of our Proposans XIV This addition shall be made to the end of the Fifth Article In which the Pastors shall be present both as Judges and Orderers of the said Propositions XV. Richer Churches and great Lords shall be intreated to erect Libraries for the benefit of their Ministers and Proposans XVI This addition shall be made to the fifth Article of the third Chapter According to the appointed Form XVII After the word Ordinary in the sixth Article these shall be added By the Schollars that are Proposans XVIII There shall be this addition to the first Article of the fourth Chapter And according to what had been decreed and ordained by the Consistory XIX The word Punishment shall be changed into that of Censure in the end of the fifteenth Article of the fifth Chapter XX. these words shall be struck out of the sixteenth Article And in case of Appeal that said Appeal shall be notified unto the Church without mention made of the Person or declaration of the Censure ordained by the Consistory XXI This addition shall be affixed to the end of the twentieth Article Althô he had been punished by the Magistrate XXII This also shall be inserted into the thirty first Article For administring of Marriage and the Sacraments XXIII This following Order shall be the fourth Article of the sixth Chapter Disputes about Religion with our Adversaries shall be so managed on our part that we be not the first Aggressors and in case it be a Verbal Disputation they shall only stand to the decision of the Sacred Scriptures which is our Rule and not to the Writings of the Fathers who are no competent Judges in Points of Doctrine nor shall they undertake any regular Dispute without Articles of Agreement first mutually given and subscribed nor shall they enter upon any publick Disputations without advising previously with their Consistories and a certain number of Ministers who shall be thereunto chosen by the Colloquies and Provincial Synods nor shall they enter on a general Conference or Dispute without the consent of all the Churches assembled in a National Synod And in case any Ministers do otherwise they shall be denounced Deserters of and Apostates from the Vnion of our Churches XXIV This following addition shall be counted the sixth Article of the seventh Chapter And a
Censure shall be given among themselves by the Pastors and Elders in the * * * Breaking shutting up of every Colloquy XXV These following words shall be added to the second Article of the Eighth Chapter Churches having several Ministers shall send them by turns XXVI These words shall be inserted into the fourth Article Shall be deprived of the Ministry XXVII To the sixth there shall be this inserted The Days Hours and Places as also he shall gather the Votes of every Member And to the close of that Article these words shall be added And after this self-same manner the Moderators of Colloquies shall be governed XXVIII This shall be inserted into the seventh They shall have like Votes as the Pastors XXIX The eighth Article shall be struck out and transferr'd unto the following Chapter where also the word Provincial shall be razed and That of Confession of Faith inserted XXX This shall be put into the tenth Article The change of Pastors from one Province unto another and of one Church unto another and of the Churches of one Colloquy unto another XXXI In reading the Division of the Provinces and after hearing Monsieur Gantois Minister in the Church of Sedan who was seconded in his Discourse by his Elder it was decreed That the Churches of the Principality of Sedan and Rancourt for time coming shall be united to the Synod of the Isle of France Picardy and Champagne and be reputed Members of the Colloquy of Champagne XXXII The Province of Orleans and Berry demanding That Bourbonnois might be incorporated with their Province and the Deputies of Burgundy and Lyonnois opposing this their motion it was decreed That the said contending Provinces should bring with them the Memoirs and Opinion of those of Bourbonnois unto the next National Synod that there it may be regulated XXXIII This addition shall close up the third Article of the Ninth Chapter And that there may be no default three or four Pastors and as many Elders shall be nominated that in case the first named Pastors should be hindred from their Journey there may be others to supply their places XXXIV This Article shall follow next in order unto the fourth The first Act in the first Sessions of our National Synods shall be the reading our Confession of Faith and the Book of Discipline XXXV Towards the close of the fourth Article of the tenth Chapter in stead of Abolished there shall be read Removed XXXVI These words shall be added to the ninth Article of the eleventh Chapter Provided that the Sureties undertake for its maintenance and also that there be no presumption XXXVII The third Article of the 12th Chapter shall be couch'd in these words Priests Monks and other Ecclesiasticks of the Romish Religion shall not be admitted to the Lord's Supper till they have first in the face of the whole Church acknowledged and repented of their former Life and Profession XXXVIII The fourth Article shall be thus worded Incumbents bearing the Stile and Title of their Benefices and others intermedling with Idolatry directly or indirectly whether they receive the Profits thereof with their own or by the hands of others shall in to wise be admittted to communicate with us at the Lord's Table And the rest shall be razed out XXXIX The fifth Article of the thirteenth Chapter shall be put into these words It 's left to the discretion of the Churches either to use the words de praesenti or de futuro in Marriage-Promises However such Promises be they de praesenti or de suturo are in themselves indissolvable unless in case of some lawful Impediment And the Article next in order unto this shall be that which begins thus As concerning Consanguinities XL. The eighth Article shall be conceived in these words Spiritual Kindreds as they be termed are not comprised under the Titles of Consanguinity and Assinity in the King's Edict nor upon these Accounts may the Parties be hindred from contracting Marriage XLI This clause shall be inserted into the twelfth Article Promises of Marriage shall neither be receiv'd nor published in the Church c. Item He shall renounce all Idolatry Superstition and particularly the Mass XLII This shall be the first Article of the fourteenth Chapter in these words No one shall be received into the Communion of our Churches till he have first renounced all the Superstitions and Idolatries of the Church of Rome and particularly the Mass XLIII These words shall be razed out of the close of the fifth Article Vnless in case of abolishing the Preaching of God's Word and setting up of Mass XLIV To the fourteenth Article this shall be subjoyned And such as send their Children to the Schools of Priests Monks Jesuits or Nuns shall be prosecuteâ—â—ith all Censures of the Church XLV These words shall be struck out of the 26th Article Poinecons de Houpe and Fardingals as hath been decreed in former Synods XLVI These words shall be razed out of the 28th Article Or the setting up of Maypoles XLVII Because of the great Inconveniences of Lotteries set up in divers places of this Kingdom the 30th Article shall be finished with this clause Lotteries also ought in no wise to be approved whether they be appointed by the Magistrate or not and Godly Magistrates are intreated by their Authority to suppress them After these words Notorious Avarice these following shall be inserted into the same Article Obsceneness or loss of time XLVIII Such as challenge or put others upon challenging to fight a Duel and they also who accept the challenge c. These words shall be put into the 33d Article XLIX 'T is left to the liberty and prudence of Consistories after what manner to proceed against the ungrateful Members of their Churches whether by those compulsory ways allowed us by his Majesty or by particular Obligations or by Church-Censures even by suspension from the Lord's Table after grave and solemn Admonitions and Summons have been given these Delinquents by their Consistories or any other course they shall judge advisable L. The Pastors and Elders deputed from their Provinces unto this Assembly have sworn and protested in the Name of their Provinces to cause the Discipline ordained by this Synod to be used and observed to the utmost of their power CHAP. IV. Of APPEALS I. AN Appeal being brought by the Town and Consistory of St. John d' Angely from the Synod of Xaintonge who had appointed Monsieur D'amours he in no wise belonging unto the said Church of St. John to serve the Church of Chastleheraut until the meeting of the National this Assembly declareth That the Appeal was ill laid and the Ordinance of that Synod good and valid And whereas the said D'amours complaineth of the Terms couched in that Ordinance and of the Letters written in the Name of the said Synod this Assembly judgeth That the said Monsieur D' Amours was the true and lawful Pastor of the said Church of St. John for the time in which he
Churches of ordaining Elders by imposition of hands shall be abolished 10. On the fourth Article of the fourth Chapter The Provinces are required to see that this Article be punctually observed in every part and clause of it and in case of transgression Provincial Synods and Colloquies shall censure those Elders and Deacons exceeding sharply 11. On the eight and twentieth Article of the fifth Chapter These words which conclude that article Unless it be by the advice of the Consistory shall be razed out 12. The thirtieth Article of the fifth Chapter shall run in these words When Crimes are privately confessed by Penitents unto their Ministers that they may be holpen with their Counsel and Comfort Ministers are forbidden to discover them unto Magistrates lest the Ministry should thereby he blamed and sinners hindred from Repentance or making a free confession of their Offences And this shall be a standing Canon in all Crimes revealed to them excepting those of High Treason 13 On the third Article of the seventh Chapter The Brethren of Burgundy demanding whether those Propositions made by Pastors in their Colloquies should be done in a Scholastick or Popular manner This Assembly judgeth that they ought rather to hold of the Schools because the design and end for which they be instituted is that Ministers should give a satisfactory proof of their usefulness and proficiency in their Studies and Ministerial labours among their people So that their Doctrine ought to be well opened and proved and a short application only made unto manners As concerning those additions which are afterward subjoyned by the Pastors they shall be managed with all soberness and in as much as may be to the edification of the whole Church And this Article shall be exactly observed by all Colloquies 14. Upon the fifteenth Article of the eighth chapter The Brethren of Brittany shall consider whether they can provide a sufficient Number of Pastors to make up a Provincial Synod And in case they cannot care shall be taken in the next National Synod to incorporate them with some convenient Province 15. The Church of Metz shall be intreated by Letters from this Assembly to send a Deputy unto some one of our Ecclesiastical Assemblies and to join themselves unto one of the nearest Provincial Synods of this Kingdom 16. A Declaration from the Churches of Nivernois Bourbonnois La Marche having been presented by the Brethren of Berry it was ordained that those Churches should be Incorporated with the Synod of Berry 17. The Pastors and Churches in the Baylywick of Gex are exhorted to conform themselves in all things unto the Discipline of our Churches and that they may more easily be enur'd unto it a decree passed in this Synod for their being Incorporated with the Province of Burgundy at present and in the next National Synod farther care shall be had of them 18. In the third Article of the ninth Chapter these words As much as may be shall be razed and in the same Chapter the last clause of the seventh Article after these words The Provinces having shall also be blotted out 19. On the eleventh Article of the same Chapter Monsieur l'Oyseau was charged to inquire whether the Acts and Papers of our National Synods were at Vitré or not And Monsieur Ferrier was to make inquiry whether they were not in Languedoc and to see that they be sent unto that Province which is impowered to call the next National Synod and in case they be not sent unto it the said Province shall intreat those before-named Gentlemen Mr. l'Oyseau and Bayly that they would seek diligently for them 20. The word Common after that of piety in the first Article of the tenth Chapter shall be razed out and in the second Article of the same Chapter these words also As much as may be And the Churches are exhorted to a strict observation of it 21. Upon the fourth Article Some of the Brethren because of divers inconveniencies which have already and may hereafter happen through oppositions made against this Article moved that whereas the continuing of publick solemn Prayers which had been appointed in the times of trouble and calamity drew with it a contemptuous neglect of Sermons and of the Worshiping of God in their private houses and a superstitious opinion of their present necessity now in times of peace that therefore the Pastors of Churches should be advised to dispose their people by degrees to the observation of this Article and the Consistories should wisely consider of what herein would most contribute unto edifying 22. Upon the fifth Article of the same Chapter the Deputies of Lower Languedoc moved this doubt whether Pastors ought to attend at Funerals This Assembly considering the condition of our Churches and the manner of Burying doth leave it wholly to their discretions 23. The sixth Article of the eleventh Chapter shall hold good according as it was formerly decreed by the National Synods of Poictiers and Saumur And as for Preaching in the houses of Gentlemen when their Children are Baptized Ministers shall Act therein prudentially and in such a manner as will most promote the edification of their Churches And as for that word Infirmity 't is not to be understood of the Infants but of their Parents 24. Instead of those words in the tenth Article of the same Chapter It were well these shall be inserted It ought to be 25. On the fifth Article of the twelfth Chapter The Churches are required punctually to observe it 26. On the fifth Article of the thirteenth Chapter All kind of censures shall be inflicted upon the breakers of Marriage-promises whether expressed in words de praesenti or de futuro 27. On the six and twentieth Article of the same Chapter to the word ratified which is in the close of that Article there shall be this added and blessed 28. On the first Article of the fourteenth Chapter after these words Till he have first renounced there shall be added publickly The Discipline being read all the Deputies of the Provinces did swear unto its observation and that they would seriously and sincerely indeavour that it should be religiously observed in their respective Provinces in all its Articles CHAP. IV. Observations made on reading the Acts of the Synod of Gergeau 1. THE Town and Church of St. John d' Angely desiring that the Decree of the National Synod of Gergeau might be disanul'd and that Monsieur d' Amours might be restored to them This Assembly doth ratify that Decree of the aforesaid Synod and ordaineth farther that the said d' Amours shall remain with the Church of Chastelheraut and chargeth the Province of Xaintonge to provide out of hand another Pastor for the Church of St. John 2. Monsieur de Bargemont petitioning by Letters that the Censure inflicted on him by the Synod of Gergeau might be reverst and razed out of the Acts of the said Synod This Assembly replied that they were very desirous that the said de Bergemont would clear
to appear at Court and that he was at the Expence of printing the Confession of our Faith This Assembly gives him the Sum of seventy Crowns to reimburse his Charges and thanketh him for his care and faithfulness in the delivery of those Letters and for having communicated with Monsieur Piscator and brought back with him his answers But order is given unto the Synod of Lower Guyenne to examine him upon some certain points mentioned in the aforesaid answers as for styling himself the Messenger or Ambassador of the Churches and for submitting the Confession of Faith of the Churches of this Kingdom to the Censures of Forreign Universities and in case these can be proved upon him he shall be censured And forasmuch as the Letters of Monsieur Piscator have been communicated to others before they were tendered to this Assembly the said Synod shall make a strict inquiry into this matter and know whether Monsieur Regnault were guilty of it or no. CHAP. II. Observations on reading the Confession of Faith 1. ON the tenth Article in which it 's said that the whole off-spring of Adam are infected with Original Sin The Pastors of Lauzanna by their Letters request that our Lord Jesus Christ may be excepted But it was not found needful to accord it to them because that it 's expresly mentioned in another Article of the same Confession and for that in this place it is to be understood of other persons as also for that the Scripture expresseth this in plain terms 2. Whereas the Synod of Gap had charged the Provinces to consider in what terms the twenty fifth Article of the Confession of Faith should be couched and to come prepared for it unto the present Synod and to judge whether any mention should be made of the Catholick Church spoken of in the Apostles Creed as also whether it would not be expedient to add the word pure to that of true Church in the twenty ninth Article and that all in general should come ready to debate that Question of the Church The Provinces having been heard speak by their Deputies it was finally resolved by common unanimous consent that nothing should be added to or taken from these Articles and there should be no more discourse had about that point of the Church 3. It was Decreed that nothing should be added unto the eighth Article of our confession which treats of Justification because it 's couched in the very express words of Scripture and in its own common phrase Those Explications and Amplifications desired by some may be received either from Doctors in our Universities or Pastors of our Churches 4. Whereas Doctor John Piscator Professor in the University of Herborn by his Letters of answer to those sent him from the Synod of Gap doth give us an account of his Doctrine in the point of Justification Concerning Man's Justification in the Opinion of Piscator as that it 's only wrought out by Christ's Death and Passion and not by his Life and Active Obedience This Synod in no wise approving the dividing causes so nearly conjoined in this great effect of Divine Grace and judging those arguments produced by him for the defence of his cause weak and invalid doth order that all the Pastors in the respective Churches of this Kingdom do wholly conform themselves in their Teaching to that form of sound words which hath been hitherto taught among us and is contained in the Holy Scriptures to wit That the whole Obedience of Christ both in his Life and Death is imputed to us for the full remission of our Sins and acceptance unto Eternal Life and in short that this being but one and the self-same Obedience is our entire and perfect Justification And the Synod farther ordains that answer shall be made unto the Letters of the said Doctor Piscator propounding to him this Holy Doctrine together with its principal foundations yet without any vain jangling and with that devotion as becomes the singular modesty expressed by him in his Letters to us wherein there is not the least bitterness or provoking expression leaving it unto God who can when he pleaseth reveal unto him the defects which are in the Doctrine of the said Piscator as also to assure him that he hath exceedingly satisfied this Assembly in his Explications on that Topick of Repentance The suppression of the Book of Felix Huguet on the point of Justification for being written without the Warrant tho' in the name of all our Churches against Piscator 5. Letters were sent by Mr. Felix Huguet Minister of the Gospel together with two Copies of a Book writ by him in Latine concerning Justification which said book he had for some time past caused to be Printed at Geneva without the knowledge of the Pastors of that City or the Approbation of the Pastors of the Province of Dolphiny where he resides Upon report made of it by several Brethren Pastors of Churches ordered to peruse the said Book both as to its style and matter The Synod judgeth the said Huguet to have incurred a most grievous censure first for writing in the name of the Synod in a matter of General concern without any warrant from it for so doing and secondly for giving a publick answer to a Book which was never published and lastly for having Printed his Book contrary to the Canons of our Church-discipline And therefore it ordaineth that the said Book be suppressed and that thanks be returned to the Magistrates of Geneva for their preventing of its publick sale and to intreat them that for the future they would totally suppress it And farther the Synod hath thought good that in the Letter which shall be written unto Dr. Piscator he shall be acquainted that Huguets Book was writ without the order knowledge and consent of our Churches and only attempted by him upon a private caprice of his own without any publick Warrant or Authority for so doing Monsieur Sohnis answers orthodoxly and in the name and by order of the Churches unto Piscator 6. Whereas Monsieur Sohnis Pastor and Professor of the Church and University of Montauban hath at the desire and in the name of this Assembly written Letters and an Answer unto those of Piscator which upon perusal are found very orthodox It 's ordered that thanks be returned unto the said Sohnius for his labour and diligence but yet for peace and concord 's sake it 's thought good to detain them by us for a while and Monsieur Sohnis is intreated to suspend the publication of his Treatise about Justification for some short time till we see what fruits the sweet and gentle procedures may produce and the next National Synod shall then license it 7. Monsieur Regnault Pastor of the Church of Bourdeaux having sent us the Copy of Letters written to him by the most Illustrious Lord John Earl of Nassau in which he expresseth his desire of maintaining the Peace and Union of the Church and
particularly promiseth to hinder the out-breaking of Piscator's Notions provided he be not provoked elsewhere by any others This Assembly ordaineth John Earl of Nassau his Letters unto Monsieur Regnault that Lettes shall in its name be written unto the said most Noble Lord thanking him for his pious affection and humbly intreating that Prince to continue his endeavours for effecting of that much-desired Union and to take care that none of his Subjects do break out into bitter expressions and to assure him on the behalf of our Churches in this Kingdom that no person shall be suffered to exasperate Dr. Piscator by any publick Writings as also that if any one hath heretofore done it he had no Commission for so doing from us and it was disowned by this Synod and that we shall take special care to prevent it for the future See the first Synod of Rochel G. Mat. 6. and of Montauban observat upon the Confes Art 4. Th' Article concerning Antichrist to be printed and inserted into our Confession 8. Our Printers shall be once again charged according to the Decrees of the Synods of Montauban and Saumur to put the word Union instead of Unity in the twenty sixth Article of our Confession And all Pastors in whose Churches there be Printing Houses are required to oversee the next impressions that so it be done accordingly 9. That Article concerning Antichrist inserted by the Synod of Gap into the body of our Confession and making the thirty first having been in its order read weighed and examined was approved and allowed by general consent both as to its form and substance for very true and agreeing with Scripture-Prophesie and which in these our days we see most clearly to be fulfilled Whereupon it was resolved that it should continue in its place and that for time coming it should be imprinted in all Copies which should come from the Press 10. That word Superintendent in the thirty third Article shall abide according as it was expounded by the Synod of Gap 11. Whereas the Pastors and Classis of Lausanna Morges c. do demonstrate in their Letters that it would be fit to add unto the close of the thirty third Article after the word Appertaining this restriction as far forth as they be grounded on the Word of God This Assembly hath found it needless and superfluous because that the foregoing words For in Excommunication we ought to follow what our Lord hath declared to us do sufficiently express unto us the aforesaid Restriction 12. Whereas some have remonstrated that it were meet to express in the thirty sixth Article more clearly that Union which the faithful have one with another and which is signified to us in the Lord's Supper But this point having been debated it was judged needless for that the Conjunction of the head with the Members there mentioned did necessarily infer the mutual Union and Communion of the Members one with another 13. The Consistories of Churches in which our Printers live are charged for time to come to have a special care that our Printers do not forget those words of our Lords Institution Take Eat c. And Drink ye all c. according as was Decreed in the Synod of Saumur 14. The Province of Higher Languedoc scrupling the word Lieutenant in the thirty ninth Article This Assembly saw no reason for it but that it might continue in it as importing nothing contrary to what is signified by that word when attributed unto Magistrates by the Holy Scriptures and equivalent to those words which the Word of God doth bestow upon them 15. The Confession of Faith having been read over word by word and in every Member Article and Clause of it it was unanimously approved and sworn to by all the Deputies present in the Synod who promised and protested to live and die in this Faith and particularly in what had been determined according to the Scriptures That we be justified before God by the imputation of that obedience of our Lord Jesus which he yielded unto God his Father in his Life and Death Which said Protestation the Deputies of the Provinces will by the Authority of this Synod cause also to be taken by all the Pastors of their respective Provinces which had sent them CHAP. III. Observations on the reading our Church-Discipline 1. ON the Second Article of the first Chapter after these words of their Doctrine shall be added approved at least by the space of two years since their Conversion and confirmed by good Testimonials from those places in which they live 2. On the fourth Article of the same Chapter that alternative of two or three shall be removed and there shall be mentioned three only 3. No Church shall for the future undertake whatever sollicitations may be made it to examine or ordain those Pastors which are to serve out of this Kingdom but herein they shall conform unto the Discipline and the Decrees of former National Synods 4. After these words in the fourth Article which shall be advised there shall be added without being able during that all whole time to administer the Sacraments that so c. See Synod of Gap 4 Art uppon the Discipline 5. That Article of the Synod of Gap concerning the eleventh Canon of this first Chapter shall be most strictly observed and that it may be better kept for the future in all Consistorial Classical and Synodical Censures diligent inquiry shall be made into the Conversation and Manner of Preaching used by every Pastor and an Oath shall be imposed on the Examinant to speak the Truth to the best of his knowledge and that they may the better answer to every point they shall read unto them the said Article of the Discipline 6. On reading the ninteenth Article the Synod ordered Letters should be written unto the Lords of this Kingdom professing the Reformed Religion that they be intreated when ever they are called from their Houses unto Court or when ever they travel that they would not fail to take their Pastors with them 7. The Synod expounding the twenty eighth Article by these words their Churches being heard doth understand the Consistories and Chief of the people and by these words for certain considerations doth understand whatever may fall out in general and not particularly the proceeds of Censures A Colloquy may lend a Minister for three and the Provinc Synod 6 months out of the Province See the first Synod of Vitré g. Mat. 24. 8. On the thirty third Article where speech is had about the consent of Pastors and Churches in case of Loan of Ministers without the Province It is now decreed that notwithstanding any Appeal to the contrary a Colloquy may lend a Pastor for three Months and the provincial Synod for six 9. The means prescribed by the Synods of Gap and Gergeau to prevent their ingratitude who refuse maintenance unto their Pastors are left to be used according to the discretion and charity of the
respective Consistories 10. These words shall close up the fourty eighth Article and all sentences of suspension for what cause soever shall stand good notwithstanding any Appeal until the final Judgment 11. On the first Article of the third Chapter That Custom introduc'd into some certain Churches that Elders going out of Office do nominate their Successors is reprehended and it is decreed according to the Discipline that they shall be chosen by the common Suffragies of the Consistories 12. On the fourth Article of the fourth Chapter Notice is given unto Provincial Synods diligently to enquire who those Pastors and Elders be that give Testimonials contrary to the form prescribed by our Discipline that so they may be censured And for time coming all Pastors giving Attestations unto Trades-men or others who desire them upon none other account than to be acknowledged as Church-members shall specifie that they promised never to abuse them as Instruments for begging or wandring from one Church unto another and in case they should so do that then they be reputed null and void and be torn in pieces 13. Churches whose Members are Prisoners in Paris or elsewhere upon the account of Religion Prisoners for Religion to be relieved are exhorted to minister unto their Necessities by be relieved their Charities and Alms-deeds 14. This Sentence shall conclude the fourth Article of the fifth Chapter however without being able to treat of Church-matters but in those places where the Consistory doth ordinarily meet 15. On the ninth Article whole Consistories shall not be excepted against nor one of the Pastors and Elders in case a Consistory judge the causes of that Exception invalid notwithstanding the Appeal Persons married by a Priest must confess their sin publickly 16. On the twentieth Article such as have been married by a Popish Priest shall not be dispensed from making publick Acknowledgment of their sin by the Consistory whatever their quality or condition may be 17. To the seventh Article of the eighth Chapter after these words shall be chosen these must be added with a low voice 18. Reading over the division of the Provinces it was thought good that the greater and which are furnished with a larger number of Pastors should consult whether it were not commodious for them to be divided into two and they are requested to come prepared with these Resolutions upon it unto the next National Synod 19. On the third Article of the ninth Chapter The Provinces are left at liberty to send their present Deputies unto the following National Synod provided they judge it expedient 20. The clause which was razed out of the seventh Article of the ninth Chapter by the Synod of Gap to wit The Provinces having been first informed by that which was charged to convocate the next Synod shall be again inserted but with this restriction in the end if it may possibly be done 21. On the third Article of the tenth Chapter License is given unto particular Churches to celebrate a Fast they first consulting with their Neighbour-Churches and on great and urgent causes for which they shall be accountable unto the Colloquies and Provincial Synods 22. To the eleventh Article of the thirteenth Chapter after these words with the Niece shall be added and the Grand Niece 23. To the fifteenth Article of the same Chapter after these words sufficient attestation there shall be added of Promises 24. To the sixteenth Article of the fourteenth Chapter there shall be this addition made to close up that Article And in case the matter be urgent then unto the Universities or Neighbour Ministers The Church Discipline having been read and approved by all the Deputies they swore unto its observation and promised to see that it be carefully observed in their respective Churches and to sollicite their Provinces for its performance CHAP. IV. Observations on the National Synod of Gap 1. THAT Exhortation given by the Synod of Gap for reading the Confession of Faith and Book of Discipline in the Provincial Synods is only to be understood thus if it may conveniently be done 2. This Assembly judgeth that it 's no proper time at present to make an Apology for the Confession of our Churches 3. In that Article of the same Synod treating of the 31th Article of the Confession of Faith where it speaks of the Call of the first Pastors in our Reformed Churches these words And to teach which are found in some certain Copies shall be razed and instead of simply shall be inserted principally and that last clause And not unto the small remainders of their corrupted Call shall be thus read Rather than unto the small remains of their ordinary Call 4. Our Brethren of Normandy shall out of hand conform to the other Churches in their reception of Elders and Deacons 5. The Churches of the Baylywick of Gex shall be incorporated with the Provincial Synod of Burgundy See observ 8. of the Synod of Gap upon that of Gergeau Scholars not ordained may not administer the Sacraments 6. In the Letter which shall be written to our Brethren of the Church of Geneva they shall again be intreated not to send our Proposans to preach in their Villages and to administer the Sacraments before they have been lawfully Ordained They shall also be further intreated to take special care of our Students in Divinity and when as they demand a Testimonial to give them none but upon good and sufficient knowledge of their Lives and as their diligence hath deserved and most especially in case of Monks who have quitted their Monasteries to whom this Assembly hath limited the term of two years before their reception into the Sacred Ministry and our said brethren of Geneva shall be advised to detain those who are too forward And farther 't is thought good to pray them that they would endeavour with their Magistrates and People to conform themselves unto the other Churches of Christ in the use of Leavened Bread at the Lords Supper according to the example and received practice of their Neighbour Churches of Berne 7. The word Damnation as 't is qualified and explained in the tenth Sunday of our Catechism shall remain unchanged 8. The Church of Sedan shall be joined according to the Article of Gap unto the Synod of the Isle of France and to the Colloquy of Champagne and shall be present by its Deputies at the said Colloquies and Synods On which condition they shall receive the four portions which had been assigned them by the Synod of Gergeau 9. The Ministry of Monsieur Baily who was granted by the Synod of Gap unto the Church of Lions having been exceeding fruitful unto this very day and mightily edifying unto that Church This Assembly ratifieth that Grant and bestoweth him upon them for their ordinary Pastor so that the Province of Lower Languedoc for the future shall not have any the least pretensions or right unto him 10. This Synod judgeth the Universities of Montauban Nismes Montpellier and
at home with them all Pastors of Churches and Elders who have no deputation from them unto the National Synods that so the complaints and importunity of those who have no call to sit or vote in them may be obviated and prevented CHAP. II. Observations upon Reading our Confession of Faith UPON the 14th Article The Provinces were exhorted to study whether it were not expedient to take away those particular expressions which mention the Heresies of Servetus and to acquiesce in a general detestation of his Errors and the rather because they be now extinct and buried in oblivion And the Province of Burgundy is ordered to communicate this Decree unto the Reverend Pastors and professors of Geneva for their advice The Confession being read with great attention every word point and article thereof was unanimously approved and ratified by all the Deputies who did promise and swear by the holy Name of God that for themselves and their Respective Provinces who had delegated them they should Teach and Preach it and unviolably keep and observe it CHAP. III. Observations upon Reading of our Discipline ON the fourth Article of the first Chapter The Deputies of Lower Languedoc propounded that the different courses took in divers Provinces about the Choice Examination and Ordination of Ministers brought with it a world of Inconveniences and was the occasion that unworthy persons were in several places admitted into the Ministry This Synod judged it exceeding needful to Establish an Express Canon exactly universally and most uniformly to be observed by all the Provinces which being prepared was approved and consented to by the whole Assembly and inserted into the Body of our Discipline in the form following The Decree for Receiving of Proposans into the Ministry 2. The 4th article of the first Chapter of our Discipline shall be couched in these words its beginning being joyned with the fifth Article in manner following A Minister of the Gospel unless in time of persecution in which case of great and urgent necessity he may be chosen by three Pastors only together with the Consistory of the place shall not be admitted into this holy Office but by the Provincial Synod or Colloquy provided that Colloquy be composed of seven Pastors at least and in case there be not so many to compleat it the Neighbour-Ministers shall be invited to concur in this Election And the Elected Proposan shall be presented to them with good and valid Testimonials not only from the Universities and particular Churches but also from the Colloquy of that Church wherein he hath been longest conversant The Proposan shall be examined in this method first by a Proposition one or more from the Word of God the Texts whereon his discourse is to be grounded shall be given him One of these his Exercises ought to be in French the other in the Latine Tongue in case the Colloquy or Synod do judge it meet and he shall have four and twenty hours time to prepare himself for each of these his Exercises If by these he shall have given satisfaction unto the Assembly then a Chapter of the New Testament in Greek shall be put into his hand upon which he shall be posed that it may be known whether he does understand that Language and can expound it and afterward he shall be examined in the Hebrew whether he can at least read it and use good Books for the better finding out of God's Sacred Will in the Scriptures And to this shall be added an Essay of his upon some of the most needful parts of Philosophy and the whole shall be managed with great tenderness and charity and without affectation of any thorny or unprofitable Questions Finally he shall make a Confession of his Faith in Latine upon which he shall be examined and opposed And if upon the whole he be judged capable the Assembly shall declare unto him the duties of the Office whereunto he is called and denounce unto him in Christ's Name that Authority which is now conferred upon him to preach the Word and administer the Sacraments in that Church of Christ whereunto he is now sent upon his full Ordination And in conclusion two Ministers shall be deputed to present him unto the people 3. The 5th Article shall begin with the words of the fourth He that shall be presented shall preach the Word of God publickly on three several Sundays but not administer the holy Sacraments all the people hearing him that so they may know his manner of teaching c. And after these words in the end The Order of presenting a Minister unto the Church Nor shall the Pastor be imposed upon the Church against his will shall be added this clause and the difference shall be determined according to the Canon above mentioned at the costs and expences of the Church which had demanded him 4. In the 7th Article about the manner of Imposition of hands towards the end after those words That so he may well and duly discharge it shall be added as followeth And a prayer meet and pertinent to the purpose shall be conceived in which the Pastor shall insert these or the like words We beseech thee O God to enrich and furnish this thy Servant duly chosen according to the Order established in this thy Church with the Gifts and Graces of thy Holy Spirits adorning him abundantly with all Endowments needful for his worthy discharge of this High Calling to the Glory of thy great Name the Edification of thy Church and the Salvation of his own Soul whom we do now dedicate and cousecrate by this our Prayer unto the Office of a Gospel Minister At these words the Pastor praying shall stand up and lay his hands on the head of the Ordained Minister who kneels before him at the foot of the Pulpit And Prayer being ended and the new Pastor risen up the two Ministers deputed by the Synod or Colloquy shall give him in the presence of all the people the Right hand of Fellowship And this Canon and Form shall be unanimously observed by all the Provinces 5. On the 11th Article the Provinces are bound in Conscience to give in a faithful report unto the National Synods whether the Ministers of their Churches do hold fast the form of sound words in their publick Sermons 6. On the 17th Article Colloquies and Synods shall have a watchful Eye over those Ministers who study Chymistry and grievously reprove and censure them 7. On the third Article of the 7th Chapter it was advised that for the future the additions made at the close of Propositions in Colloquies should be omitted because of the inconveniencies which have happened and do far exceed the benefit which we expected from them And all Pastors shall be censured by Pastors only in presence of the Elders 8. On the 7th Article of the 8th Chapter these words with a Low voice added by the Synod of Rochel shall remain and it 's enjoyned that if any Province do act otherwise
present at the Examination of that person who is called unto the Ministry because there is so great a distance between the Churches of their Province which renders its observation impossible and impracticable as also because the most of their Colloquies are composed but of five Pastors This Assembly for many and weighty reasons would not in the least change that Article and therefore advised them to defer the Examination of the Candidate until the Meeting of their Provincial Synod Article 4. On the * * * This is now the 19th in one Edit 1653. and in that of 1663. but that 20th in 1666. and in 1678. eighteenth Canon of the first Chapter which enjoyned Ministers to press their People to Modesty in their Garments and by themselves and their Families to be patterns of it unto their Flocks great complaints were made and brought in against many Ministers not only of their neglects but also of their opposition to it and that their Wives and Children were very vain and immodest in their Garbs and Dresses This Synod earnestly desiring to remove so great a scandal doth give express order unto all Moderators of Colloquies and Provincial Synods to reform those Excesses by the severest Censures and the refractory shall by the Authority of this Synod be suspended from their Ministry until such time as they have removed this scandal And that this Canon may be better and more strictly observed permission is given unto private persons according to the Rules of our Discipline to inform their Consistories of those aforesaid Excesses and to demand a reformation of them which in case it be denied they may address themselves unto the Colloquies who shall enforce them to it by Censures even both the Consistories and their Abettors Article 5. The fourth Canon of the fourth Chapter shall be couched in these terms That those disorders may be prevented which daily happen through Certificates given unto the Poor every Church shall endeavour to maintain its own Poor and in case any poor person should be constrained through the urgency of his Affairs to travel abroad then Ministers shall carefully examine him in their Consistories about the causes of his Journey and give him Letters directed to the next Church lying in the right way that he must go specifying his name age stature hair and place whereunto and the cause of his Travel and that assistance which was given him together with the date of the day and year which Letters that Church whereunto he is directed shall keep by it and give him others unto the next And all Certificates formerly given shall be torn in pieces Article 6. These words shall be added unto the 28th Canon of the fifth Chapter Unless in case of High Treason according to the known Judgment of former Synods Article 7. Unto the same words in the 30th Canon of the same Chapter Unless in case of High Treason these words following shall be added Revealed unto the Magistrate Article 8. The Deputies of the Isle of France demanded an exposition upon the 18th Canon of the fifth Chapter of our Discipline about Appeals from publick Suspensions that they might know whether a Consistory having decreed a publick Suspension against a delinquent Member or Minister and he appealing from it they might notwithstanding his Appeal yet proceed unto Suspension This Synod determineth that the Consistory ought not to proceed any farther but shall admit of the Appeal unless it be in case of publick Crimes notoriously known unto the whole Church And the next Colloquy or Provincial Synod shall judge finally of that Appeal Article 9. Express order is given unto the Provinces to see that the 33d Article of the fifth Chapter of our Discipline be punctually observed and obeyed Article 10. In pursuance of the Observations made by the National Synod of Rochel on the ninth Article of the fifth Chapter of our Discipline after these words Pastors and Elders these shall be added nor shall there be any Appeals admitted from full Consistories nor from the greater part of them yet the said Appeals shall be in force against particular members of the said Consistory whether Pastors or Elders provided those Appeals be received by the Consistory and being approved by it they may proceed farther Notwithstanding any Appeal brought in to the contrary upon the admission or rejecting of the said Appeals Article 11. A Case was moved whether in those Churches where there is but one Pastor and an Appeal is brought against him the Elders may judge of this controversy This Synod determines that Elders may judge of all emerging differences yea so far as of suspension from the Lords Table matters of Doctrine and of Excommunication only excepted In which two points Elders may not judge without their Pastor Article 12. The Deputies of Berry demanding how we should carry it towards malefactors accused of unpardonable Crimes by the Civil Laws and yet giving Laudable Testimonies of their Repentance did Demand the consolation of communion with us in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper This Synod judgeth that the Criminal giving plenary satisfaction unto the Church he may be received into Communion with us at the Lords Table although he cannot expert from the King any Pardon of his Crime One Jurisdiction not clashing with the other Article 13. The 24th Canon of the 5th Chapter shall be thus worded He whose suspension had been declared unto the Congregation and afterwards evidencing his repentance before the Consistory by good works and a godly life and sufficient Testimonies shall be received unto the peace and fellowship of the Church upon the acknowledgment of his offence Article 14. A difficulty was moved whether Promises of Marriage made in words de Futuro were as obliging and indissolvable as those by words de praesenti This Assembly judgeth they be not of equal force and vertue there being as great a difference between words de praesenti and de futuro as between promise and performance word and deed For 't is a clear case Espoused persons may on divers accounts be separated which cannot dissolve a Marriage already consummated as difference in Religion unknown before the promises impotency fallen out by some accident since the promises And this is farther evident by the publication of Banes after Betrothings which is therefore done that any one may have Liberty to bring in his reasons against it which are never admitted when Marriages are celebrated but only when they be designed and promised And often times it so falls out that one of the Espoused Parties retracting its promises takes up a Resolution never to marry whence it would follow that if Betrothed persons were bound by words de futuro then the Innocent and wronged Party should never marry which would intangle Conscience in very great Temptations and tho God hath ordained that whom he hath joyned together Man shall not in any wise part asunder yet they may be separated by the Civil Magistrate And that Authority of the
last Supper but yet permitted his Apostles to distribute among themselves the Bread and the Cup. And as to the abridgment of these words which we bless this Assembly judgeth that none should be employed but such as can authoritatively utter all the words of Institution Nor can the Example of the Church of Geneva any ways relieve the Church of Metz because that at Geneva in their delivery of the Cup the Deacons are silent but not so the Pastors For which causes and that the Authority and Reverence due unto this holy Sacrament may be kept up and maintained the said Church is exhorted to conform it self in this matter unto the Example and Practice of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the general Custom of our Churches and this to be done by the sweetest ways possible without any thing of violence 23. This Assembly was informed how that the Consistory of the Church at Orleans and in particular a certain Elder of it called Mesmein did but with a previous Protestation to declare unto the Supream Magistrate and to the Kings Attorney the matters transacted in it set themselves against an Order of the Provincial Synod held at Blois ordaining a General Colloquy in pursuance of the Decrees of their former Provincial Synods as also that the Sieur Eruet Doctor in Physick had writ a Defamatory Libel against that Canon of the Assembly of Saumur which enjoyned all the Provinces to establish Counsels for their mutual safety and against that Decree of the said Synod held at Blois This Assembly reproving and condemning all these Proceedings as being contrary to our Discipline and to the Union of all our Churches did Depute the Sieurs du Moulin la Fresnaye and Cartaud Pastors together with the Sieurs Bigot Manevill and du Bois Elders as they return in their way homewards to pass unto Orleans and there to Assemble the Consistory and notify unto them the pleasure of this National Synod which is that the Canons and orders of Saumur be observed as best agreeing with our duty unto their Majesties and what had been practised during the life of Henry the Great of Glorious memory and full Power is given unto the said Commissioners to determine finally in the Name and Authority of this Assembly of this affair and to suspend and remove all past excesses in and about it whatsoever and the Charges of the said Deputies during their abode at Orleans shall be defrayed by that Province 24. The Appeal of Master John de Vassan Pastor of the Church of the Castel upon Loir who stands accused of several Crimes and suspended by the Commissioners which were Deputed by the Provincial Synod of Anjou is dismissed over to the next approaching Synod of that Province and in case he do not appear in person to justify himself he is from this very instant declared to be deposed from the Sacred Ministry 25. The Sieurs d' Arguillon and Barnier two Magistrates of the City of Nismes together with Arnold Guyrand second Consul and Vestric Favier a Member of their Common Council as also the Sieurs Suffren and Chambrun Pastors of the said Church of Nismes deputed by their Consistory unto this Assembly did instantly and most importunately intreat that their Pastor Monsieur Ferrier might not be removed from them notwithstanding what had been before resolved about him in this Assembly as also that he might at their request be restored to them and that leave might be granted him to assist personally in Political Assemblies in case he were commissionated thereunto Whereupon the said Deputies of Nismes being demanded if they had any thing to offer from the said du Ferrier answered that he had charged them with nothing as from himself The Assembly having maturely debated the Remonstrances and Petitions of the said Deputies and applauded their Zeal and great Love to Monsieur Ferrier gave them to understand that forasmuch as the causes moving them to transport the said Ferrier out of the Province were still valid and in being they could not depart from their former Resolution which was not taken up on design of reflecting on or interesting the said Church of Nismes for which they have as high an esteem and value as for any other Church of Christ in the Kingdom and they hope that the whole Church will submit it self unto this Synodical Decree Whereupon the said Deputies and particularly the Sieur d' Arguillon speaking first renewed with great vehemency his desires adding very injurious words full of menaces threatning us with the confusions that would arise hereupon in the Church of Nismes and that he would give them notice of it He was seconded according as it had been concerted among them in private by the Sieur Vestrie Favier with discourses full of Arrogancy and Threats with a Protestation of Appeal unto another Synod and let this do what it pleased they would never part with the said Monsieur Ferrier and that he should continue to exercise his Ministry both in Nismes and in the Province also Accusing this Assembly of passion and partiality in its Judgment Whereupon the Assembly desiring an Act of Record for such injurious Language and to know whether the said Deputies would avow or disavow it the said Vestrie returning again into the Synod to evidence his owning of all his former discourses gave us Memoirs of them stuft with falshoods and calumnies all subscribed and attested with his own hand the which Copy was ordered to be safe kept and forth-coming in case of need at the next National Synod 26. And the Sieurs Suffren and Chambrun are sharply censured for becoming the Bearers of such Libellous and injurious writings against this Assembly to whom it was declared that they might and ought to have excused themselves from any conjunction in such a Deputation because by their departure from the City of Nismes the whole Church was left without a Pastor and this their offence was judged so grievous and their contempt of this Assembly so intolerable that they deserved a very long suspension from their Ministry Yet nevertheless out of pure respect unto the Church of Nismes and that it may not be left destitute of its Ministers The Synod doth Mercifully pardon them their offence and injoyns them most strictly upon their return unto Nismes to do their utmost that this Synodical decree be put in execution against the said Ferrier and that they do their utmost endeavour to prevent whatever Murmurings or troubles may hereupon fall out and that they keep their Church in peace And in Case after the dissolution of this Assembly they presume to act contrary to what is now commanded them the next Colloquy of Lions is authorized to proceed against them and all other Pastors and Elders Complices with them in the same Rebellion even to suspension yea and deposition from their respective charges And as for Monsieur Ferrier this Assembly will provide him a Church out of the Province which shall be signified unto him and
persevere in our Faith and Discipline and to adventure their Estates their Lives and Fortunes for the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ expressing also their great desire that all the Members of our Churches might be preserved in a sweet and perfect Concord After thanks given them in the person of their Messengers Letters were ordained to be written unto each of them applauding their Zeal and Religious Affection and exhorting them to perseverance in this their godly Resolution and farther to assure them that this Assembly will do its utmost endeavour that their pious desires of uniting all the Members of the Church may be accomplished 4. This Assembly being informed that Mr. David Hume formerly Pastor in the Church of Duras in the Lower Guyenne was lately returned from his native Country of Scotland and as he passed through England his Majesty of Great Britain had charged him with a Letter to be delivered to us concerning differences sprung up in our Churches on several points of Doctrine The Assembly ordained that before it was read unto us a Copy thereof should be transcribed and sent unto the Lord de Rouvray our Deputy General at Court that so in case we should be suspected there he might immediately discover that it was nothing of State-Affairs but only a Point of Doctrine which concerned all the Reformed Churches gathered in divers Kingdoms and Republicks To Communicate in which Matters we had all freedom ever promised us and as for those of another nature we would never intermeddle with them unless we had an express and new permission from the King 5. Monsieur Hume being called in did by word of mouth relate what was given him in charge by his Majesty of great Britain who advised this Assembly as from him to procure and maintain a firm Union in points of Doctrine among the Pastors Professors and others the Members of our Churches without quarrelling with the Divines of Germany or any persons teaching otherwise who handled the point of Justification in a different manner from us and particularly that we would silence that controversy risen up between the Sieurs du Moulin and Tilenus and yet to prize and value those Gifts which the great God hath so plenteously bestowed upon them for his Churches Edifying Assuring us farther of his Majesties good will affection and purpose to defend the Churches of God and particularly ours Which also was the substance of his Letter See afterwards the 18th observ on the Synod of Privas This Assembly returned their most humble thanks unto the King of Great Britain speaking by the said Mr. Hume the bearer of his Letters and put off their consideration and resolutions about this affair unto its proper place viz. then to be debated when as the Acts of the Synod of Privas shall be reviewed 6. The Deputies of the Council for the Province of Lower Guyenne craving leave to be heard in this Assembly about matters of great importance which they were ordered to declare unto us being introduced they began to vindicate and justify the means used by them in their prosecution of the violations of the Edict by which their Churches had exceedingly suffered whereof they gave many and particular instances in divers Articles and concluded with an earnest suit unto this Assembly that we would by all lawful means prevent divisions among our selves and so obviate the Plots and practices of the enemies of our Religion in the present State of affairs which are now upon the wheel Whereupon the Assembly did assure them of that favourable construction it put upon their good intentions and on their proceedings as reported by them and of the ways and means they had used and it farther promised that every one of the Deputies of this Synod should remonstrate the same unto their respective Provinces that so none ill opinion might be taken up or entertained to their prejudice And as for those remedies craved by them for hereafter against our common publick evils and their particular sufferings the Assembly knoweth none more proper and fit than what is offered us viz. the next General Assembly granted us by their Majesties who therefore shall be most humbly thanked for it and yet most earnestly and humbly intreated to change the place of their meeting and to defer the time thereof unto the twentieth day of August next that so the Provincial Assemblies may sit the longer and have the more time and leisure to intend and perfect our desired Union And this Assembly seeth it self obliged to procure it because of what has been already Proposed and advanced which also it will do by all lawful and possible means And as for the Modifications and restrictions of the Writ it Judgeth that they ought to be sent over to the mixt Provincial and General Politick Assemblies which the Deputies unto this Synod shall every one of them at their return represent unto their respective Provinces and Monsieur de Rouvray our General Deputy shall be written unto out of hand to present our most humble thanks as also our before-mentioned Requests unto their Majesties that so this Assembly may receive an answer before its dissolution CHAP. IV. Observations made on Reading the Confession of Faith Article 1. THERE being found some difference about the 6th Article of the Confession in the Latin and French Copies the first restraining that approbation which had been determined in the Mystery of the Trinity unto the four first ancient Councils but the others extending it indefinitely unto the ancient Councils This Assembly decreed that nothing should be altered in the French Edition of it Art 2. On the 8th Article Because that in divers Copies there was a Typographical Error which altered the very sence of the Article Exprimant que Dieu fait Convertir au lieu de dire qui'l Scait Convertir this Assembly exhorts the Pastors of those Churches which have Printers to admonish them that they get some Judicious Person to oversee and correct the press that we may not be troubled any more with complaints of this nature and that once for all our Confession be Printed with the greatest exactness according to the Copies revised in the last National Synods and the like notice shall be given to the Pastors and Professors in the Church of Geneva Art 3. On the 9th Article instead of these words qui'l y ait there must be read qui'l ait Art 4. Montaubaâ— obs 6. Saumur obs 1.3 Rochel obs 13. On the 39th Article towards the close of it the words of Institution shall be added according to the Decree of former National Synods in the express terms of St. Matthews Gospel Take eat c. Art 5. The Confession of Faith of the Churches in this Kingdom having been read word by word was approved in all its Articles by the Deputies not only for themselves personally but generally for all the Provinces represented by them and by whom they were commissionated and all of them swore for themselves and for
of the Fifth Chapter a Question was moved by the Province of Provence Whether a Person that was never called to the Office of an Elder might warrantably read the Word of God and the Common-Prayers unto the Church in the Ministers absence especially in lesser Churches which have no Consistories nor any Persons fit to read This Assembly judgeth that the Consistory hath full liberty to choose any one whom it conceiveth meet to read the Scriptures and Prayers although he be not in the Eldership provided he be of sufficient years and unblameable Life and that he have subscribed the Confession of our Faith and Church-Discipline 13. At the reqâ—est of the Province of Sevennes to these words in the Sixteenth Canon of the Fifth Chapter Fathers and Mothers who marry their Children shall be added these following Tutors Guardians and all other Persons instead of Parents who dispose of their Orphans and Minors in Marriage 14. These words as much as may be shall be rased out of the Ninth Canon of the Twelfth Chapter And in all the Provinces Pastors shall be obliged to administer the Cup as well as the Bread unto every individual Communicant without distinction of Persons as also they shall use meet words in the Administration of both the Elements to quicken the Hearts and Spirits of the Communicants at the Lords Table And express Order is given to all Provincial Synods that they take special care that Pastors do not in the least transgress this Canon 15. On the Third Canon of the Thirteenth Chapter the Province of Normandy desired That all the Churches of this Kingdom would conform themselves to their Custom That Espousals before Marriage should be Celebrated by Ministers with Prayers and Exhortations to the betroathed Persons to prepare them for that Holy Estate whereunto they be called The Assembly though it praiseth and approveth of this their practice and of them that observe it yet did not judge meet to oblige all Persons necessarily thereunto but leave the faithful unto their liberty 16. On the Fifth Canon of the same Chapter there was made this reflection That whereas there is a great difference in divers Copies of our Church-Discipline that Canon which was made by the National Synod of Privas shall be inserted word for word into the Body of our Discipline To witt Henceforward all promises of Marriage and Espousals shall be made by words de futuro nor shall such promises be reputed as firm and undissolvable as the words de Praesenti because the words de praesenti do not promise Marriage but do effectually accomplish it Nevertheless those words de futuro shall not be dissolved without very great and lawful cause Wherefore the Custom of some certain Churches is condemned who celebrate Espousals by the Ministerial Benediction of their Pastors with gift of Bodies by words de praesenti For by such a Solemnity we cannot but account the Parties to be truly and actually Married and that the Publication of Banes is thereby preposterous done after Marriage and another Solemnization of the Marriage in Gods Church is needless However we cannot disapprove of Ministers officiating at Espousals or that they should pray for and Exhort the Parties betroathed to mutual Love Concord Fidelity and the Fear of God but we would have them leave those other Formalities which serve only to render a Bond indissolvable which oftentimes we be constrained afterwards to break by reason of Oppositions made at the Publication of the Banes and for divers other Impediments which may happen For this cause all the Churches shall hereafter utterly abandon that custom of Solemnizing Espousals in the Temple with those Formalities resembling Marriage and they shall conform themselves unto the other Churches of this Kingdom 17. On the Sixteenth Canon of the Thirteenth Chapter the Province of Anjou demanded Whether we should suffer the Banes of Strangers as Germans Scots or any others to be published in our Churches without having Certificates from their Country which will be very difficult to obtain and possibly may be counterfeit This Assembly leaveth the matter wholly to the prudence of Consistories and to act therein as will be most expedient ordaining however that if possible they should get Certificates 18. On the same Canon the Province of lower Guyenne requested that another might be made for the right ordering of Banes which are mostly attended with Titles full of vanity Tins Assembly conceiving that such an Ordinance would not take well with Persons of Quality doth therefore advise them to keep as much as possibly they can within the bounds of Christian Modesty and Simplicity Above the 1. Synod of Rochell Observ 59. 19. The Seventh Canon of the Fourteenth Chapter shall be couched in these words Neither Counsellors nor Attorneys at Law may plead in such Causes as tend to the suppression of the word of God preached nor to the setting un of Mass nor in any wise shall they be suffered to give Counsel or Assistance unto the Romish Church-men in those Causes which have a tendency directly or indirectly to the oppression of the Church See Synod of Orleans Act. 22. 20. The Province of Normandy demanding that the Eleven Canon of this Fourteenth Chapter might be a little mollified This Assembly ordained that it should abide in its full and whole Power according to what had bin decreed in the Synod of Tonneins 21. On the Sixteenth Canon Synods Paris 1. Act. 29. Colloquies and Consistories are Exhorted to watch over Ministers and other Persons who shall publish their Works and not first of all communicate them in Manuscript to be perused and approved by the Divines thereunto appointed and the Transgressors of this Canon shall be most severely censured The Articles of our Discipline having been read and diligently considered were sworne to by all the Pastors and Elders Deputed unto this Assembly both in their private and publick Capacities and they promised for themselves and Provinces to see them faithfully and carefully observed CHAP. VI. Observations made on Reading the Acts of the last National Synod held at Vitre 1. THAT Article enjoyning Monsieur Rivett to compose an History of those Remarkable Providences which had befallen our Churches 〈◊〉 observ 〈◊〉 upoâ— the 〈…〉 being read together with his Excuses by Letters for non-performance the Provinces not having communicated to him their Memorials as they were ordered This Assembly commands that Letters shall be dispatcht to Monsieur Buffon Lieutenant General of Casteljaloux exhorting him to prosecute this great Work undertaken by him of writing the History of our times and that he would be pleased before it go unto the Press to impart it unto the Synod of his Province and all the other Provinces be charged to send unto him their Memoirs 2 Pâ—â—â— Obâ—arv 2. upon the Synod of â—â—â—â—ins 2. In reading that Canon of Tonneins inserted into the last Synod of Vitre which gave leave unto Elders in Consistory the Pastor being excepted against to suspend
draw up the Form of the said Petition and Address and the Deputies of the Provinces who have any Memoirs on this Subject are commanded to communicate them However this Synod being willing and desirous to give clear full and unquestionable Evidence or their Duty Obedience and Loyalty unto His Majesty they admitted the said Lord Augustus Galland among them that he might be an Eye and Ear-Witness of the Integrity and Uprightness of their Proceedings and Deportments assuring themselves that His Majesty having perused their most humble Petition and Address and seeing and acknowledging the Sincerity and Loyalty of these Assemblies he would be graciously pleased out of His Royal Goodness to reinstate us into our former Liberties and Priviledges Every one of the Deputies in this Assembly according to the Decrees of former Synods did Swear and make Oath that he had not brigued his Deputation to it neither directly nor indirectly neither for himself nor for any other And this Oath shall for the future he taken by all the Members of our National Synods CHAP. IV. Approbation of the Confession of Faith THE Confession of our Faith being read word by word and most carefully attended to and consider'd in all its Points and Articles was unanimously approved by all the Deputies present in the Synod who did all promise and swear that by the Grace of God they would live and die in this Faith and that they vvould cause the said Oath to be taken in every one of their Provinces and that to the utmost of their povver they vvould procure and endeavour its Observation The Confession of Faith being finished This Assembly that they might testifie as they vvere bound their most sincere Respects and Duty unto His Majesty did Depute the Sieur de Chambrun and Mestrezat Pastors and de Jurlatt and Rabbotteau together vvith the Lords our General Deputies unto His Majesty to tender their most humble and thankful Acknowledgments Submissions and Duties unto His Majesty and in the Name of all the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom to make protestation of their most unviolable Fidelity and perpetual Obedience and unvvearied faithful Service unto His Majesty CHAP. V. Observation on reading of the Discipline 1 WHEN as the Fourth Canon of the Fourth Chapter was read several of the Provinces requested that some certain and proper means might be found out vvhereby to prevent those Frauds vvhich are usually committed in Attestations The Synod judging it needless to make any Additions unto the said Canon doth enjoyn all Consistories and Pastors carefully to examine both those Attestations and the Persons that bring them that they may receive from their ovvn Mouths a Testimony and Confession of their Religion and an Evidence of their Knovvledge and Understanding in it 2. On the Sixteenth Canon of the Fifth Chapter the Deputies of Poictou demanded Whether such as having been Married after the Popish manner or having so Married their Children and being aftervvards convinced of their Sin and testifying their Repentance for it might be discharged from their Publick Suspension This Synod judging that this Censure is become almost indispensably necessary to retain them vvithin the bounds of Duty vvho are othervvise but too prone to lavish out into such like or vvorse Offences doth ordain that the Canon be most strictly and exactly observed And the rather because that vvithout such a suspension the Scandal given unto the Church of God cannot be sufficiently repaired 3. On the Twelfth Canon of the Ninth Chapter instead of those words After which shall be celebrated the Lords Supper these only shall be inserted and the Lords Supper shall be celebrated That so the time of its administration may be left wholly to the power of Synods 4. In reading the Eleventh Canon of the Thirteenth Chapter of the Discipline the Province of Xaintonge moved whether a Man who had married his Wifes Neece might be admitted to Publick Penance and to the Peace and Fellowship of the Church The Synod judging such a Conjunction incestuous declares That as long as they continue to cohabit together as Man and Wife the Man shall not be received neither to the one nor other 5. On the Sixteenth Canon of the Thirteenth Chapter the Province of the Isle of France requested that hereafter in all Certificates to be given by our Consistories that the Banes of Marriage had been published in their Churches it might be expresly inserted that the said Banes were published in those Churches where the Parties contracted are either well-known or else held their personal residence for the greatest part of their time The Synod enjoyneth all Pastors to express in such Certificates that the Parties contracted do usually reside in those Churches where their Banes aforesaid were published 6. On the Fourteenth Canon of the Fourteenth Chapter the Province of Dolphiny requesting that after these words In the Colledges of Priests Monks Jesuits and Nuns there might be added and other Popish School-Masters The Synod ordains that nothing shall be added unto the said Canon yet notwithstanding doth it forbid all Parents to take any Person into their Houses of a contrary Religion to instruct their Children Moreover it leaveth it to the prudence of Consistories Colloquies and Provincial Synods to make such Canons as they judge will best suit with the Condition of the Churches under their Conduct and Direction 7. The Canons of our Discipline having been read and seriously considered All the Pastors and Elders Deputed unto this Assembly did for themselves and for their respective Provinces with their hands lifted up to Heaven swear that they would keep and observe it and see to the best of their power that it should be kept and observed by all their Principals who had sent them 8. Letters from the Pastors and Professors in the Church and University of Geneva were read in Answer unto those of the last National Synod by which they assure us of their Unanimous consent and agreement with us not only in the Essentials of Religion but also in outward Circumstantials and Ceremonies and as an Evidence hereof they have imbraced that advice given them by the aforesaid Synod ever at the Lords Supper after the words of Institution and Distribution of the Sacred Elements to add a word of Exhortation and that whereas heretofore they had only used unleavened Bread in conformity to their Neighbour-Churches in the Canton of Bearne now out of Love and Conformity to us and ours they did and would for the future use Common Bread at this Holy Sacrament And whereas their Elders had formerly assisted their Pastors in the Delivery and Distribution of the Calice they had resolved that it should be done by the Pastors only Adding over and above very many other kind expressions of their endearing Love and fraternal Union with the Churches of this Kingdom Upon which this Assembly resolved that an Answer should be returned them fully testifying our mutual Affection and high and reciprocal Esteem and Honour for them CHAP. VI.
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