reform provided that he give not any Sign or Token of his Approbation a Gentleman may not hinder People from entring into the Chappel of his Castle when as Idolatry is Established by Publick Authority 8. Quest Whether we may feign to perform the abusive Sinful Will of a Testator that so we may remove the Abuse Answ Altho there would be no Sin in it to frustrate the abusive Sinful Intention of the Testator by detaining the Revenues ordained by him for chanting Masses yet notwithstanding this feigning and dissembling will be always evil and must be condemned when a Man doth make Semblance of paying Service unto Devils 9. Quest Whether we may limit or keep back those Gifts and Alms bequeathed by a Testator Answ We are not forbidden to bequeath any part of our Estate unto pious Uses after our decease no more than to give it away during our Lives provided we do it not out of Ambition to get a Name and renown by so doing For it cannot be said that a Man is in quest of Glory when as he shall oblige his Heir to do well according to that Estate he shall leave him as he himself would have done if he had lived longer To alledge that he never used to do thus in his life time it is a Bar put upon a Man's Liberty that he should have no Power freely to dispose of his own Goods If the Heir be dissatisfied woe unto him 10. Quest Whether we are bound to approve of that Minister who hath been examined by Persons of Judgment and Experience Answ As a Church is free to prove and try the Life and Doctrine of a Minister before they accept and receive him So neither is there any Tie nor Obligation upon them to the contrary but that they may confide and acquiesce in those who are qualified to examine him and have had a long time knowledge of him and so can best judge who and what he is Otherwise the Faithful in Foreign parts would be destitute of all means whereby to be supplied with able Pastors if this Door were shut up 11. Quest Whether a Pastor may forsake his Church and a Church their Pastor Answ A Pastor may not of his own head forsake his Flock but in case they will not make use of him he is free and may warrantably leave them because ho cannot be a Pastor without a People nor hold and exercise his Office among them against their Wills and Consent by meer force Or in case the Church should not count his Labours among them profitable or if he should have a Call unto another Church which hath greater need of him he may with the general Consent of his Flock freely go thither and serve it And look as every Pastor is bound to serve the Church of God especially his own so likewise is One Church bound to help another And would to God this mutual Assistance were better practiced for then we should be more enlargedly useful and beneficial one unto another 12. Quest Whether a private Christian may exercise the Office of a Minister unto his own Family Answ A Godly Man being the Head and Master of his Family ought to serve guide and instruct it according to the Measure of his Gifts and Graces and may so far supply the Pastor's Office and perform his Duty in it as to teach sound Doctrine and inculcate wholsome Counsels to it But forasmuch as also Persons indifferently are not allowed to Preach the Word and Administer the Sacrament it is but just and reasonable that a Man should first try and examine himself and be well assured that he is called of God before he attempt or take upon him so great and weighty an Office Yet nevertheless every particular Family ought to be a Little Church of Christ 13. Quest Whether it be lawful to hold a Commander's Place in any of the Popish Guilds and Fraternities Answ The immoderate Desire of Gain from all Quarters hath caused a multitude of Cases to be started by Conscience As this in particular which now lieth before me Whether it be lawful to hold a Commander's Place or Office in any of the Popish Guilds and Fraternities To which I answer That because there is a Foundation of Masses annexed unto such Offices and Commanderships and for that such Places are not in the King's gift but settled upon the Members of such and such a Guild and Fraternity who are recommended to it and for that they do all take an Oath repugnant to the true Reformed Religion they cannot with a safe Conscience hold it For were there no other Evil in it yet there is this that Sith they do not apply the Profits and Emoluments of the Commandership unto those very uses to which they were designed they be but Thieves and Robbers 14. Quest Whether it be lawful to antedate a Contract Answ Provided there be no falshood in it contrary to the Agreement in the Policy or Instrument private Persons are no more forbidden to antidate a Deed of Sale in which there is no Fraud than to change their Names or to date a Letter from Paris which was written at Lions In case it should be alledged that this would be a cheating the King of his Gabel and Impost I answer this is nothing to the Purpose because the Question is not moved about the Detention of Tribute but only how to avoid without Fraud a most violent Extortion and tyrannical Pillage But in case an Oath should be tendered unto the Parties then I must tell them that the Name and Honour of God should be more precious to them than all the Riches of the World 15. Quest Whether it be lawful and when I may put out my Money unto Interest Answ I would never advise any Man to put out his Money to Interest if he can employ it any ways else Yet when as a Man 's whole Estate doth lie in ready Money he may very well contract with such and such Persons that upon such and such terms it may be lawful for him to receive benefit and profit thereby But he must be very careful that he do not let loose the Reins to demand and take excessive Gains as is the Custom and Practice of too too many nor should he grieve or grind the Face of that poor Man with whom he hath contracted nor endammage the publick Interest by his own private Benefit Wherefore upon the whole I dare not approve of any Interest till I do first know how and upon what Terms Articles and Conditions and with what Persons you do transact herein CHAP. X. Orders and Decrees concerning Marriages Made by the Authority of the National Synod of Vertueil held in the Year l567 But drawn up at the Desire of the Fathers in this Synod by the R. Mr. Calvin Minister of God's Holy Word Pastor and Professor in the Church and Vniversity of Geneva These Orders were tacked together with Mr. Calvin's Answer to the forementioned fifteen Cases of Conscience
this nature should have a perpetual tendency to the Churches edifying So that when Parents or Sureties do offer Children unto Baptism and desire their own Names to be put upon them this their Request shall be granted provided they be not Names prohibited in the close of the Ninth Canon of Baptism as the Names of God Angel or Office or such as be notoriously ridiculous V. Colloquies and Provincial Synods shall most humbly intreat and exhort Kings Princes Great Lords and all Impropriators of Church-Lands and all our opulent and wealthy Churches to lay by and dedicate some considerable Portion of their yearly Incomes Estates and Revenues towards the maintenance of Students in Divinity and of poor Schollars of excellent and hopeful Parts who may be hereafter imployed in the Sacred Ministry And that this Canon may be observed this Assembly will give the first Example and doth now order that Letters shall be written unto those most Illustrious and Noble Personages and to our richest Churches inviting them unto this most needful Contribution and these Letters shall be signed in the Name of this National Synod by the Moderator Assessor and Scribe VI. National and Provincial Synods shall be held once every Year for time coming and Colloquies twice a Year but by this Canon we do not intend to abridge the Provinces who can better do it of their Priviledge in observing the first established Order Pastors must come accompanied with one Elder unto Synods or Classes VII Pastors shall ever come unto these Ecclesiastical Assemblies accompanied with an Elder and in case they be sent alone there shall be no regard had unto Memoirs as in like manner it shall be with the Elders if they come singly Sureties must ponder seriously their Engagements at Baptism VIII Pastors shall diligently exhort all Sureties of both Sexes seriously to weigh and consider their Promises ingaged at Baptism and Parents shall be advised to chuse such Sureties for their Children as are well instructed in Religion and of exemplary Life and Conversation or at least such as if need be may be able to educate their Children in the knowledge and fear of God Some Crimes shall not be blotted out the Books of Consistory IX Upon Repentance and Satisfaction given unto the Church all Crimes and Offences shall be razed out of the Books of Consistories except such who for their Contumacy and Rebellion had been censured with Suspension from the Lord's Supper or Excommunication None of the Consistory may declare the Sins of ingenuous Penitents X. Consistories shall not give in Evidence against any Person by Act or any other way unto the Magistrate And the Members of those Consistories shall not reveal any Person the Confessions of Penitents who voluntarily and of their own accord or by Admonitions given them shall have confessed and acknowledged their Offences XI Forasmuch as divers sickly Persons are Communicants at the Lord's Table and some for fear of Infection scruple to take the Cup after them Pastors and Elders are advised to use their best prudence and discretion in this case CHAP. III. XII A Woman having been joyned in Marriage unto one who was formerly a Monk or Priest and since returned unto his former Profession may not marry another Man until such time as her first Marriage be dissolved and the Sentence of Dissolution shall be pronounced as of Right it ought by the Magistrate XIII Pastors are left unto their liberty to use either the accustomed words or any other words in the Administration of the Lord's Supper it being a matter indifferent The Faithful may not hold any Benefices where there is peril of Idolatry See the Second Synod of Rochel art 34.37 provided they be such as tend unto edification XIV In the case of Benefices to which there is a Right of Patronage by presentation from the Lord of the Mannor or by the interposal of the Bishop of the Diocess the Faithful must be advised not in the least to retain them thô they were freely given them without any Condition express or implicite of Service unto the Idol XV. Farmers of the Temporalities of the Clergy of their Rents Tithes and such-like Matters shall observe the Nineteenth Article of the last National Synod held at St. Foy which was to intermeddle as little as may be with such Concerns because of divers Abuses and Inconveniences that might happen about them Which ceasing those of the Reformed Religion may lawfully farm them And all Consistories are desired to take Notice of it XVI See the Second Synod of Rochel Art 50. How Parents ought to behave themselves when they marry their Children to one of a contrary Religion Parents professing the Reformed Religion having Idolatrous Children of a Religion contrary to their own who would take them Wives Idolaters like themselves shall be advised to use their utmost endeavour to turn away their Children from such a Marriage especially if as yet they be Minors and not emancipated from under their Paternal Authority But in case they cannot prevail upon them whenas the Marriage-Articles shall be signed they shall openly protest their abhorrency of that Idolatry into which their Children do so wickedly plunge themselves and afterwards may give their Consent to the Promises and Conditions concerning the Portion and other such-like Matters XVII Publick Penances to be used prudently See the Second Synod of Rochel Art 26. Consistories are advised to take care that Publick Penances be used very seldom and with a great deal of prudence and only for publick notorious Crimes really committed which are come to the knowledge of the far greater part of the Church and in this case the scandalous sin itself shall be particularly confessed No Book of the Holy Scripture shall be turn'd into Plays XVIII Neither the Canonical nor Apocryphal Books of the Holy Bible shall be transformed into Comedies of Tragedies XIX No Church nor Province shall make any Ordinance unless for Substance it be conformable to the General Articles of our Church-Discipline Ministers by their Personal Promises shall not be obliged to any Church XX. No Church shall pretend Title or Right unto any Minister because of his particular Promise given them without the Authority of the Colloquy of Provincial Synod XXI In case a Minister be destitute of a Church in his own Province and Colloquy and shall lend his Service unto another Church out of his Province which hath desired him so to do till the next Synod and if that Synod when convened cannot employ him in its own Province he shall then be the peculiar Minister of that Church which had demanded him provided it be done with the full content of the Church And this Canon shall bind for the future but without any prejudice to the time past XXII In the first Article concerning Elders and Deacons after these words The Duties of their Office shall be read there shall be this addition And a particular Prayer shall
another where their Crime is not known they shall only testify their Repentance privately before the Consistory but with this Condition that in case they return to that former Church whereunto they belonged they shall then and there also make a publick Acknowledgment of their Offence XXIV Publick Penances shall be undergone personally and by those only who have publickly offended the Sinner openly and sincerely with his Mouth from his Heart testifying his Repentance XXV Whoredoms when committed and come to publick â—â—owledge shall by their Actors be publickly acknowledged with evident Tokens of Repentance XXVI This Clause by the greater part shall be razed out from the end of the 17th Article of Figeac and there shall be this only inserted known by the greater part XXVII Both those Canons of the Tenth National Synod and of our ancient Discipline concerning the time of meeting for Colloquies and Provincial Synods shall remain in full force so that they be wholly left unto their Liberty to do therein as they may most conveniently XXVIII Forasmuch as Provincial Synods depend upon the National Colloquies also shall for the same Reasons be subject unto the Provincial Synods and Consistories unto Colloquies XXIX The National Synod of the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom assembled in this City of Rochel under the Authority of the King's Edicts having seen a certain Book Intituled The History of France printed in this City upon divers complaints made unto us from all parts of the Kingdom against it and having took Cognisance of the proceedings of the Consistory of this Church against the find Book hath found that in many places the Author speaks exceeding irreverently and irreligiously of divine Things and that it is a heap of idle vain and prophane Matters full of Falshoods Lies and Calumnies to the great prejudice of God's glorious Power to the disadvantage and dishonour of our Holy Doctrine and Reformed Religion to the Dissamation of divers godly Persons dead and living And therefore hath thought good to advertise all the Churches that they beware of the said Book and inasmuch as in them lieth to disapprove it And this Synod doth judicially declare the Author of the said Book if he own himself a Protestant unworthy of our Holy Communion and not to be admitted to the participation of the Sacraments until such time as he shall have acknowledged his offence and by convenient means such as the Suppression of his History shall have repaired the Scandal that he hath given unto the Churches XXX The Synod also having seen and examined another Book written in Latin upon Genesis by a certain Fellow called James Brocan of Piedmont printed in this City hath declared and doth declare it to be fraught with Impieties and horrible Profanations of the Sacred Scriptures and pernicious Errors especially in Matters of Revelation of Revelation Prophecy and therefore exhorts all the Faithful to keep themselves carefully from being seduced by it XXXI The first Article of Provincial Synods being read it was decreed That all Ministers should attend in Person at their Provincial Synods or should excuse themselves by Letters in case of absence the causes whereof should be judged valid or otherwise by those Assemblies XXXII The third Article concerning National Synods shall abide in its full power But for the benefit of all our Churches there shall be this clause added That for time to come if possible it may be done there shall be two Ministers and two Elders deputed from every Province unto them XXXIII Forasmuch as Dancings and other Dissolutions do sprout up and increase every where yea and in these our Reformed Churches it was thought good to exhort the Consistories that for God's sake they would conscientiously observe the Six and twentieth Article of particular Orders decreed in the Synod of Figeac and in the Name of God and by the Authority of this present Assembly that it be read publickly in the Churches and all Colloquies and Synods are hereby expresly charged to censure those Consistories that neglect their Duty in this particular XXXIV All those who by unlawful means as by Papal Bulls or ready Money shall purchase or hold Benefices and such as cause Idolatry to be upheld and maintained either directly or indirectly shall be excluded Communion at the Lord's Table XXXV As to what concerns Impropriators and Farmers of Benefices the ancient Canons of our Discipline shall hold good and be in full force power and vertue against them Yet nevertheless the Deputies shall bring with them from their respective Provinces whatever Difficulties have occurr'd about those matters that so they may be debated in the next National Synod And whereas our Brethren of Languedoc Gascony and Perigord have desired have for the welfare of their Churches to censure such Farmers the business is left unto the prudence of their Provincial Synods XXXVI That Churches may not hereafter upon the death or removal of their Pastors be dissolved the Ministers who preside in the Colloquy for a new Election shall first of all enquire of every Elder in other Churches of the Colloquy what and how much Maintenance they exhibit unto their Pastors and what care they take for paying in unto them their promised Stipends that so provision may be made for them by the Authority of the Colloquies XXXVII These words The most eminent shall be blotted out from the 33d Article of Figeac XXXVIII Synods and Colloquies shall consult how to six the Limits and Extent of that Church wherein a Minister shall exercise his ordinary Calling XXXIX Ministers belonging to the Churches of France and now living abroad without the Kingdom shall be recalled by their respective Provinces XL. Forasmuch as there is a notorious contempt of Religion visible in all places yea also in our Religious Meetings we advise that Notice be given unto all Persons to bring with them their Psalm-Books into the Churches and that such as contemptuously neglect the doing of it shall be severely censur'd and all Protestant Printers are advised not to sunder in their Impressions the Prayers and Catechism from the Psalm-Books XLI The 17th Article of particular Orders concerning Habits was thus explained This Synod declareth That such Habits are not to be allowed in common wearing which carry with them evident marks of lasciviousness dissolution and excessive new-fangled Fashions such as painting slashing cutting in pieces trimming with Locks and Tassels or any other that may discover our Nakedness or naked Breasts or Fardingales or the like sort of Garments with which both Men and Women do wickedly cloath and adorn themselves And Consistories shall do their utmost endeavour to suppress such Dissolutions by their Censures and in case the Delinquents are contumacious and rebellious they shall proceed against them even to Excommunication XLII As to the 14th Canon concerning Marriages this Synod doth not judge it contrary to the 24th Article enacted by the Assembly of Estates at Blois for in that Orders only were given unto Notaries and Scriveners how
our King directed unto this Assembly being read wherein she demanded a Supply of Ministers for her Court it was voted That the Church in her Royal Highness's House should be supplied from the first Day of July next unto the first Day of October following by the Province of Normandy and from the first of October to the first of April next following by the Church of Sedan and from the said first of April 1602 by the other Provinces who in their turns should each of them send a Minister who shall be in actual Service six Months according to this Order now declared viz. The Lower Languedoc Orleans Dolphiny Anjou the Higher Languedoc Poictou the Lower Guyenne Xaintange Vivaretz and Burgundy unless the said Church be not before-hand provided of two able Pastors particularly appropriated to it And her said Royal Highness shall be by our Letters sent to her expressy to this purpose advised to get them and that the Moneys she bestows upon the Schools of Bearn may be employed by her Royal Highness towards the maintenance of a competent number of Proposans And that the Church in her Royal Highness's Court may not at any time be left unprovided the Provinces are all obliged to supply her with two Ministers that in case one should be detained by some lawful lett or hindrance the other may be always ready to serve in his stead XI In answer to the Letters of the Churches of the Low Countries this Assembly decreeth That the Province of Normandy shall continue to give them Notice of the Time and Place of our National Synods XII Letters shall be written to Monsieur de la Fontaine intreating him to use his endeavours for begetting a right understanding between Dr. Sutcliffe Saravia and our Churches XIII It is decreed That for time coming the Province authorized to convene the National Synod shall be so impowered to publish the General Fast which is to be observed in all our Churches upon emergent Providences XIV Letters shall be written to the Doctors and Professors of Divinity in the University of Leyden intreating them not to ordain our French Proposans Students in their University but whenas they have finished their Course of Theology to send them into France that here being called unto the Ministry they may receive Imposition of Hands in the face of our Churches XV. The Book entituled Elenchus Novoe Doctrinoe is dismissed over to the perusal of the Provincial Synod of Dolphiny and in case they approve of it and prefix a Preface to it it may be Printed XVI The Church of Paris is required to examine Three Books the one called Apparatus ad Fidem Catholicam the other Advice for the Peace of the Church and the third having this Title Seen by the King And in case the Propositions which some have extracted out of them be not contained in them then the Acts of the Synod of Montpellier relating thereunto shall be razed out and the Provinces by the Authority of this Assembly are enjoyned to raze them out CHAP VI. Particular MATTERS I. THE Differences between the Synods of Higher Languedoc and Lower Guyenne concerning the Churches of Nerac Leyrac and others of the Lower Armagnac which had been sent up to this Assembly by the last Synod of Montpellier it being impossible now to determine them because the Deputies of the Lower Guyenne had neither Orders nor Instructions about them are remanded back unto the next Provincial Synod of Xaintonge finally to determine them and that by the Authority of this Assembly And the said Synod of Lower Guyenne for not sending Instructions unto their Deputies concerning those Affairs is hereby censured II. The Province of Normandy reporting the extream Poverty of the Church of Lunere being utterly disabled from ever satisfying their old Debt unto Monsieur Vatble the said Province is exhorted to do their utmost endeavour that it may be satisfied by them III. That Decree of the Synod of Montpellier concerning Monsieur de L' Espoir having never been put in execution this Assembly enjoyneth the Province of Higher Languedoc to see it executed and in case of their neglect that then the said M. de L'Espoir shall return to the Church of Boslebec Since this Ordinance the Deputies of Higher Languedoc agreed with those of Normandy to re-imburse the Church of Boslebec whatever Charges they may be at in getting a Pastor one half whereof was to be born by those of Pamiers and another half by the said Province of Higher Languedoc or else to maintain for them for two Years space a Proposan in the University of Montauban or if they pleas'd to give them an hundred Crowns to be employed by them to this very purpose in ready Money IV. The Demand of Monsieur Caille is turn'd over to the Synod of Dolphiny to take care about it But this Article was struck out by the following National Synod of Gap V. Letters shall be once more written to the Duke de L'Esdigueres about the 17000 Crowns belonging to the Churches of Lower Languedoc and the Article of the Synod of Montpellier declaring those Moneys to have been raised towards the maintenance of Proposans shall be corrected and amended VI. In pursuance of what was decreed by the same Synod of Montpellier the Churches of Cormes and of St. John du Bruil shall be incorporated with the Colloquy of Vigan and the Synod of Lower Languedoc shall see that this Order be observed VII The Church of Lions desiring a Pastor and that one may be given them out of Dolphiny which hath several of their Ministers residing in the Churches of that Province it 's ordered That the said Province of Dolphiny do furnish that Church of Lyons and if possible to lend them at least for some Months Monsieur Chamier VIII The French Translation of The Harmony of Confessions done by deceased Monsieur Saluart is dismissed to the Synod of Higher Languedoc to be perused by them and if they judge it expedient then to Print it but with the Latine Annotations of Monsieur Goulart IX The Province of the Isle of France demanding Messieurs de L'Estang and de la Valleé to be restored to them who are now in Poictou have a Grant given them to prosecute their Right in the next Provincial Synod of Poictou X. This Assembly judging Monsieur Pellart to belong of Right unto the Isle of France ordaineth the Church of Marans in which he now serveth to yield up unto those of the Isle of France such a Proposan as they shall best like of within four Months otherwise that time being laps'd the said Monsieur Pellart shall be surrendred unto the said Province XI To the Case propounded by the Deputy of Brittany this Assembly gives it in as their Judgment That the Lords and Gentlemen Patrons of Churches and Chappels wherein Mass is sung cannot with a good Conscience repair them no although by not doing it they forfeit their Right of Patronage and Presentation to them XII The
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
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
more advantagiously promote the common Weal of our Churches the repose and happiness of the State and the establishment of their Majesties Authority And the like Letters to the same purpose shall be written to the Lords of Chastillion of Parabere to the Dukes of Rohan and of Sully to the Dukes of Soubize and de la Force and to the Lord du Plessis from this Assembly to acquaint them with our desires and invitations in the name and behalf of all our Churches to joyn in with the Lords Dukes of Bouillon and de les Diguieres and that as we had exhorted these so we do earnestly exhort their Lordships also to quit and forego their own particular Resentments and Discontents and that as formerly they have so they would be pleased now and evermore to testifie their zeal and affection for the Weal and Repose of our poor Churches and that they would demean themselves with a generous frankness and integrity in their mutual Correspondence and Re-union one with the other that being united in a perfect Bond of Charity they may with conjoyned Forces promote and advance the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Letters also shall be written unto the Lady Dutchess of Tremouille intreating her in the name of all our Churches to continue her endeavours in mediating the said Peace and Re-union and to give her thanks for her singular care in the Education of her Children in the True Religion and in the Fear of God and in Love and Affection to our Churches hoping and praying that they may hereafter prove excellent and useful Instruments of God's glory and of the Churches good And it shall be protested to all and every one of those Lords in the name and behalf of our Churches in the said Letters directed to them of our Intention and Resolution to consider honour and value them according to their Families Qualities Dignities and Merits as being the most honourable Members of our Body And the said Letters shall be presented them to wit unto the Lords of Bouillon and of les Diguieres of Chastillion and to the Lady Dutchess of Tremouille by the immediate hands of our General Deputies Those for the Lord Duke of Rohan and my Lord of Soubize by the Lords Barons of Saujon and Bonnet Deputies for the Province of Xaintonge who shall also acquaint them particularly from this Assembly with our sentiments desires and designs exhorting them to approve of them and to consent unto them and they shall be intreated to declare freely their thoughts of the whole that so the General Deputies may be out of hand advised and allured of it The Letter to the Lord Duke of Sully shall be tendered by Monsieur de l'Isle Grossat Deputy for the Province of Berry That to the Lord de Plessis by the Sieurs Perillau Vigneux and Ferrand Deputies of the Province of Anjou That for the Lord de la Force by the Sieurs de Brassalay and du Hau Deputies of Bearne That for the Lord de la Parabere by the Sieurs de Cuville and Cognac Deputies of Poictou And all these Gentlemen are charged with one and the same Message as above-mentioned only they may make such additions as their zeal and dexterity shall judge to be most conducing to the Weal and Perfection of so glorious a work Moreover this Assembly intreateth and exhorteth that for God's sake and the glory of his great name and their own salvation and for the peace and welfare of the Nation yea it adjures by all that is desirable or commendable the whole Body of our Communion in general and every faithful Soul in particular to divest themselves of all Animosities whatsoever and to lop off immediately all dissolutions and dissentions lest they should be the causes of the dissipation of the Churches of God in this Kingdom which have been planted in the Blood of infinite Martyrs and preserved by the Zeal and Concord of our Fathers and that they would at length open their Eyes and see and consider that the Churches Enemies bottom all their designs of ruining us upon our own Intestine Dissentions and that by reason of these we are become very little and exceeding despicable with our Adversaries And all Pastors and Elders of Churches are enjoyned diligently to procure the Re-union of the respective Members of their Flocks and to lend one another their helping-hand to effect so good a work and mightily to insist upon it in their puâ—lick Sermons and private Exhortations and Remonstrances And in case they should meet with contempt scorn and reproach in the discharge of this their duty and that any one through an obdurate perverseness should shew himself implacable and irreconcilable This Assembly according to that Authority which the Great God gives unto the Ministers of his holy Word denounceth to them the dreadful Judgments of God and wisheth that they may be had in Execration among and by all the Faithful yea all the ensures of the Church shall be exerted against such Refractory persons and the utmost rigour of our Discipline shall be inflicted and executed upon them lest the good Name of God should be blasphemed through our sins and that we may not contract upon our selves the guilt of the Churches desolation but rather that b the Bond of Peace and Fraternal Union the Church of God may send forth a sweet perfume among our Adversaries and his holy Name may be blessed and glorified by the Children of men 9. And whereas in the prosecution of the said Re-union the several persons before mentioned to be employed in it must needs be at considerable Expence this Assembly leaveth that Affair unto the prudence of our Lords the General Deputies who shall apply themselves to the Lord of Candall with this our Order to disburse Moneys for their necessary Charges And the Lords the General Deputies at Court are ordered to complain unto their Majesties that the Moneys granted by them by way of Augmentation unto our Churches are not paid nor have we the disposal or management or receipt of them and they shall again by word of mouth renew their former Instances and vigorously importune that the said Augmentation-Moneys and all other sums belonging to us may be put into such hands as shall wholly depend upon our Churches that so according to the Warrants granted us for the said Moneys and according to the Promise made us they may be paid in unto us without any defalcation or diminutions and that our poor Churches may be cased of that Penny in the Liver which the Receivers attribute unto themselves and their condition bettered if may be And as to what sums have been advanced by the aforesaid Lords Deputies notice shall be given thereof unto the Provinces CHAP. XII A Warrant signed for 45000 l. for the Churches FRiday the 22th of June the Lord de Rouvray produced in this Assembly the Original Grant of Augmentation of five and forty thousand Livers which it hath pleased His Majesty to bestow upon
one kind the Adoration of the consecrated Host Prayer in an unknown Tongue by the Petitioner Errors of this last sort altho in themselves less yet do they most often occasion the greatest divisions and do most venemously exasperate mens Spirits and immediately engender Schism For if a man communicate at the Lords Table with an erroneous person in the doctrine of Predestination or about the Nature of Jesus Christ or who believes that the Body of our Lord is every where in all places at once altho this Error be very great yet may it not trouble him who is a Communicant with him But and if we communicate with one who giveth religious adoration unto the bread or pretends to sacrifice the Lord Jesus Christ such an action would scandalize us and must needs drive us from that Communion lest we should participate with him in his Idolatry or in a false Sacrifice Now we have this advantage together with the Lutheran Churches that all our differences are of the first kind and as for those external Ceremonies used and practised by them we have no such difference but what may be easily composed yea and that too with a wet Finger 18. It were fitting to lay before them on the Table the Concordat of the Polonish Churches made at Sendomir in the year 1570. and since revived in the Synod of Ulodislan in the year 1581. that so we may learn by their example to serve our selves of all things which may contribute unto this Union and are worthy of our imitation And possibly there may be found some Lutheran Churches who for peace sake would not insist upon their Ubiquity but frankly yield it up and part with it 19. The same Order should be observed in this second Assembly as in the first and the same difference paid unto his Majesty of great Britain and it should be opened with a fast and concluded with the celebration of the Holy Supper of our Lord at which both the Lutheran Ministers and ours should communicate together 20. It is very needful that some course should be taken to bring the several Churches and People to embrace and practise the Articles of this Union and that Soveraign Princes and Estates do promise to exert their Authority about it and that those words of Lutheran Calvinist and Sacramentarian Gustazus Adolphus K. of Swiâ—â—dland would have them styled the Evangelical Churches being wicked badges of distinction were utterly abolished and that our Churches should ever after be called the Christian Reformed Churches And all Invectives from the Pulpit or Press or Writings against the Brethren of either side shall be forbidden under the severest penalties And that the Catalogues of Books vended at Frankford maybe no more stuft with injurious Titles as formerly And the German Princes should at some certain days mutually agreed on send their Pastors unto the principal Churches of their Neighbour Princes and also admit and receive of their Ministers into theirs and so communicate together on some set and solemn day at the Lords Table 21. If it should please God to bless this Holy and Laudable Design with success which would be a Crown of Eternal Glory unto his Majesty of Great Britain and to the Princes joyned with him therein then would it be a convenient time to sollicit the Romish Church unto a Reconciliation which whether it may be really effected or is at all feasible seems as yet very doubtful because the Pope will admit of no Council nor Conference at which he may not preside But could this General Union of all Christians be once accomplished we should be then more considerable and Ministers might Preach with more authority and greater success than ever CHAP. XIX A Letter from His Majesty of Great Britain To Messieurs the Pastors and Elders Assembled in their National Synod at Tonneins in France Sirs HAving received intelligence that your Assembly would be held in Gascony the first of May in which some persons may be engaged to revive that Controversly about Justification and to urge the Consciences of others to assent against their own judgment unto matters not sufficiently Understood by them We thought good to send you Monsieur Hume one of our subjects and of your Pastors with this our present Letter to exhort you in our Name not to suffer the spirits of your Pastors and Professors to be imbittered one against another about distinctions more substile than profitable more curious than needful but that you would indeavour to Moderate those animosities which are grown up already to too great an heighth among several of your Ministers and that you would quench those sparkles of dissention which meeting with wood hay stubble and slight rather than substantial matters may inflame you into such aschism as will Consume you all unless you do timely prevent it and stifle it in the birth by committing to the fire those Books Papers and Manuscripts which serve only as fewel unto new Controversies rather than promote your Edifying and give occasion to the Enemies of Gods Church to advance themselves on your weaknesses and to be the more hardned in their Errors Particularly we intreat you to compose the difference risen up betwixt the Sieurs du Moulin and Tilenus if it should be brought unto your immediate Cognisance and discussion and not be removed out of the way by Arbitrators which we judge of the two to be the best and by arbitrating their fact you your selves will publish unto the World how great a value you have for the Gifts of God in both those personages That honour with which God hath invested us by exalting us unto the highest and most eminent place in his Church for the defence of the truth or duty to serve it in our regall dignity and to the utmost of our power and that particular desire we have to see a good Peace and Vnion to flourish among all Sincere Professors of the Christian Faith and our care for your preservation as being the first Churches which have rejected the yoke of Idolatry do induce us to deal so freely with you And we promise our self from your prudence that all matters shall be pacified and amicably composed among you as we have commanded Master Hume to press you more amply by word of mouth thereunto to whom you may give credence receiving him as our Messenger and as a persom well-known unto you and sufficiently commended by his own excellent good parts and a Lover of peace which above all things we recommend unto you and so we pray God to Bless your godly debates and consultations and to have you always in his holy keeping From our Palace this 15th Day of March,1614 Signed James R. The Synods Answer To the King of Great Britain Sire THAT Zeal with which it hath pleased God to inflame your Royal Spirit and that abundant care which your most Serene Majesty vouchsafeth to take of all the Christian Churches obligeth every good servant of God to pour out continual
said Auditory shall be expresly charged That if any one of them do know any impediment for which his Ordination who shall be then mentioned by his Name may not be compleated or why he may not be accepted that they do then come and give notice of it unto the Consistory which shall patiently hear the Reasons of both Parties that so they may proceed to Judgment The Peoples silence shall be taken for a full consent But in case contention should arise and the afore-named Elect be pleasing to the Consistory but not unto the People or to the major part of them his reception shall be deferred and the whole shall be remitted unto the Colloquy or Provincial Synod which shall take cognizance both of the justification of the before-named elect Minister and of his reception And although the said Elect should be then and there justified yet shall he not be given as Pastor unto that People against their will nor to the discontentment of the greatest part of them nor shall the Pastor be imposed against his will upon that Church and the difference shall be terminated by order as above at the Costs and Charges of the Church that shall have demanded him CAN. VII Who so consenteth to be chosen unto the Sacred Ministry ought to accept of the Office with which he shall be invested and in case of his refusal he shall be solicited thereunto by fitting Exhortations but he shall in no wise be constrained CAN. VIII The Election of Ministers shall be confirmed by Prayers and Imposition of Hands always avoiding all Superstition and according to this ensuing form The Form of Ordination usually observed in the Churches of France at the Reception of their Ministers All things before-mentioned having been observed two Pastors deputed by the Synod or Colloquy to lay their Hands upon the Minister elect being come into that Church one of them who preacheth the Sermon shall discourse briefly of the Institution and Excellency of the Ministry alledging Testimonies pertinent to this occasion from holy Writ such as Ephes 4.11 12. Luke 10.16 John 20.21 22. 1 Cor. 4.1 2. 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20. 1 Tim. 3.8 or others of the like nature admonishing every one to see to it that both Minister and People do perform their respective Duties The Minister to acquit himself of his Charge the more carefully because he knoweth it to be precious and excellent in the sight of God and the People with all humility and reverence to receive the Word of God which shall be declared by him who is now sent unto them Then shall be read in the hearing of the whole Congregation what is written in 1 Tim. 3. and 1 Tit. where the Apostle teacheth what kind of Man a Minister should be And that it may please God to vouchsafe Grace unto this elect person to acquit himself worthily and faithfully of his holy Calling a short Prayer shall be conceived to this purpose in which the said Pastor shall insert these or the like words O Lord God we beseech thee to endow with the Gifts and Graces of thy holy Spirit this thy Servant lawfully chosen according to that Order established in thy Church and abundantly to enrich him with all Abilities needful for his acceptable performance of the Duties of his Office to the Glory of thy holy Name the Edification of thy Church and his own Salvation whom we now dedicate and consecrate unto thee by this our Ministry And then the Minister that prayeth standing upright below the Pulpit shall lay his Hands upon his Head for whom Prayer is now made he being humbly on his knees And the new Pastor arising the two Deputies sent from the Colloquy or Synod shall give him before the People the right hand of fellowship And this Form and the above-mentioned Canon shall be unanimously observed in all the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom CAN. IX Our Confession of Faith and Church-Discipline shall be subscribed by such as are chosen in the Ministry both into the Churches in which they shall be ordained and in those unto which they shall be sent CAN. X. No Ministers shall be ordained without appointing them unto a particular Flock and they shall be the peculiar Pastors of those Churches unto which they be assigned And no Church shall pretend right unto any Minister by vertue of a particular promise made by him without the authority of the Colloquy or Provincial Synod CAN. XI Such as shall be chosen unto the Ministry of the Gospel must know that they be in that Office for term of life unless they be lawfully discharged upon good and certain considerations and that by the Provincial Synod CAN. XII The principal Duty of Ministers is to Preach the Gospel and to declare the Will of God unto their People and they shall be exhorted to forbear all strange ways of teaching which have no tendency to edification and they shall conform themselves to the simplicity and common stile of God's Spirit taking heed that there be nothing in their Sermons prejudicial to the Authority of holy Scripture and they shall never Preach without having for foundation of their discourse a Text of holy Scripture which they shall ordinarily follow and they shall handle and expound as much of that Text as they can forbearing all needless Enlargements all tedious and unseasonable Digressions all superfluous heapings up of Scripture-Quotations and vain recitals of various and different Expositions They shall very rarely alledge the Writings of the Fathers nor at any time prophane Histories and Authors that so they may reserve unto the Scripture intirely its own Authority Moreover they shall not handle any Doctrine in a scholastick way of Disputation nor with a mixture of Languages In one word they shall avoid whatsoever may serve for ostentation or in any wise occasion doubts or scruples And that this Canon may be more carefully observed and practised Consistories Colloquies and Synods shall put to their helping hand CAN. XIII Churches are admonished to use more frequently the Ordinance of Catechising and Ministers are to treat and expound it by short plain and familiar Questions and Answers accommodating themselves unto the capacity of the meanest People without expatiating themselves into common places Yea all Ministers shall endeavour to catechize every one in their Flocks once or twice a Year and shall exhort them to conform themselves thereunto very carefully CAN. XIV Ministers and their Families shall actually reside on their Churches on pain of being deposed from their Sacred Ministerial Office CAN. XV. Those Persons to whom God hath given Talents and Abilities for Writing are advised to use them in a modest manner suitable to the Majesty of God's Word and therefore consequently they shall not write after a ridiculous or injurious rate and in their ordinary Sermons they shall express this self-same modesty and gravity And they who are endowed with gifts for writing shall he chosen by the Provinces and if it happen that any Books
Consistories of the Reformed Churches at such times at least when as the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is administred XVII The Churches shall suppress Usuries and all manner of Extortions as much as lieth in their Power yet they may not condemn those who receive a moderate Profit for the Loan of their Monies provided it be conformable to the King's Ordinance and the Rule of Charity All Usury is sharply to be reproved See the Synod of Lyons p. 9. XVIII Priests Monks and other Ecclesiasticks of the Romish Church before they be received unto Communion with us at the Lord's Supper shall manifest their Repentance before the Consistory and for some particular causes if the Consistory do judge it requisite they shall testifie it before the whole Assembly Concerning Monitories See the Synod of Montpeillier Observations on the Discipline Art 24. The Faithful may do nothing that may favour Idolatry XIX The Faithful may not take out Admonitions or execute Excommunications from the Church of Rome nor obtain a Dispensation for Swearing from the Official or any other belonging unto that Church and though there hath been a Recompense given the Oath cannot hinder the Rescission of the Contract XX. Printers Booksellers Painters and in general all the Faithful especially such as bear Office in the Church shall be admonished not to exercise their Arts Office or Calling in or about the Superstitions of the Romish Church or their Dependencies nor in the least to savour them and the Cognisance of particular Matters that may happen hereupon and their Correction and Reformation shall belong unto the Consistories What Names may be given or rejected in Baptism XXI Concerning Names imposed upon Children Ministers shall reject those which yet remain of old Paganism nor shall they give unto Infants such as are attributed unto God in Holy Scripture nor Names of Office as Baptist Angel Archangel moreover Parents and Sureties shall be admonished as much as in them lieth to take those which are approved by God's sacred Word XXII Although a Church having lent a Minister for a time and that expired may re-demand him back unto its Service yet ought it to have respect unto the Necessities of that Church where the said Minister hath been sent and shall ordain herein what will make most for the Glory of God and the Edification of his Church XXIII No Church shall marry any Persons without having first received ample Information and Approbation of and about them XXIV The Inconveniencies which have already risen and may in time to come arise from the usual publick Catechisings by Deacons having been heard and consider'd the Council hath remitted the intire Decision of this Matter unto the next National Synod and in the mean while Exhorts those Churches which have not received that Custom never to admit it and in other places where it is practised the Churches are likewise exhorted to deal with their Deacons in case they be fitted for it to enter into the Ministry as soon as possible they can One may be adjured in Consistory to declare the Truth Booksellers may not print any thing against Religion nor may the Hawkers vent any scandalous ones XXV The Faithful may by their Consistories be adjured to declare the Truth because this doth not in the least derogate from the Authority of the Civil Magistrate XXVI Churches having Printers and Booksellers shall carefully advise them to print no Books concerning Religion or the Discipline of the Church before they have communicated them unto their Consistories because of the Inconveniencies that have arriv'd Nor may many Booksellers or Hawkers sell scandalous Books nor may they in the sale of their Books take unto themselves immoderate Gains CHAP. III. Discipline exercised upon Delinquents Particular Matters THe Council having heard and considered the Proceedings against James le Fevre his Excommunication and the publick Penance imposed on him by the Authority of the last Provincial Synod held at Gien and the Deportment of the said Le Fevre in undergoing publick Penance together with its Consequences and having understood the whole of that Affair partly from the Relation of the Brethren and partly from his own Confession the Council is of Opinion That the said James le Fevre hath not well nor duely made that publick Confession which was injoyned him nor given Testimony of his Repentance and for this cause the Excommunication denounced against him shall abide in its full power and vigour and therefore the Council hath declared and doth now again declare him a Man uncapable of serving the Church of God until such time as he shall have first undergone publick Penance in the Church of Bourges in which Penance shall be declared the Facts contained in the Article of the said Synod of Gien touching this matter And moreover this shall be added That by his Replies and Murmurings he had shewn himself Refractory and Disobedient to the Displine of the Church And whenas there shall be good Evidences of his Repentance he may be received into the Communion of the Lord's Supper II. As to those matters concerning David de Brosses who calling himself Minister of the Church of Melun after hearing the Charge brought in against him by the Deputies of the Church of Paris who had opposed his Election because of the wicked Doctrine formerly broach'd by the said David and because of the Troubles and Schisms excited by him particularly in the Church of Melun and because of his wicked and debauched Life which hath occasion'd a Process of Enormous Crimes to be commenced against him and from which he hath not purged himself before the Consistory the proofs of all these matters having been laid down in Writing read and diligently considered divers Brethren Ministers of God's Holy Word having been heard also both as to the Doctrine published by the said David and his Life and Conversation The Council judgeth the Opposition founded by the Church of Paris against him to be good and valid the Election of the said David made by the Church of Melun to be null void and of no force nor effect And farthermore the said Council hath declared and doth delare the said David uncapable of the Ministry of the Gospel until such time as he shall have manifested his Innocency before a National Synod of the Reformed Churches in this Kingdom Yea moreover the said Council hath excommunicated him out of the Church until such time as he shall have testified publickly his Repentance by confessing publickly his Sin and that in the Church of Melun which he hath troubled by his Schism in case he return unto it or in any Church unto which he would hereafter joyn himself and that Church having good Evidences and Testimonials of his Repentance may receive him unto Communion with it in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper But and if the said David despising the present Decree of this Council shall hereafter intrude himself into any Church and cause new Troubles and Divisions
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
from the King and without any mixture of Superstition or Idolatry they may do it lawfully enough But and if they hold them with Idolatry or Superstition be it either from the King's Gift or the Pope they cannot do it there is sin and guilt in the case nor shall they be admitted to Communion with us at the Lord's Table For this would be a professed owning of the Pope's Tyranny who hath no rightful Dominion nor Authority in these matters but Kings and Princes only who are robbed by the Pope's Usurpation of their just Rights Power Priviledges and Authority CHAP. VII Particular MATTERS Art I. IT is now concluded that the Province of Normandy may be divided into two Provinces in case they cannot conveniently meet in one and all the Ministers shall come unto them accompanied with their Elders according to the Canon of our Discipline and not by deputies from the Colloquies Art II. As for Cozain upon reading those Letters sent us from our Brethren the English Ministers it was ordered That the two Books written by the said Cozain and dedicated to some particular Members in the Church of Bourdeaux and brought unto this present Synod by Monsieur de la Sauls should be put into Monsieur Beza's hands for his perusal and who should make report of their Contents unto us and an Answer shall be returned to our Brethren of England Art III. The Deputies of the Isle of France craved our Advice about those Points of Church-Discipline now controverted by Monsieur Ramus du Rosier Bergeron and some others Whereupon an Order was made That Monsieur de Chambrun should read in this Assembly that Abridgement made by our Brethren of the Isle of France and extracted out of Morellius's Answer to that Book De la Confirmation de la Discipline and sent by them unto this Synod together with the Book of the said Morellius in answer to it and for decision of those Points and Arguments therein contained as also Ramus and De Rosier's Books which shall be delivered unto Monsieur Cappel to be examined by him And in case there be any other Arguments found in them besides those formerly urged by Morellius these shall be also answered And Messieurs de Beza De Roche Chandieu and De Beaulieu are chosen to reply unto them And as for the Decisions and Decrees they shall be made only by the Provinces Yet liberty is given unto the By standers in case they think good to make opposition and to this purpose the Doors of the Synod shall be leâ—t wide open and silence shall not be imposed upon any Man in this matter for this time Only it shall not be made a Precedent Art IV. But this Affair having been since considered examined disputed debated and put to the Vote as it was ordered in the last mentioned Canon a Decree passed That our Church-Discipline as it hath been all along to this very day observed end practised among us so also shall it be for the future without any change or innovation in it as being grounded upon God's Word And as for those Positions asserted by Monsieur Ramus Morellius Bergeron and others 1. About the Decision of Points of Doctrine 2. About the Election and Deposal of Ministers 3. About Excommunication out of the Church and Reconciliation with and Re-admission into it 4. And lastly about Prophesying None of these shall be received among us because they have no Foundation in the Word of God and are of very dangerous consequence unto the Church as the whole hath been verified and made appear in the presence of this Synod in which all the Arguments of those Books of Ramus Morellius and Du Rozier were most narrowly sifted and discussed and this was unanimously assented to by the Declaration of all the Provincial Deputies who affirmed That they had maturely and duly considered of those Points of Discipline controverted by those Gentlemen before-mentioned And Monsieur De la Roche Chandieu was ordered to reduce and set down in writing all the Answers and Resolutions made by this Assembly unto the said Treatises and Arguments and to communicate them with the Colloquy of Lionnois that they may be printed and published Only the Relation of these Synodâ—cal Answers and Resolutions shall be writ with the greatest moderation and without mentioning the Names of any Person Art V. The Colloquy of Limmigny shall be advised to get the Memoirs of their Synod to be razed nor may they make any particular Canons of their own but shall be governed by those of our Discipline Art VI. Monsieur Berauld and his Colleagues in the Church of Montauban are charged to recover from Monsieur Comerard of Tholouse the History of the Albigenses written in their Langùage and Monsieur D' Acier shall translate it into French and having done it shall communicate it unto their Colloquy according to the Canons of our Church-Discipline and then cause it to be printed And Letters shall be written to this purpose unto the said Sieurs de Comerard and D' Acier from this Assembly Art VII The County of Messin and City of Metz shall be joyned to the Province of Champagne according to the particular Canon of our Discipline and Letters concerning it shall be sent unto them from this Synod Art VIII The Lord Admiral de Chastillon having writ a Letter unto this Synod the Churches were all admonished of their Duty to his Majesty and an Answer should be returned to this effect unto his Lordship Art IX A Vote passed but without any prejudice to the liberty of Monsieur de Saules and without debating the Merits of his Cause that a Letter should be written unto the Magistrates of Geneva thanking them for their Love and Good-will and they shall be desired to continue it unto all the Churches of France in general and particularly to those of Bearn and we do grant Monsieur de Saules tor one Year more unto the Queen of Navarre and Letters also shall be written unto her Majesty and to his Highness the Prince her Son Art X. The Churches shall be excited to assist with their Charity the poor Members of the County and Church of Orange who are in extream poverty there being no less than Twelve hundred Families of these Refugees in the single Province of Dolphiny Art XI Before that Mr. John le Gagneur shall be admitted Pastor into any one of our Churches he shall give good Evidence of his Repentance and of his Reconciliation with the Church of Geneva and we will have some considerable space of time for proving the truth of his Repentance Art XII Upon the Censure of Ramus Morellius and their Companions it was voted That Letters should be writ in the Name and Authority of this Assembly unto the said Ramus Morelly Du Rozier and Bergeron and to give them all severally to understand what was concluded by this Assembly against their Books and to re-mind them of their Duty according to God's Holy Word and a Letter
they should carry and behave themselves wherefore leaving unto Notaries to follow their ordinary business in the way and manner prescribed to them nothing hinders but that the Church may make Espousals by words de proesenti XLIII All excessive and scandalous Usuries shall be severely forbidden and condemned Usuries forbidden XLIV After these words The Superstition of the Romish Church in the second Article of particular Orders there shall be these added And the said Printers and Booksellers are exhorted not to sell any scandalous Books relating to Idolatry or Impudicity or such at have a tendency to corrupt good manners Not lawful to marry the Widow of the Wise's Brother XLV As to that Case propounded Whether a Man might lawfully marry the Widow of his Wife's Brother we judge That over and above what has been determin'd by others formerly in this matter that there is a secret affinity between such Parties because in the sight of God the Man and Wife are accounted but one flesh and therefore decency and civility will not permit it Licenses to marry may be taken from the King thô not from the Pope XLVI It is in no wise lawful for any Member of our Churches to address themselves unto the Pope for Dispensations to marry within the degrees prohibited and to remove any present or after Impediments which may or do occur in that holy Estate because in so doing there is an owning and subjection to his Tyrannical Authority But yet in degrees not forbidden by the Word of God which are now forbidden by our Civil Magistrate we may lawfully address ourselves unto the King tor his License XLVII The Faithful shall be admonished both in Sermons and private Conferences not to defer Baptizing their Children unless there be some very great cause inducing them thereunto XLVIII None of our Members in Communion with us shall assist at their Weddings or Wedding-Feasts who that they may marry a Popish Wife do revolt from the Reformed Religion But as for those who have a long while ago left the Profession of our Religion or have been ever Papists it 's left to the prudence of the Faithful to consider what will be most expedient for them and if they go let them take heed of approving the Evil in those Meetings and that they bear no part in the Dances and other Dissolutions which are commonly found and committed at them XLIX For time to come neither Ministers nor any other of the Faithful shall print or publish any of their Writings or private Works without having first obtained the express leave and approbation of their respective Colloquies L. There shall be this clause added to the 12th Article of Figeac And the said Fathers shall make it appear unto the Consistory that they have been diligent in their Duty to hinder as much as in them lay the said Marriages LI. The Province of Brittany is ordered to convoke the next National Synod and shall give Notice thereof three Months before unto all the Provinces as also to the Ministers of Bearn Metz and Sedan and to the Ministers of Princes professing the Reformed Religion The Original of the Acts of this Synod was lodged up in the Archives of the City of Rochel out of which this present Copy was extracted and it was thus signed De Nort Moderator De L'Estang and Scribes chosen and deputed thereunto by the Synod Chauveton Scribes chosen and deputed thereunto by the Synod The End of the Second Synod of Rochel THE ACTS DECISIONS 1583. Synod XII and DECREES OF THE XII National Synod OF THE Reformed Churches of Christ IN The KINGDOM of FRANCE HELD At Vitrè in the Castle of the Right Honourable GVY Earl of Laval on the 15th Day of May and ended the 27th of the same Month in the Year 1583 being the Ninth Year or the Reign of Henry the Third King of France and Poland THE CONTENTS of this SYNOD CHap. I. Deputies Names Deputies from the Churches in the Netherlands 18. Synodical Officers chosen Chap. II. General Matters Deputies to be sent from the Reformed Churches of France unto the Dutch Synods and from theirs unto the French Synods 1. Their Confession and Discipline mutually signed Ministers to be lent reciprocally Assessments of Members to be in Churches not Provinces A Case of Conscience 6. Another about Prayer to be used at the Baptisms of Children born in Incest 8. Promises of Marriage by words de praesenti indissolvable Notorious Sinners cast out of the Church 12. A weighty Case of Conscience 13. Baptism to be administred before the last Psalm 14. A Case about Patronage 15. All the Deputies to communicate in the end of the National Synod 16. Whether a Popish Bride may be accompanied to her Church 17. A Case about Womens Habits 18. A Case about Prohibitions against Church Censures 19. Acts for a Synodical Seal and a National Fast 21 22. A Case about ungraceful Church-Members about Ministers delegated out of their Colloquy or Provinces about visiting of the sick 24 25 26. Chap. III. Canons removed from changed in and added to the Discipline Chap. IV. Of particular Matters A deposed Minister petitioning to be restored unto his Office is rejected A Case of Conscience 2. A whole Church deprived of the Ministry for not maintaining their Pastor 4. A Case of Conscience 5. An Apostate Minister exposed and excommunicated 6. Censures upon two other such Delinquents 7. A Minister practising Physick censured 10. the Harmony of Confessions approved 14. A Case about confronting Witnesses 15. A Case about a dissolved Marriage 17. A scandalous Minister deposed 18. A Case about a Pension upon a Benefice 21. King of Navarr's Message unto the Synod 26. A motion for Vnion between the German and French Churches The Appeal of a scandalous Minister rejected 31. A Case about a Man's Marriage with his Wife's Niece 32. Broccard's Book on Genesis again condemned 33. Bellefleur for writing against the Discipline censured An Act for calling the next National Synod THE First Synod of Vitre SYNOD XII CHAP. I. The DEPVTIES There appeared in this Synod on behalf of the Provinces and as their Representatives the Pastors and Elders hereafter named viz. 1. FOR the Province of the Isle of France the Land of Chartres Picardy and Brie Monsieur Matthew Virell Minister in the Church of Marchais in Beavoisis within the said Isle of France accompanied with Claudius de Hames Lord of Felnoy Elder of the Church at Dieppe 2. For Champagne and the Land of Messin there should have served Mr. Fleuret Minister of the Church of Esparnon in Champagne but he fell sick by the way and sent Letters of excuse unto the Synod which were accepted But the Province was censured for not sending an Elder with the said Minister 3. Fox Normandy M. William Feuguero Minister of Basqueville and John de Lamare Deacon of the Church of Veinieres 4. For Brittaine M. Peter Merlin Minister of the Church gathered in the House of the
in whenas there is special need of it XIII The 13th Article of the fifth Chapter of the Discipline shall abide in full force and none shall use the Formalities or Ceremonies commonly observed in taking Oaths before the Magistrate A Rule about publishing of Apostates XIV The Deputies of Xaintonge demanding Whether the Names of Apostates should be publickly declared because of that danger we are thereby exposed to we advise that the 19th Article of the fifth Chapter of our Discipline be kept up in its full power and that all Consistories look carefully and prudently to its better observation Publick Prayers shall be offered up to God for reducing the King unto the Protestant Religion XV. All Ministers are exhorted to be earnest with God in their publick Prayers for the Conversion Preservation and Prosperity of the King and whenever they be at Court and have access unto His Majesty they shall do their Duty in reminding him seriously of the great Concerns of his Soul's Salvation And the Pastors ordinarily residing at Court or in its Neighborhood shall be writ unto by this Synod more especially to put this our Counsel into Practice XVI Letters shall be sent from this Synod unto Madam the King's Sister congratulating her Perseverance and advising her Highness to continue faithful unto the last 17. The Deputies of Xaintonge propounded this Case Whether we should rest satisfied with a general Confession published in the open Church by the Penitent he not specifying his particular Offence This Assembly adviseth That there be nothing altered at present in the 22d Article of the Discipline but that it be conformed to as much as may be Only the Provinces are required to bring their better thoughts on this Subject unto the next National Synod XVIII Whereas divers Persons would compel Consistories to depose before the Civil Magistrate Matters told in Consistory a Memorial shall be prepared and presented by the General Assembly of Saint Foy to take this Matter into their most serious Consideration and to procure a Grant from His Majesty for the conservation of the Liberties of Consistories XIX There shall be no alteration made in the Forms of Publick Prayers and Administration of the Sacraments the whole having been prudently and piously ordained and for the most part in plain and express Terms of holy Scripture XX. The Provinces are all reproved for neglecting their Duty in preserving the Memoirs of remarkable Events which have fallen out in this Kingdom and their Deputies are charged upon their return to advertize their Colloquies hereof that so a better account may be given of this Article unto the next National Synod XXI A Breviate shall be prepared and presented to the Assembly of Saint Foy complaining against those of the Isle of France and divers others who in the Name of all our Churches have prosecuted the Verification of the Edict of 1577 whenas it was expresly contrary to the Resolution took in the last Assembly held at Mantes in December 1593. XXII Churches that have neglected their Duty of paying the Quota towards the last Assembly held at Mantes and other Assemblies elsewhere and to this also which is now shortly to be held at Saint Foy shall be summoned once more by the Deputies of their Provinces to bring in out of hand their respective Proportions and in default hereof their said Deputies shall immediately upon their return by the Authority of this Synod deprive them of the Ministry of God's Holy Word and Sacraments with an Interdiction unto all Ministers from officiating among them The Union of Mantes to be sworn See the Synod of Saumur G. M. Art 6 30. XXIII The Union made in the Assembly at Mantes shall be sworn by all Churches either in the Guild-halls of their respective Towns or in their Temples as shall be judged most convenient XXIV The Deputies of Xaintonge requiring Advice about the Circular Letters written from one Church unto another and from one Colloquy and Synod unto another it was ordained That no Letters shall be of any Credit unless signed joyntly by one Pastor and Elder or by two Elders where there is no Pastor And they shall be directed in their Superscription either to the Consistory or particularly unto the Pastors that they may be prudently communicated unto the Consistory or to any part of the Elders according to the occurrence of Affairs XXV The Deputies of Higher Languedoc demanding Whether over and above the Propositions made of course by Ministers in Colloquies it were convenient that there should be a Theological Disputation held by the said Ministers in one of the Sessions of that Colloquy It is ordered That the Provinces do come prepared against the next National Synod with their thoughts about it that so if it be judged meet a General Decree may be established for it Ministers and Churches not coming unto Colloquies and Synods censured XXVI If Churches sail a second time to defray their Pastors Charges in travelling unto Colloquies and Synods they shall be deprived of their Ministers And in case Ministers neglect twice following to come unto those Meetings they shall be suspended from their Ministry unless they have lawful excuse for their absence and their respective Colloquies or Synods shall judge of it XXVII The Churches are all exhorted diligently to observe the Fifth and Sixth Articles of the Tenth Chapter of our Discipline and particularly those of Lower Languedoc where many such abuses are committed contrary to the aforesaid Articles And the Churches of the said Province are required to be more exact in their observation of them than formerly XXVIII However Parents and Sureties may bring Infants late into the Church yet their Baptism shall not be delayed unless the Assembly shall be departed because Children ought not to be punished for their Parents sins who yet together with their Sureties shall be severely censured for their slothfulness and neglect of Sermons to which they have not vouchsafed their presence XXIX All the Churches shall be exhorted to see that the Article decreed in the Synod of Vitré concerning the Administration of Baptism before singing the last Psalm or at lead before the Blessing be carefully and inviolably observed The first part of this Article included within the Parenthesis was razed by the Synod of Saumur art 8. of Gen. Mat. XXX No Sureries shall present Children unto Baptism by their Proxies unless it be Kings and great Princes who by reason of their weighty Occupations cannot always be upon the place when Baptism is administred †††And the last Clause mark'd with the Obelisk is the 13th art in the chap. of Baptism See the Synod of Figiac art 4. And Protestants who by their Proxies present Children unto Baptism in the Popish Churches shall be most sharply reproved as being Persons who consent unto Idolatry XXXI Ministers are advised to make no difficulty at those Names given Children in Baptism tho' not mentioned in the Holy
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
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
presenting his Theater of Antichrist composed by him in obedience to the command of the National Synod received the thanks of this Assembly for his great and worthy pains and the University of Saumur is ordered to peruse it and having given their opinion of it we order that it be Printed together with thâ— Authors Name The Province of Dolphiny acquitted for her receipt and distribution of Moneys for the poor Refuged from the Marquisate of Saluces 10. The Province of Dolphiny by the Authority of this Synod is discharged of all accounts of Moneys received from the Provinces for the poor Fugitives of the Marquisate of Saluces and their Deputies who were charged in the Synod of Rochel with four hundred Livers gathered in the Church of Bourdeaux and with eight hundred Livers from the Church of Rochel are also acquitted by this Synod And the aforesaid Province is also discharged of the summ of six hundred sixty five Livers nine Sous and one Denier payed by it unto the Churches of Provence conformable to the Order of the last Synod 11. That Article concerning the Synod of Normandy shall remain as it is and the Province shall continue to summon to it all its Pastors according to the Discipline 12. The Deputies of Xaintonge remonstrating that the censure past by the foregoing National Synod on the Consistory of Soubize and Monsieur Chevalier its Pastor was grounded on a false accusation and therefore required that the said Censure might be razed out of the Book of our Acts. This Assembly dismissed the whole unto the Synod of Xaintonge who should hear both the Accusers and Accused and by the Authority of this Assembly judge finally of that affair and in case it were found to have been ill-reported to cast the self-same Censure upon the false Accusers CHAP. V. Appeals 1. JAMES de l'Obel otherwise du Val being deposed from the sacred Ministry for the sin of Adultery committed by him and which he himself had confessed to the Consistory of the Church of Gisors wherein he served summoning hither the Pastors and several Elders of the Church of Rouen came also in Person unto this Assembly with his Appeal from the former sentence of Deposition past in that Consistory against him and from its confirmation given by the Provincial Synod of Normandy the first of April 1609. This Synod having heard both the said du Val and the Deputies of the Province judgeth that the Consistory of his Church and the Synod of his Province had proceeded most regularly and rightfully against him and that therefore He the said du Val had aggravated his crime by his sinful Appeal and that he shall continue on the Roll of scandalous deposed Ministers without all hopes of ever being restored to so Sacred an Office more 2. The Colloquy of Gex appealed from a Decree of the Synod of Burgundy by which an exchange had been made between the two Churches of Divonne in the Baylywick of Gex and that of Issurtelle in the Province of Burgundy of their Ministers Monsieur Grillet and Gaussant The Synod ordaining that the Church of Issurtelle should pay the charges that Monsieur Grillett was at in his removal and that of Divonne or the Colloquy of Gex the charges of Monsieur Gaussant in his The Synod after hearing of Monsieur du Pan Deputy of that Colloquy and the Deputies from the Province of Burgundy judged that the Provincial Synod of Burgundy had by their Decrees done wrong unto the said Church and Colloquy and therefore chargeth the said Province and its Colloquy to reimburse the injured Church and Colloquy of their Expences out of the common Moneys belonging unto that whole Province 3. The same Colloquy appealed about the Tax imposed on it for bearing the charges of the Assembly of Chastellheraut But this their appeal was disannull'd because the said Colloquy had received its part of the moneys granted us by the King upon condition that the Provinces should be discharged for the expences of their Deputies unto the said Assembly And Monsieur du Pan Deputy for the said Colloquy by consent of the Province of Burgundy was told that the portions granted the Pastors in the Baylywick of Gex ought to be imployed towards their better maintenance and as an augmentation of their Stipends on this Condition that three of them together with as many Elders should always appear in person at their Provincial Synod and should pay their proportion of expences which were of necessity to be disbursed about the common affairs of the Province and the whole to be raised out of the Moneys given us by his Majesty And this Assembly by its own authority doth ratify that Ordinance of the Provincial Synod concerning the residence of Ministers upon their Churches and those Churches are bound to provide convenient houses for them 4. The Judicial Sentence of the Synod of Burgundy ordaining Monsieur Clark to continue Minister in the Church of Gex was confirmed nor may the said Pastor at the call of any private persons go and serve other Churches without having first obtained Leave from his Consistory or of three Elders at least And the Appeal of divers Pastors who had contradicted the said Colloquy was rejected and made void 5. Monsieur Toussaincts Pastor in the Church of Luke in Province presented himself unto this Synod pretending his call to be a Member of it and to have been deputed by the Province who having afterward retracted their choice he now Appealed from it The Synod having heard both him and the Deputies of the Province and understood that he himself had procured his own discharge from this Deputation and Had given his free consent to the Election of others declared his pretensions Null his claim void and his journey to be undertook without ground and that therefore he should bear his own charges And farther censureth him for his ill proceedings and ambitious seeking of an office whereunto he had no call and from which he had discharged himself and adviseth the Province to take care that for time coming our National Synods be no more troubled by any ambiguities in their Letters of Commission and Deputation 6. The Consistory of Chaallons upon the Saone complained in their Appeal of a Censure of the Synod of Burgundy because they refused to admit a certain Marriage to be solemnized in their Congregation But this their Appeal was made void and the Actings of the said Consistory in refusing the celebration of that Marriage judged over rigorous 7. The Church of Dijon brought their Appeal because Monsieur Chassegrain their Minister had been adjudged from them unto the Church of Chaallons upon Saone without their ever being able to redemand the Moneys given by them to the said Monsieur Cassegrain for his pension at Geneva or elsewhere This Assembly judged that Considering the long time the said Chassegrain hath lived at Chaallons without ever being redemanded by those of Dijon and Beaune that the Province had a power of Disposing
you Sirs when ever the time comes of the sitting of your National Synod that we are possesed with holy jealousies and solicitous fears trembling at those confusion and horrible mischief brought forth by that wicked one upon an ungodly World by which it is corrupted and ruined whence we take occasion to lift up our Souls in extraordinary Prayer unto Heaven that our great head and chief Pastor would deign to preside in the midst of you by the sole authority of his holy word and to conduct you by his good Spirit bending your hearts to an intire subjection docility and obedience to him and that he would still keep his ground among you and firmly uphold and maintain the possession of his Sanctuary in the midst of you from whose fixedness and stability Life and Health is convened into all it's parts and members and that he would vouchsafe you that Grace to obtain a testimony hereof immediately from himself that your last works may be better than your first And in this juncture of affairs we are more earnest in our wrestlings with God than ever because we cannot rid our Souls from the frightful apprehensions of injoyed a calm In our peace as saith the Sacred Scripture we have had great bitterness The Commotions in your Kingdom the report whereof is scattered far and near make us believe that that bloody Spirit which raged so much heretofore in Murders and Massacres is not yet glutted nor satiated and that the wrath of the just and dreadful Jehovah will burn more than ever against the enormities and impenitencies of the World hardning it self under the patience and indulgence of God and that the poor Church will be a sharer and sufferer in those judgments for her wretched compliance with an ungodly World even then when he respited and reprieved her from that mortal hatred it hath ever born her We should wrong your integrity and approved wisdoms did we so much as entertain a sinister or distrustful thought of them yet nevertheless that great and earnest concern we have for your well-being doth make us assume she Liberty to exhort you by all that is most sacred dear and precious with you that on all occasions which shall offer themselves unto you you would not only justifie your selves fully and clearly before the World but our most Holy Religion also which is professed by you and that renouncing all secular designs and interests you would keep to the Commandments of our God which are the true infallible rule of wisdom and the standard of our patience to the perfecting of our Works It will be a prerogative favour bestowed on you by Heaven to have kept that unvaluable treasure of the Faith in a pure Conscience towards God and it will give you a most signal Victory over your Adversaries who calumniate you to their deeper conviction and confusion It will evidence your singular prudence before the Churches of Christ to have been able to guard your selves against the hatred and scorn of the World poverty and baseness a mean uncertain and perillous condition here below Yea we fixedly hope that our good God will hear and answer your and our daily Prayers by not exposing you unto any sorer trials but that under the long and happy Reign of your King you may be delivered from all fears of your Enemies and serve him in Holiness and Righteousness the remainder of your days There were some other heads upon which we could and would have enlarged and communicated to you our thoughts but we shall at present forbear Mr. Jeremy Fâ—â—rier Pastor and Professor at Nismes who revolting from the Truth was excommunicated July 14. 1613. being overborn with grief and horrour caused by the fall of that * eminent Apostate who having for many years together abused the excellent gifts of God and that place of Honour he held among you and was particularly supported by you doth now serve as a sorrowful spectacle of the direful vengeance of God Almighty His past ungodly conversation was not bruited abroad in forreign Nations till such time as they heard of his Revolt which like a sudden thunder clap stunn'd and amazed all that had the relation of it as of an unexpected and prodigious ruine We have heard and read what hath been spoken and written of him and we cannot guess at any other ground of his depravation than his pragmatical intermedling with mundane affairs From whence we take the freedom to intreat you for Gods sake strictly to inspect into vocations and employments that they be not mixed nor confounded to the detriment both of the one and other The Ministerial function is expresly limited by the Word of God as to its Laws Ends Means and Actings it being altogether different from yea and totally contrary to the secular Government And we conceive that there is no such difficulty in the matter but that Ministers may be kept within the inviolable bounds of their most holy calling and yet be useful unto the publick without glorying in those little arts of subtilties and surprisals which abutt at no other Mark than temporal and carnal profit Besides that 't is a very rare thing to find a man capable both of the one and other calling there is this grand mischief in it that flesh and blood seeing in the Holy Ministry nothing but what is mean and humble despicable and painful difficult and dangerous and contrariwise meeting in the management of secular affairs with food and fewel enough for Pride Ambition and Covetousness the ground of all envies and jealousies and with the means and helps to carryon designs of self advancement and domination as tricks craft and dissimulation It will be almost impossible to hinder the spreading of this contagion which creeps insensibly into the greatest wits and seizeth upon them at unawares and not as an affected and approved vice We know very well that necessity the Law of the present day is pleaded and urged on behalf of this Practice too too much in use among you to vindicate and justifie it But for Gods sake most dear Brethren we beseech you to consider whether it were not better that your temporal affair should suffer some inconveniencies than your Spiritual ones to be contaminated And whether the great risque you run in ruining and depraving your Pastors should be preferred unto your temporal Interests And whether it were not better to have a Reserve among you of some pure and savoury salt against the general corruption rather than to hazard all in this Universal overthrow by the World upon which Theatre we see the most valiant Champions to be foiled If the necessity be absolute peremptory and indispensable then let them go about such secular political affairs with regret and grief troubled at their enforced distraction from their Heavenly calling lamenting a the Spouse in the Canticles that they have made me the keeper of the Vineyard but mine own Vineyard have I not kept Let them go but then only when
proposed that it would be necessary not to limit our Proposans to so short a time as they be confined to by the fourth Cannon in the first Chapter of our Discipline St. Maixant Observat 1. for preparing their Propositions This Assembly not changing the said Canon in the least doth leave it wholly to the prudence of Colloquies and Synods to prolong the time according to their knowledge of the quickness or dullness of their Proposans parts and capacities 2. The Deputies of the Isle of France demanding that those words of the fourth Canon in the first Chapter of our Discipline St. Maixant Observat 5. And it shall be declared unâ—o the Elected Pastor that Authority is given him in the name of Jesus Christ to preach the word and to administer the Sacraments should be repeated before the people by the Pastors appointed to ordain him This Assembly did not think meet to make any alteration 3. The aforesaid Deputies of the Isle of France craving Explication of the 19th Canon in the first Chapter of our Discipline about the Conjunction of Churches and Consistories in the Houses of great Lords and Princes Orleans 3. to the Churches and Consistories in the places of their abode This Assembly dismisseth them to the practice of the third Canon framed in the National Synod of Montauban the observations then and there made upon the Discipline clearing up this very matter now in question 4. The Province of Orleans and Berry reported 2 Paris Art 8. 1 Rochel Obs 26. that several Proposans concluding from the seventh Canon in the fifth Chapter of our Discipline which had left it to the prudence of Consistories to admit Proposans into their Meetings that they had therefore an undoubted right of entrance into Colloquies and Synods and accordingly did demand it This Assembly leaving that Canon intire as it is for divers weighty reasons doth not judge expedient that Proposans should have admission or session in our Colloquies or Synods 5. The Deputies of Normandy craving advice how to execute the sixteenth Canon in the fifth Chapter of our Discipline Synod of Montpel Obs 10. on the Discipline and what censure should be inflicted on our Members who Married after the Popish manner The Assembly returned this Answer That the Consciences of such persons should be followed with the most serious lively and effectual Counsels and Summons unto Repentance both in publick and private 6. The Deputies of the Isle of France requesting that a form of Excommunication might be fram'd by this Synod in which those words Delivered unto Satan might be omitted The matter was left wholly to the prudence of Consistories Alez g.m. 21. to use such a Form as they should judge moll expedient 7. At the request of the Province of Higher Languedoc 2. Paris 2. It was ordained that these ensuing words should conclude the 26th Canon of the fifth Chapter of our Discipline viz. And the same judgment shall be made of all other faults deserving publick penance 8. The Province of Sevennes demanding what manner of Censure should be inflicted on Elders Synod of Figeac 10. either in Office or discharged who violate the 28th Canon in the fifth Chapter of our Discipline This Assembly exhorts all Consistories to proceed against such persons by all the Censures of the Church even so far as to depose them from their Office and for those that are out of Office they shall most sharply reprove them with threats of never being any more admitted into the Eldership and all Magistrates professing the Reformed Religion shall be intreated not to require any such Confessions from our Pastors or Elders and in case they should persist in those demands they also shall be sharply censured by the Consistories 9. Forasmuch as the last Canon in the fifth Chapter of our Discipline hath been never executed Poictiers p. m. 34. Alez 1. obs upon this syned notwithstanding the many Exhortations of our former National Synods This Assembly doth most strictly injoin all the Deputies to notify unto their respective Provinces that they do forthwith nominate and appoint one Pastor out of every Colloquy to make a Collection of the most remarkable Providences that have fallen out these last years in their division and to report them to the next Provincial Synod that they may be sent unto Monsieur Rivet Pastor of the Church of Thouars who is ordered to receive them and to compose a History of them which shall be by him brought in unto the next National Synod 10. The Deputies of Dolphiny made report of divers incouveniencies that have fallen out in chosing the Moderators of Synods and Colloquies with a low Voice 1. Syn. of Paris 2. 3. Syn. of Rochel Obs 17. which manner of Election was conformable to the seventh Canon in the eighth Chapter of our Discipline and they Petitioned that it might be lawful for them to act otherwise viz. by a clear and audible Voice This Assembly doth judge it inexpedient to make any change in that Canon and all the Provinces be injoined exactly to conform thereunto 11. The Province of Dolphiny demanding that the sixteenth Canon in the eleventh Chapter of our Discipline 1 Râ—chel Obs 43. might be concluded with this Addition That Consistories shall be injoined to proceed against the transgressors of that Canon by all Church-Censures The Assembly did not judge meet to make any additions to it yet nevertheless all Consistories are charged to exhort the faithful to bring their Children unto Baptism as soon as conveniently they can And such as disobey this Order shall be suspended the Lords-Supper 12. The Province of Berry demanding that the seventh Canon in the 13th Chapter of our Discipline 1 Paris Art 35. St. Maixant g. m. 18. might be explained and that they might be directed how to govern themselves when in the publick Celebration of Marriage in our Churches there is open opposition made against it The Assembly leaveth it wholly to the prudence of the Consistories to do therein as they shall think meet 13. The Deputies of Normandy requesting that for the better executing the twentieth Canon Vercueil Art 7. in the 13th Chapter of our Discipline a certain time might be prefixed for the Celebrating of their Marriages who so they might marry would therefore make profession of the Reformed Religion especially when as we are very well satisfied of their knowledge The Assembly did not think good to add any thing unto the said Article but leaveth it to the Consistories discretion either to prolong or shorten the times according as they shall be satisfied with the knowledge and piety of those persons 14. Forasmuch as we see daily 2 Syn. of Paris 31. St. Foy 23. to our grief and sorrow Impiety Lukewarmness and indifference in Religion not only to creep in but to grow upon us more and more to the great dishonour of the glorious Name of God and the indelible reproach of the
born again not of corruptible Seed but of that which is incorruptible CANON IX Who teach That our Lord Jesus Christ did no where pray for the infallible perseverance of Believers in the Faith for they contradict our Lord himself Luke 22.32 I have prayed Simon Peter that thy Faith may not fail And the very Letter of St. John's Gospel chap. 17.11 where Christ saith that he did not pray for his Apostles only but also for all them who should believe by their Word Holy Father keep them in thy Name and ver 15. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the World but that thou shouldest keep them from evil CANON X. We Pastors and Elders whose Names are hereunder-written Deputies for the Reformed Churches of France unto the National Synod of Charenton St. Maurice near Paris in the Moneth of September 1623. do declare with all possible sincerity the Articles and Canons above-mentioned to be grounded on the Word of God and agreeable to the Confession of Faith owned and received in the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom from which in the presence of God we do protest that through his Grace we will never depart In confirmation whereof we have hereunto affixt our Names at Charenton aforesaid this 30th day of September 1623. Signed by the Pastors and Elders of the said Synod Durand Moderator De Baille Assessor Faucheur and Scribes De Launay Scribes Berbie Pastor of the Church of Quaissac J. Clerc de Chambrun Chamier Pastor of Montlimart J. le Pelletier Pastor in the Church of Vandome Savoys Pastor in the Church of Castres Sir John Embelier Jurieu Pastor of Chastillon on the Loir Villon Faures J. M. de Langle Pastor of Rouen P. Paulet Pastor of Vezenobre Avignon Pastor of Rennes P. Beraud Pastor and Professor in the Church of Montauban Lottiby Pastor at Poitiers William Rivett Pastor of Taillebourg in Xaintonge CHAP. XXVII Remarks upon some of the Deputies Commissionated unto this Synod 1 MOnsieur Durant the Moderator was first Minister to the Landgrave of Hesse and after to that Excellent Princess Katharine Dutchess of Barr only Sister of Henry the Fourth and at last Pastor of the Church of Paris He was a very Holy Man of God a most Eloquent and Zealous Preacher he was like Lightning and Thunder in the Pulpit There be Three Excellent Sermons of his in print upon the Nineteenth Verse of the Fifth Chapter and First Epistle to the Thessalonians He grew sickly after his return from this Synod and dyed in the Year 1626. 2. Peter de Launay who was the Lay-Scribe in this Synod was a very Learned Gentleman and of great Reputation in the Churches of France He hath written Commentaries upon all the Epistles of Paul in French which are printed in Two Volumes in Quarto He Commented also but under another Name upon the Prophesie of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John 3. Adrian Chamier was the Worthy Son of the Great Chamier the Third Minister successively from his Grandfather a Pious Minister in Dolphiny I knew five of his Grandsons all Learned and Godly Ministers and Exiles for Christ The Ministry hath been in this Family for Six Generations Monsieur Leger that was a Pastor in the Churches of the Valleys of Piedmont writes that the Ministry had been in his Family for above Four Hundred years and that his Grandfather preached when he was above an Hundred Years Old See Legers Histoire General des Vaudols Livre 2. pag. 360. Adrian Chamier was for his great Prudence and Ability to manage Synodical businesses chosen Deputy to several of their National Synods He succeeded his Father in the Pastoral Office in the Church of Montlimart Of whom God lending me Life I shall say more in my Icones 4. Jurieu he was the Father of Monsieur Jurieu the Learned Pastor and Professor of Divinity in the French Church and Illustrious School of Rotterdam 5. Beraud he succeeded his Father in both Functions as Pastor of the Church and Professor of Divinity in the University of Montauban 6. Monsieur William Rivet he was Brother to Andrew Rivet Professor of Divinity at Leyden distinguisht from him by the Title of Lord of Champvernon He would never remove from his Church of Taillebourg He was very dear unto the House of Tremouille Deputy to several National Synods a Man of singular prudence and dexterity in the management and dispatch of the Synodical Affairs insomuch that when he died there was a great lamentation for him because of that great loss the whole Province sustained in his Death But God made it up in Two years time by raising up Twenty Ministers capable of doing all Services in their Provincial Synod as I have been credibly informed by some Ancient and Eminent Pastors of Poictou He was a Man of great Learning He hath writt de Justificatione and another Book de Invocatione Adoratione Sanctorum defunctorum I have seen another piece of his in French of the Authority of the Scriptures in Quarto and there is a Fourth in Octavo Des droicts de Dieu Sir Augustus Galland was the first Commissioner for the King in any of their National Synods He represented the King in this I suppose he was born in Bearn or Navar. He was a great Lawyer and Antiquary his Works are printed in one Folio viz. Memoirs pour L' Histoire de Navarre de Flandre par Guillemot Paris 1648. 8. Monsieur de Baux Lord of L' Angle Pastor of the Church of Caen The Reverend Dr. L' Angle Prebend of Westminster is his Son 9. Monsieur Mestrezat Of him see the Second Synod of Charenton in which he presided THE Acts Canons Decisions and Decrees OF THE XXIV NATIONAL SYNOD OF The Reformed Churches OF FRANCE AND BEARNE Assembled in The City of Castres in the Country of Albigeois In the Year of Our Lord 1626. The CONTENTS of the Synod of CASTRES 1 Chap. THE Lord Galland produced his Commission from the King to sit and represent His Majesty in this Synod The Commission it self Deputies to the Synod Election of the Synodical Officers Chap. II. The Kings writ for calling of the Synod and ordering of Matters in it Chap. III. The Commissioners Speech to the Synod Chap. IV. The Synods Answer to it Chap. V. The Kings Writ for Election of a new General Deputy upon the Death of the former Chap. VI. The Debate about that Writt Chap. VII The Synods Letter to the King about this Election Chap. VIII Their Deputies return with His Majesties Answer verbal and written The Kings Letter Monsieur Herbaut Miwister of State his Letter to the Synod Chap. IX The Lord Commissioners more ample Declaration of His Majesties Will and several points demanded by their Deputies Chap. X. The Kings Warrant and Order unto the Synod for the Nomination of their General Deputies without any Previous Political Assembly Chap. XI A Conference between the Synod and the Lord Commissioner Chap. XII A Remonstrance of the Lord of Angoulins on
more particular notice of them unto the Lord Galland we will not therefore detain you any longer than to acquaint you that you may give an intire Credit to whatsoever the Lord Galland shall in out Name declare unto you Moreover we do assure you that as we are very well satisfied with the Carriage and Conduct of your Synod and of your Deputies to us you shall upon all Occasions that occur receive the sensible Pledges of our Good-will Given at Monceaux this 21 st of September 1631. Signed in the Original Louis and a little lower Philippeaux and subscribed To our Dear and Well-beloved the Deputies of the National Synod of our Subjects professing the pret Reformed Religion assembled by our Permission at Charenton 18. His Majesty's Letters being read the said Deputies made report That when they were called into his Majesty's Council and the King having heard them he answered them in these words I have heard and understood all that you have said and you may rest assured that I will preserve you according to my Edicts Give me the Cahier and I will peruse it with my Council After which his Eminency the Lord Cardinal told them That his Majesty was exceedingly satisfied with the Conduct of the Synod and particularly with them their Deputies And it was his Majesty's Intention to maintain his Subjects of the Religion in their Liberty granted by his Edicts and to give them the enjoyment of his Favours and the Fruits of his Royal Good-will and his Majesty had prevented the Petitions of the Churches having already ordered a certain Sum of Money to be delivered unto the Lord of Candall to be distributed among them And his Majesty in token of his accepting the Synod's Petition had taken off the Prohibition laid upon those two Ministers the Sieurs Banage and Beraud and hath permitted them to assist according to the Trust reposed in them by their Provinces in the Synod And as for the Sieur Bouteroue his Majesty hath not been as yet informed of the Contents of the Book written by him nor of the Contents of the Decree denounc'd against him by the Parliament of Grenoble but as soon as he shall have the knowledg thereof he will write unto the Lord Galland his Commissioner and by advising with him will take some effectual course to answer the Request of this Assembly about admitting the said Lord of Bouteroue And as for the rest of their Petitions mentioned in the Cahier presented by them the Deputies unto the King his Majesty was resolved to deal with his Subjects in a manner suitable to his Soveraign Dignity and the Sacred Authority of his Royal Word and would give them most favourable Answers after the breaking up of the Synod and not otherwise 19. Whereupon the Assembly approving the Conduct of their Deputies did give them its hearty Thanks for their Care Faithfulness and Dexterity manifested in the discharge of that Trust committed to them And afterwards his Majesty's Commissioner the Lord Galland acquainted the Synod That by the Letters which he had received from his Majesty and the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal and the Lord de la Vrilliere Secretary of State that his Majesty was very well pleased yea highly satisfied with the Conduct and Moderation of this Assembly and with those Testimonials and Expressions rendred by them of their Affection and Obedience to his Majesty and that within a few days this Synod should receive the Effects of this his Good-will in a very considerable Sum of Monies his Majesty resolving to gratify them so far as to defray the Charges the Assembly must needs be at out of his own Treasury and to bear the Expences of all the Deputies in their Travel and Sojourning here And he farther exhorted the Synod and all the Churches in general to continue in their Duty upon which depended their Preservation and that it would give them a most solid ground to expect and hope for his Majesty's most speedy and favourable Answer unto their Cahier which they had sent unto him and which would be dispatch'd as soon as the Synod was broke up and he desired that they would not be over-long nor tedious in their Sessions for many Reasons that he could give And whereas his Majesty for divers very great and weighty Considerations and Motives had by his Writ the eleventh of August last interdicted the Sieurs Beraud Banage and Bouteroue from being Members of this National Synod and by his express Injunction had ordered their removal out of their respective Provinces and that they should in no wise exercise their Ministry either in Languedoc Normandy or Dolphiny Now out of his meer Grace and Respect had to the most humble Petition of this Synod presented him by their Deputies it hath seem'd good unto him to restore those Reverend Persons Mr. Banage Beraud and Bouteroue unto their respective Churches and given them leave to sit according to that Trust reposed in them as Deputies in this very Synod but chargeth them withal to use for time coming more and greater Moderation in their Writings and Sermons in which it is his Majesty's Pleasure that they should be more circumspect and reserv'd and to keep themselves within the Bounds prescribed them by the Discipline And as for the Sieur de Bouteroue before his Majesty will ordain his Restoration his Majesty desireth to be informed of the Sentence past against him in the Parliament of Grenoble because it relates unto a certain Book written by the said Bouteroue 20. Upon this Declaration made by the Lord Commissioner of his Majesty's Good-will and of his favourable Inclinations unto the Churches it was unanimously voted and decreed That most humble Thanks should be returned unto his Majesty for the Grant of his Gracious Favours and that a new Address should be made him by this Assembly with an humble Petition for the restoration of the Sieur de Bouteroue and that the Synod might have Licence given it to sit without a Dissolution till such time as the Monies destin'd by his Majesty's Liberality for the defraying of its Expences be paid in and distributed according to he Intention of his Majesty by the Synod it self conformably to that Order which hath been always observed in the Dividend of Monies granted us by his Majesty CHAP. VIII Election of General Deputies 21. SEveral Provinces requesting that his Majesty should be pleased to grant out his Royal Writ of Licence for the Election and Nomination of General Deputies the Lord Commissioner declared That it was his Majesty's Pleasure that this Assembly should agree with him in the choice of two Persons acceptable unto his Majesty who might exercise the Office of General Deputies and reside near his Person and attend the Court in all its Progress and Motions The Synod having conferr'd in private by its Commissioners with the forementioned Lord did nominate the Lord Marquess of Clermont and the Lord Galland Lieutenant General in the Bailiwick of the Artillery and of
Ecclesiastical Affairs though relating unto all the Provinces in general as it hath been of late practised by the Synod of Nismes who entred into a Correspondence with that of Dolphiny and the Church of Montlimart about the Ministry of Monsieur Creguts and with that of Sevennes and the Church of Anduze for the Ministry of Monsieur issue out Orders relating to the general State of the Churches and for the same Reason his Majesty forbiddeth the Provincial Synods the Indiction of publick National Fasts 4. In the second Place that there may be a more firm Peace established in the State it is his Majesty's Pleasure that all Ministers do preach unto his Subjects that Obedience which is due unto him and to his Authority and Commandment by the Word of God and that it is no wise lawful for them whatever Causes or Occasions may induce them to it to revolt from nor take up Arms against their Soveraign And sith it may so fall out that some things may be enacted by the Government and Civil Magistrate which for want of knowledg of their true Springs and Motives may seem prejudicial to the Liberty of your Confidences although it be his Majesty's Intention to uphold and conserve it for you therefore his Majesty doth expresly forbid all and every one of you to tax or condemn his Government for any evil Designs against your Religion And farther that in none of your Sermons or Writings you make use of those Expressions of Torments Martyrs and Persecutions of the Church of God 5. Also that the Blessing of Peace may be promoted whenas you shall have occasion to speak of the Pope and of those of the Roman Catholick Religion of its Sacraments and Ceremonies you are not to call him Antichrist nor them Idolaters nor to use any unbecoming Words that may offend or scandalize them upon Pain of Interdiction i. e. of silencing the Ministers and dissolving the religious Church-Meetings and of greater Punishments You be also prohibited all injurious Words and Proceedings against such Ministers and other Persons who shall have quitted your Religion tor that of his Majesty 6 Finally That the Publick Peace may not be disturbed by any Writings or licentious Discourses no Books treating of your Religion whether printed within or out of the Kingdom shall be sold till they have been first examined and approved by two Ministers authorized thereunto otherwise they shall be all seized and confiscated 7. Moreover forasmuch as to resist the Orders of inferiour Magistrates deriving their Power as Beams from the Sun of Soveraign Royal Authority is to resist his Majesty himself and to subvert the very Publick-Weal his Majesty being informed that a Proposition was set on foot in the Synod of Andusa that the Marriage of a certain Person called Audebert who had remarried after a Divorce obtained from and decreed by the Judg there should not be celebrated his Majesty enjoineth you all now that you be assembled in this National Synod to resolve on it that all your Churches shall acquiesce in and conform unto all Orders of the Civil Magistrate in this Particular about the disannulling of Marriages and to take an especial care for the future that this Default be repaired 8. Thirdly It being his Majesty's Desire and Purpose to continue unto you the Possession and Injoyment of his Edicts which are granted and accorded to you and it being but just and equitable that you also on your part should observe them and not in the least infringe or violate them His Majesty injoineth all Ministers that in Obedience to the 10th Article of the Edict of Pacification made in January 1561 and those Letters Patents duly obtained thereupon and enrolled that they do preach only as in Duty they are bound in those Places where they make their actual residence and he forbiddeth them all Excursions from thence to preach in those Places which they call Annexations And his Majesty being informed of the manifest Contempt and Violation of this his Ordinance hath given me in charge to reiterate this his Prohibition and commands you to obey it upon the Penalties imported in the said Letters and in the Decree of his Council and threatens you in case of Non-compliance with a total Forfeiture and Deprival of all the Priviledges and Benefits of his Edicts 9. And whereas also you are permitted by the forty fourth Article of Particular Matters in the Edict of Nants to assemble your selves before a Judg Royal and by his Authority to make an equal Tax and to levy Monies necessary for defraying all Synodical Charges and the Maintenance of your Ministers in the Exercise of your Religion his Majesty doth forbid your said Ministers to take the Moneys out of the Poors Box or of Legacies bequeathed to pious Uses for the Paiment of their Sallaries or the fifth Penny out of that Fund for the Maintenance of your Universities and this upon very good and considerable Grounds because it is not any ways reasonable that the Moneys given and destined to the Poor should be diverted and imployed to any other Usage 10. And farther since it cannot be imagined that any Person could be guilty of such extream Baseness and Ingratitude as to refuse a Contribution to the Support and Maintenance of his own Pastor however lest there should be such an one and to prevent it for the future his Majesty explaining the 44th Article before-mentioned doth permit you every New-year's-day or in one or some of those twelve Days in the beginning of the Year to make an Assembly of the principal Inhabitants of every Town or Church in the Nature of a Consistory to consult about their Pastors Wages Charges of Journies unto Colloquies and Synods and for the Maintenance of the Professors and Regents in your Universities and for the Reparation and upholding of your Temples and to make an Accompt and List of all Persons able to contribute unto the said Charges which being brought before a Judg Royal shall be authorized by him and then every one so taxed and assessed by him shall be compelled to pay in his Part and Quota and in case of his Refusal it shall be levied by Distress and Fine notwithstanding his Opposition or Appeal as is done in the ingathering of his Majesty's Revenues And therefore his Majesty forbiddeth all Ministers to beg from Door to Door for their Maintenance 11. And his Majesty being informed that the said Synod of Nismes hath granted unto Mr. Petit Minister of the Gospel as Professor of Divinity the Sum of seven hundred Livers he doth now decree that the said Sum shall be paid out of the Monies destined to the Maintenance of Universities by the last National Synod and is to be taken out of the Dividend belonging to those three Colloquies which compose the said Synod and his Majesty commandeth and injoineth you to observe and keep those aforesaid Canons as well for the Payment of your Pastors as for the railing of the Monies 12. I have
slandering and calumniating us and by divers Pamphlets and Libels fraught with lying Stories do their utmost Endeavour to make the Loyalty and Fidelity of our Churches to be suspected and called in question and that there is an absolute Necessity we should justify our selves not only by Sermons preached in the Pulpit and by Books composed and published from the Press unto the whole World to this very End and Purpose but also by our most humble Remonstrances unto his Majesty that he would be pleased graciously to account all the Members of our Churches as his most obedient and loyal Subjects and to have an intire Confidence in their Fidelity unto his Service the Welfare of his Estate and the Augmentation of the Glory of his Crown The Assembly imbraced this Remonstrance as a sacred thing consonant to Reason and Justice and perfectly correponding with those Propositions tendred us from his Majesty by the Lord Commissioner and ordained That all Pastors in the Churches of this Kingdom should give all religious and conscientious Satisfaction herein according to the Word of God and the Confession of our Faith which are punctual and most express on this Subject Article 7. Whereas for divers Years last past War and Mortality have overspread with a Deluge of Woes the far greatest part of Europe and made the unrepenting Nations sensible what a dreadful thing it is to fall into the Hands of the Living God justly incensed against those hard-hearted Sinners who despise the Riches of his Grace the Abundance of his Goodness and Long-suffering The National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France assembled by the King's Permission in the Town of Alanson beholding in the continual Plagues with which all the Provinces of this Kingdom are scourged evident Threatnings of new impendent Judgments Wherefore that those affrightful and approaching Storms may be averted and the Bowels of God's fatherly Compassions may be moved and that we may obtain from his infinite Mercies and Goodness the Preservation of his Majesty's sacred Person a Blessing upon his Armies the Return and Re-establishment of Peace and Prosperity in the State and a quiet Settlement for his poor afflicted Church tossed with Tempests and not comforted We do exhort all the Faithful by a deep Humiliation of Soul and a sincere and serious Conversion of Heart to seek after the Help Grace and Favour of God And to this Purpose the Synod decreeth That a publick Fast shall be kept and solemnly observed in all the Churches of this Kingdom on Thursday the nineteenth Day of November next coâ—â—ing which shall be notified unto them by reading of this present Act. Article 8. That the Purity of Doctrine may be intirely preserved and all Misunderstandings between Pastors Professors and Churches may be avoided and to prevent those many Inconveniences which would thereupon happen and to tie and maintain more strictly and strongly the spiritual Bonds of brotherly Charity and Union among the Faithful This Synod doth most rigorously forbid on Pain of all Church-Censures yea and of Deposal from their Ministry all Pastors of Churches and Professors in our Universities to treat of in their Sermons Lectures or Writings those curious Questions which may occasion the Fall or Stumbling either of Students in Divinity or private Christians it being most necessary that both they their Scholars and Flocks should keep themselves to the Simplicity and Plainness of the Holy Scriptures and to the common Expedition of the Orthodox Creed grounded thereupon and approved by the National Synods particularly by that of Charenton held in the Year 1623. They be also forbidden the using of any new Expressions subject to ill Constructions and Misinterpretations or contentiously to dispute one with the other upon such Questions or Interpretations or to draw reciprocally the Saw of Controversy betwixt them in Polemical Writings nor shall they violate directly or indirectly the Canons made either in this or former Synods about printing of Books for whose Contents the Licensers of the Press shall be responsible as much as the Authors unto the Provinces And those Provinces within whose District and Jurisdiction our Universities lie shall take a most especial Care of them and see them visited from time to time by Persons chosen to that Purpose and to oblige all Professors both in Philosophy and Divinity to send every six Months unto the Examiners of Books in the Neighbour-Provinces one or two Copies of the Theses disputed and defended in the publick Schools And the Neighbour-Provinces are impowered with full Authority together with those in which our Universities are erected to take a particular Knowledg of their Estate And in case any Pastor or Professor or any Member of our Churches in reading or perusing the Books printed with Licence of our Examiners shall find any matter of Importance which they shall count worthy of Reprehension we order that they apply themselves to the Authors of the said printed Discourses or to the Examiners and Licensers of them and to demand Satisfaction from them and in case they refuse to give it then they shall address themselves unto their Colloquies and Synods And that Church and Province out of which the said Complaint cometh forth is forbidden as are also all other Persons whatsoever from intermeddling with this Affair or to take upon them to judg and decide it or to inflame this Controversy or to spread it farther but according to the Canons of our Discipline they shall leave and resign it intirely unto those Assemblies to whose Jurisdiction the Authors of these Disturbances do belong and against whom the Opposition is formed Article 9. The Lord Marquess of Clermont our General Deputy and the Sieurs Ferrand Gigord and Cerisy who were particularly delegated to lay at his Majesty's Feet the most humble Supplications and Complaints of our Churches having immediately after their Return from Court delivered his Majesty's Letters and given an Account of that gracious Audience and most kind and favourable Reception they had from his Majesty and our Lords his principal Ministers of State and how well they approved of the Conduct of this present Synod and had promised that as soon as it was concluded and separated an Answer agreeable to our Desires expressed in the Cahier presented to them should be given us and that they would assign for the defraying the Charges and Expences of this Synod the same Sum of Monies as was granted unto the last National Synod which was also confirmed by my Lord Commissioner who had received Letters concerning it and required that this Assembly would dissolve it self speedily The Synod having testified their great Satisfaction in the Wisdom Faithfulness and Affection manifested by these their Deputies in their whole Negotiation and finding that they had Hopes given them by his Majesty that his poor oppressed Subjects of the Reformed Religion should sense and experience the comfortable Effects of his Sacred Royal Promises and that according to his wonted Goodness he would take care that they
sent unto Your Majesty's most Honourable Privy-Council although we had not the least notice nor intimation of it there is a Decree issued forth simply without any Restriction confirming the Decree of the Lord Carlincas to the Prejudice of that Liberty granted us by Your Edicts Your Majesty is most Humbly Petitioned to cause the said Decree to be Vacated and Repealed and in Favour of Your Subjects of the Reformed Religion at Nismes to Ordain That their Theological University may stand upon the same Grounds with that of Montauban both being of the same nature and this according to a Decree of Your Council pass'd on their behalf 12. By Your Majesty's Edicts and as it is always practised in the Execution of them yea and by Your Answer to the Third Article of our Bill of Grievances presented to Your Majesty in July 1625. all Professors of our Religion yea and our Ministers themselves were allowed to dwell and inhabit in any part of your Kingdom Yet notwithstanding now-a-days our Ministers cannot be permitted to dwell in divers places as in Aubenas Mezin Saux Villefranque Corbigny and other places from which our said Ministers have been driven away which is contrary to your Edicts Your Majesty therefore is most Humbly Petitioned to ordain according to your Edicts that our Ministers aforesaid and all others of our Religion may be suffered to dwell and inhabit freely and quietly in all places of Your Majesty's Dominion 13. And divers others tho' not Ministers are meerly out of hatred to their Religion every day vexed and afflicted as in Your Towns of Bourg Aubenas La Voute Chaalons in Burgundy and in sundry other places from whence poor Tradesmen are partly by Threats and partly by actual Violence offered to them driven away directly contrary to the Authority and the very Letter and plain words of Your Edicts And Your Majesty is most Humbly Requested to Order That they may enjoy the benefit of them and to enjoyn Magistrates and all other persons to observe on their behalf the first of the Particular Articles of the Edict of Nantes 14. By the 45. Article of Particular Matters in the Edict of Nantes and by a Decree of your Council Dated July the 17th 1624. and by Your Majesty's Answer to the Bill of Complaints of Your said Subjects July the 23d 1621. and April the 12th 1622. the Ministers of our Religion were exempted from Watching Warding Rounds Lodging of Souldiers Assessing and Collecting of Taxes and from payment of their Quota to them or any other Impositions whatsoever on the account of their Houshold Goods Pensions or Salaries Yet notwithstanding in divers places of Your Kingdom they be Assessed to Watch and Ward to the Billetting of Souldiers to pay Forest Money for their Lands there although they have none at all in their hands but Lett them out to Farmers who pay those very Taxes for them yea also in very many places they do compel them and extort from them round Sums for the Payment of Taxes due by the Parishes and in case of Failure or Omission their Houshold Goods are Distrain'd and their Persons Seized and Imprisoned and amerced in great Fines as particularly the Minister of Previlly hath been thus misused Your Majesty is most Humbly Petitioned to grant them the enjoyment of those Immunities and Exemptions which have been accorded them by your Edicts Declarations and Answers to out Bills of Grievances and to forbid all Persons to trouble them and that the Assessors Collectors and Receivers of Taxes may not extort from them any Payments the Taxes only excepted for those Immovables enjoyed by them 15. And whereas there be yet detained many Captives in Your Galleys who have been there many years and for none other account than the past troubles Your Majesty is most Humbly Requested to cause them to be set at Liberty and to extend unto them the same Clemency Your Majesty vouchsafed unto others in the year 1613 by Your Answer to the 5th Article of our Bill of Grievances which was then presented by Your Subjects of the Reformed Religion unto Your Majesty 16. By the 34. and 51. Articles of the said Edict it was Ordained that the Courts of the Edict should Judge Soveraignly and without Appeal from them unto any other Court whatsoever of all Processes then in being or that might be moved in time to come and in which those of our Religion are Parties yea and in what concerns the Execution or Inexecution or Infraction of the Edicts yet notwithstanding sundry Praesidial Courts as that of Bourg in Bresse and the Intendant of Justice there do every day attempt and actually do give Judgment without admitting of any Appeal from them as also the Parliaments of Aix and Rennes do Issue out their Decrees directly contrary to the Letter of the Edict and in such matters as the Cognizance whereof is interdicted them and reserved only to Your Mix'd Courts Your Majesty is most Humbly Requested to Abrogate and Revoke all those Judgments and Decrees so incompetently given forth by those aforesaid Praesidial Courts Intendants and Parliaments to the prejudice of Your Edicts and particularly that Decree of the Parliament of Aix against the Book written by Monsieur Gaillard Intituled Le Proselite Evangelique and against his Person and to remand back the matters of Fact contained in them to the Courts of the Edict who ought of right only to take Cognizance and Judge of them with a Prohibition unto all other Judges nor to intermeddle with any matters properly belonging to your Majesty's Courts of the Edicts 17. Although that by the 17th Article of the Edict of Nantes Confirmed by all subsequent Edicts of your Majesty those who do or shall make Profession of our Reformed Religion are declared to be capable of Exercising all Trades of Holding and Enjoying all Dignities Offices and Publick Employments whatsoever yet nevertheless they be Excluded in divers parts of your Kingdom from all publick Charges Offices and Dignities they cannot be received unto the Degree of Doctors nor Incorporated into the Colleges of the Faculty of Physick nor admitted to the Practice thereof nor to be Masters of those Trades wherein they have served their Apprenticeship nor may they perform the Functions of those very Offices whereunto they were Privileged by their Patents Our Publick Notaries and Attorneys of Bailywicks having been interdicted the Exercise of their Callings by a Decree of your Council April 28. 1637. Wherefore your Majesty is most Humbly Requested that their Profession of the Protestant Religion may not be made a Crime and that whilst they adventure their Lives and Fortunes in your Majesty's Service equally with your other Subjects they may not be deprived of the benefit of your Edicts And we Humbly beseech your Majesty to Ordain that they may be for the future indifferently admitted unto all Charges Dignities and Masterships of Trades and that such as have a Patent for them may be maintained in the full and free
any Excommunication against Ministers and others who shall change their Religion for that of the Roman Catholicks nor to treat them reproachfully either by Word of Mouth or Writing or any other manner of way whatsoever Nor shall you admit for the future any Foreigner into the Ministery among you And therefore you be commanded to insert into the Attestations of Proposans who are to be Ordained and of Ministers who are to be received into any Church the Names of the Place of their Birth And farther Provincial Synods are inhibited to Call or Proclaim any General Fasts And that the Publick Peace and Tranquillity may be Secured his Majesty injoyneth Ministers according to the Command of God to Preach unto his Subjects that Obedience which they owe unto him and that it is not lawful for them to take up Arms against their Sovereign upon any Cause or Account whatsoever Moreover they be forbidden to make use of in their Sermons or Writings the Words Scourgings Martyrdoms and Persecution of their Religion or as if their Churches were the only True Church of God and are thus Misused Moreover whenever they speak of the Pope they shall not call him Antichrist nor treat him disrespectfully nor shall they Tax the Roma Catholick Apostolick Church with Idolatry nor the Sacraments and Ceremonies thereof as Human Inventions and Idolatries upon pain of Interdiction to themselves and others for so doing Furthermore they be forbidden to make any Private Collections from House to House nor to take a Farthing out of the Poor's Box or from Legacies bequeathed to them or the Fifth Peny of those Moneys nor to Cite any One before the Justice for Non-payment of their Sallaries and Wages nor for their Charge in Riding unto Colloquies and Synods nor for Repairing and upholding of their Temples In these Matters 't is his Majesties Will and Pleasure that Forty Fourth Article in the Edict of Nantes be punctually Observed and Performed And whereas their Majesties be informed that you send your Children to Study and to be Educated in Learning at Geneva in Switzerland Holland and England which are Nations and Republicks averse to Monarchy and who may imbue them with Corrupt Principles about Secular and Political Affairs the Consequence whereof is very great and the Effects flowing from them very dangerous That these may be in time prevented their Majesties desire of you that this Article may be Inserted into your Discipline concerning Proposans and that it be most strictly for the future observed in all your Provinces That no Proposans nor Divines shall be Ordained Ministers nor admitted Pastors into any of the Churches if they have Studied in any of those Countries or in any of their Universities And they have commanded me to assure you that your Conformity to their Intentions in such an Important Affair will be a thing most acceptable unto them and very advantagious to all the Professors of your Religion I am also charged to let you understand that their Majesties are much displeased that contrary to that Amnesty so much recommended by the Edicts in the Calendars of Psalms imprinted at Geneva 1635 these very Words are Inserted That on the Fifteenth Day of March 1545 was Assembled that detestable Council of Trent And there be also in them other such like Offensive Matters and that in the Twenty Fourth Article of your Confession of Faith the Roman Catholick and Apostolick Religion is styled An Abuse and Deceit of Satan and that Purgatory is a meer Cheat and the Shop out of which are sprung Monastick Vows Pilgrimages and other such Corruptions And in the Twenty Eighth Article you use these Words We Condemn those Assemblies in the Papacy where all these Superstitions and Idolatries are in Vogue Their Majesties cannot suffer that such Words should be Sworn in a National Synod they accounting them scandalous and injurious to their Religion and to that Church whereof his Majesty hath the Honour to be the Eldest Son and injurious to the Pope whom his Majesty believeth to be the Head of the Church calling him Holy Father and with whom he is in a strict Alliance and Amity Their Majesties Desire that in a matter so near their Heart as this is you would yield them that Respect and Observance which shall be Injoyned you and is now more particularly from their Majesties propounded to you Let me add One thing more which their Majesties commanded me to acquaint you with that they very just cause to Complain of you that since his Majesty began his Reign those of your Religion have took upon them to set up Preaching and the Exercise of your Worship in Languedoc and elsewhere in an Open Violent Manner contrary to the Publick Peace and the general Laws of the Kingdom which do equally forbid the Subjects both of the one and the other Religion to be their own Judges and to carve out Right unto themselves although they had been Wrong'd and Justice was on their Side And for that they durst make Acts and Pass them Resolutely after they had once Debated them in their Colloquies and Provinces and Confirmed them at a Meeting in the Consistory of Anduza and had returned Thanks to them who Executed that Riot and began to Revolt that so it might be done with more and greater Authority And those of Vsez also have placed Bells in their Temple without any leave first had or Obtained and contrary to the Articles upon which they Capitulated and Surrendred Their Majesties also are yet farther displeased that those who Profess your Religion in Languedoc have enterprized the Reviving of Deputations unto the Court of Monpellier Nismes and Vsez which had been Supprest ever sine the Year 1622 even when the Capitulation of the City of Monpellier was made and that the Sieur Peyrol Vestrie and Fournier did get themselves to be Deputed when there was no Synod and are become Partisans contrary to his Majesties Prohibitions And that Preaching and the Exercises of your Religion are set up in divers Parts by a meer Private Authority and beyond those Bounds appointed by his Majesties Commissioners to execute the Edict of Nantes yea and contrary to the Words of that self same Edict they continue Preaching in those Places where the Church-men are Lords of the Soil and of this his Majesty hath been fully informed And besides all this certain Ministers have taken unto themselves that Unbounded Liberty as to vent in their Pulpits Seditious Discourses and have cut off from Communion with them those Parents who send their Children to the Colledges of Regents who are of the Roman Catholick and Apostolick Religion And they have given me in Charge to tell you that these be Notorious Infractions of the Edicts contrary to your Duty to the Prejudice of the King and of the Publick Tranquillity the which his Majesty hath been so careful to conserve on his Part that he neither can nor ought as the Common Father of his People to suffer such Actings when as
made in this Ensuing Order Quest 5. Do not you believe that this great God who hath Created Heaven and Earth is one in Essence though distinguished into Three Persons Equal and Coeternal The Father the Son begotten of the Father from all Eternity and the Holy Ghost proceeding Everlasting from the Father and the Son Answ Yes Quest 6. Do not you believe that this Great God who never left himself without Witness hath manifested himself unto Men not only by his Works which ever since their first Production do uncessantly declare his Praise and Glory but also by the Revelation of his Counsel for the Salvation of Mankind contained in the Holy Scriptures called the Old and New Testament Answ Yes Quest 7. Do not you believe that all those Holy Scriptures are of Divine Inspiration and contain the perfect Rule of our Faith and Life Answ Yes Quest Do not you profess that you will even to the last Moment of your Life resist the Devil whom you have hitherto adored serving Idols made with hands or the Host of Heaven or those which by Nature are no Gods Answ Yes If the Catechumen be a Jew these Five following Questions shall be propounded to him omitting those Four above mentioned as properly belonging to the Heathen Quest 1. Do you not detest the Rebellion and Obdurateness of the Jews and do you not most humbly beg Pardon of God that you have been so long a time detained under it Answ Yes Quest 2. Do not you believe that the whole of God's Will which it hath pleased him graciously to reveal unto us is not only contained in the Books of the Old Testament but also in those of the new Answ Yes Quest 3. Do not you believe that Jesus the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary who was Conceived in her by the uneffable Power of the Holy Ghost and afterward Condemned to the Death of the Cross upon the malicious Accusation of the Jews by the Vnrighteous Sentence of Pontius Pilate and Raised from the Dead the Third Day and now exalted in Glory is God manifested in the Flesh the Eternal word of the Father by whom he Created and Sustaineth the whole World that blessed Seed promised unto Adam immediately upon his Fall by whose Power and Vertue the Head of that Old Serpent was Bruised whose coming in the Flesh all the Patriarchs believed and hoped for that great Prophet and true Messiah foretold by Moses and all the Prophets that lived after him Answ Yes Quest 4. Do not you believe that the Lord Jesus is the end of the Law for Righteousness unto all Believers the Truth and Substance of all his Types and Shadows the true Lamb of God who taketh away the Sins of the whole World and in whom all the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily Answ Yes Quest 5. Do not you believe that the Observation of the Ceremonial Law is now not only needless and Superfluous but also every way pernicious unto Conscience Ans Yes If the Catechumen be a Mahometan the Minister shall propound unto him these Six following Questions omitting those above mentioned which properly belong unto the Jews and Pagans Quest 1. Do you not believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament be inspired of God and contain his whole Counsel for the Salvation of Men and are the only perfect Rule of Faith and Life Answ Yes Quest 2. Do not you believe that Jesus the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary who was Conceived in her by the Vertue of the Holy Ghost and Formed as to the Flesh out of her own Substance is God and Man Blessed for evermore perfect God and perfect Man Man born of a Woman in due fulness of time and God begotten of the Father from Everlasting Answ Yes Quest 3. Do not you believe that the Lord Jesus from his first Conception after the Flesh was Holy Innocent without Blemish and separate from Sinners and that he did not suffer Death for his own Sins but for ours only Answ Yes Quest 4. Do not you believe that his Death is the Propitiation for our Sins yea and for the Sins of the whole World and that this Propitiation is infinitely Meritorious through which Everlasting Glory and Salvation were purchased for us Answ Yes Quest 5. Do not you believe that Mahomet was an Impostor and that his Alcoran is a Sacrilegious Heap of Idle Fancies full of Absurdities broach'd on design to set up a False and Abominable Religion Answ Yes Quest 6. Do not you believe that the Gospel of our Lord Jesus is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth and that in the Christian Religion only God the Father hath revealed his good Will and Pleasure for the Salvation of Men until the End of the World and that since its Revelation there is not any new Religion to be expired for that the Lord Christ is the only great Prophet promised unto the Faithful of the Old Testament and that God having formerly spoken at sundry times and in divers manners unto Men before the Law and under the Law hath spoken to the Church of the New Testament by the Mouth of his only Son the Lord Jesus Answ Yes Quest Give an Account of your Creed Answ I believe in God the Father Almighty Creator of c. In case the Catechumen be an Anabaptist the Minister having made all those Demands Printed in the Roman Character and omitted those in the Italian which more particularly belong either to Pagans Jews or Mahometans he shall thus proceed Quest 1. Do not you believe that the Lord Jesus is and shall be true God and true Man in those Two Natures everlastingly that he was according to his Human Nature like in all thing unto other Men Sin only excepted insomuch that he was the true Son of Abraham of David and of the Blessed Virgin descended from their Seed and Blood and that the Substance of his Body was not only formed in the Virgin but also out of the very Substance of the Virgin conformably to that Saying of the Apostle that he was of the Seed of David according to the Scriptures that he was born of a Woman and partaker of Flesh and Blood as all other Children Answ Yes Quest 2. Do you not believe that Infant-Baptism is grounded on the Scriptures and the perpetual Practice of the Christian Church Answ Yes Quest 3. Do not you renounce with your whole Heart their Error who reject Baptism And are you not penitent for your so long refusal of it Answ Yes Quest 4. Do not you believe the Authority of Magistrates to be an Ordinance of God unto which whoso will not yield Subjection do bring upon themselves Condemnation and that all kind of Obedience is due unto them Answ Yes Quest Do not you believe that this good God who calleth all of us by the Ministry of his Word unto Life and Salvation hath appointed certain Signs and Sacraments in his Church which do Seal and
needful for the Peace and Welfare of the Church of Vitre in Brittain that the Sieurs Petre and Jortain its Pastors should be removed from it because of the Misunderstandings and Divisions which have been between them for many Years together Moreover the Province of Anjou requested that the Church gathered at Terchant which was only joyned for some time to that of Vitre by the National Synod held there in the Year 1583 might be reincorporated with that of Laval because the said Church of Terchant lieth and is situated in the County of Laval and was from its first Foundation United to and a Member of that of Laval The Deputies of the Province of Brittain were also heard speak on behalf of their Synod who reported how opposite the Intentions of the Lady of Montmartin were unto this Separation because the Discords between the Pastors had divided the Body of the Church of Vitre which being at length tired with their Contentions and Debates in which they have been unavoidably ingaged through their Means did entreat by Letters the Lady Dutchess of Trimouille to get them discharged from their Ministry in it This Synod Decreeth that according to the desire of the said Lady Dutchess those Two Pastors who have hitherto served in the said Church of Vitre shall be transferred elsewhere And that Monsieur Jortan shall be sent unto the Church in the Isle of Gast and Lassay provided the said Monsieur Jortane and the Church do Consent unto it and the Church of Vitre shall be provided of a Pastor adorned with Gifts and Graces meet for their Edification And as for that of Terchant and Vieuville the Sieurs Basnage and de L'Angle together with the Sieurs Guesdon and Caillard or in case of their Lawful Hindrance then two other Pastors and Two Elders Members of the Colloquy of Constantin taking with them the Memoirs and Acts brought hither unto this Synod from the Church of Vitre shall pass over to it at the Charges of the said Church and shall proceed to Censure those Persons whom they find guilty of these Divisions And they shall send Monsieur Petre to the Church of Terchant and la Vieuville and that they may effectually compose the Discords which do trouble the Church of Vitre they shall endeavour to gain the Consent of the Lady of Montmartyn for the settling of Monsieur Petre in the said Church of Terchant and to yield unto the Dismembring of the said Church from that of Vitre and dispose the said Lady to follow the Intention of this Assembly And they shall give an Accompt hereof unto the next National Synod 23. Monsieur Huron Pastor of the Church of Barbigneres sent Letters with his Appeal from the Synod of Lower Guyenne which had interdicted him the publishing of some certain Discourses of his about State Affairs because they did not conceive them to be any wise Edifying unto the Church of God This Assembly Declareth that the said Appeal ought not to be admitted nor can it be of right brought before it and farther the said Huron is injoyned to acquiesce in the judgment of his Province 24. Monsieur Charron Advocate in the Parliament of Bourdeaux and Elder of the Church of Bergerac Complained and Appealed from the Synod of Lower Guyenne by the Mouth of the Lord of Pyrarede with whom he had deposited his Memoirs This Assembly reversing the Judgment of that Provincial Synod taketh off the Censure which was inflicted on him by the Colloquy of Perigord there being an Error in it and declareth that the Consistory of Bergerac hath acted very ill in their Proceedings and that the Sieur Jacob Tourneau having carried himself so unnaturally and unhumanly to his own Father as is publickly and notoriously known to the whole World ought not to have been chosen unto the Office of an Elder in that Church of Christ 25. The Synod of Higher Languedoc shall judge finally of that Appeal brought by the Church of Saint Foy which was condemned by the Synod of Lower Guyenne to pay the Arrerages due unto the Heirs of the Sieurs Hesparian and Mizaubin their Deceased Pastors for their Work and Service in the Ministery among them 26. The Appeal of Monsieur Crane shall be signified unto the Consistory of St. Maixant and by them carried unto the Synod of Xaintonge who shall by the Authority of this Synod pass a final Judgment on it 27. Mr. Giles Marchand Advocate in the Parliament of Rouen presented a Petition unto this Assembly requesting that there might be some Alteration made in the Government of the more Populous Churches of this Kingdom and he Complained that because he had insisted on such like Proposals he was Suspended from the Lord's Supper by the Consistory of the Church of Rouen and this Sentence of Suspension was Ratified by the Authority of the Provincial Synod of Normandy Answer was return'd him in these Words that the National Synod injoyned him to abandon these his Designs and Fancies which could never be effected according to his Intentions And inasmuch as he hath promised to acquiesce in what shall be here Ordained if he do let him be again admitted to Communion with the Church at the Lord's Table 28. The Sieur de Coutures Appealing from a Judgment given by the Isle of France and not sending any Memoirs to abet and maintain it his Appeal is declared null and void 29. Le Sieur Toussaints de Roussannes Appealing from the Synod of Lower Guyenne for giving leave to the Sieur de Blancard to sit ordinarily among the Elders in the Church of la Fite which they did out of respect to his Old Age and many Infirmities and because of those considerable Services he had done the Church of la Fite and not sending any Memoirs to sustain his Appeal it was declared null 30. Those Appeals of the Churches of Navarrins and Ortez from the Judicial Sentence pronounced in the Synod of Bearn held at Lambeze are declared null 31. Monsieur Rondel who had been Deposed from his Office of Elder by Sentence of the Consistory of Vitre which also was Confirmed by another of the Provincial Synod of Brittain having Appealed from them shall declare his Grievances unto the Sieurs Basnage and de L'Angle who are Commissionated by this Assembly to remedy those disorders in the Church of Vitre and to judge finally of those matters without any Appeal from them 32. The Sieur Aymin at present Pastor in the Church of Manosques Appealed from the Synod of Dolphiny held in the Year 1642 at Nyons which had by their Decree removed him from his Ministry in the Church of Die and given him liberty to provide himself elsewhere either within or without the Province according as the good Providence of God should direct him The Assembly having heard him open particularly his Grievances and the Answers made unto them by the Deputies of that Province doth Confirm the Decree of the said Synod of Nyons and at the request of those
themselves to that Canon of the National Synod of Gorgeau on the Tenth Article of the first Chapter of our Discipline which declared that it was resolved for the future that when Ministers were ordained they should not be sent any more for one Year unto a Church but that the Method prescribed in our Discipline should be most strictly and closely followed All which shall be notified unto all the Churches by reading of this present Act. 23. In all our National Synods this Order shall be observed that after the Moderator Assessor and Scribe who is a Pastor shall have given their Opinions on the Question propounded then the Scribe who is chosen from among the Elders shall give his in the next place and after him my Lord the General Deputy and then the whole Body of Pastors and next to them the Elders who are Deputed by the Provinces and then lastly the Moderator shall collect the Votes and conclude with his own Suffrage and all Provincial Synods are likewise to observe and practise this self-same Method in Debates and Suffrages without swerving from it in the least 24. Sundry Provinces complaining that the Sieurs Daille and Amyrald had violated the Canons made in the National Synods of Alanson 1637. and of Charenton 1644. about the Doctrin of Grace This Assembly having heard those two Eminent Ministers of the Gospel Daille and Amyrald speak in their own Defence and found that they were clear and sound in their Judgments and that they might be well enough discharged from all Blame for having thwarted and transgressed the said Canons and that they had not incurr'd those Censures which were decreed against the Infringers and Violators of them And it being evident that the said Book of Monsieur Daille was not only printed without his knowledg but also against his Will which he proved by his express opposing of it's Publication and that the said Mr. Amyrald hath not written any thing since those Synods aforesaid but according to that License which was granted him by the Synod of Charenton 1644. in case any one should write against him nor have any Writings of his been since published till others had first provoked him by clamouring against his Doctrin For these Causes this Assembly doth unanimously decree nemine contradicente that all that is past on this occasion unto this very Day shall be buried in the Grave of a deep and holy Oblivion and the said Sieurs Daille and Amyrald are exhorted to continue in their Faithful Imployment of those rich Talents which God hath bestowed upon them to the advancement of his Glory and the edifying of his Church 25. And whereas the Happiness of our Churches consisteth very much in their Peace and that all kind of Contentions and Divisions may be obviated and prevented this Assembly treading in the Footsteps of their Predecessors and that Satisfaction may be given to the Requests of all the Provinces who have unanimously demanded a punctual Observation of the Canons made in those Synods of Alanson and Charenton doth confirm those said Canons and absolutely forbids on pain of the last and greatest Censures of our Discipline all Pastors and Professors to transgress them either by publick Lectures Sermons Disputes or Writings against the Natives of our Kingdom or the Subjects of Foreign States nor shall they suffer any of their Scholars to hold any Disputations about them And finally that a strict Conformity may be upheld among us All Colloquies and Provincial Synods when they receive Proposans into the Sacred Ministerial Office shall not use with respect unto these points any particular Forms but shall acquiesce in the Signing and Swearing our Confession of Faith and Church Discipline by these Proposans and in causing them to protest with Hands uplifted unto Heaven calling God to witness upon their Souls that they do reject all Errors rejected by the Decrees of those National Synods of Alanson and Charenton about the Doctrin of Predestination and of Grace the Tenor whereof is as followeth Articles extracted out of the Acts of the National Synods of Alanson and Charenton THat the Purity of Doctrin may be entirely preserved See the Synod of Alanson G. M. Art 8. c. and all misunderstandings between Pastors Professors and Churches may be avoided and to prevent those Inconveniences which would happen thereupon and to tie and maintain more strictly and strongly the Spiritual Bonds of Brotherly Charity and Union among the Faithful this Synod doth most rigorously forbid on pain of all Church-Censures yea and of Deposal from their Ministry all Pastors of Churches and Professors in our Universities to treat in their Sermons Lectures or Writings of those curious Questions which may occasion the Fall or stumbling either of Students in Divinity or of private Christians It being most necessary that both their Flocks and Scholars should keep themselves to the simplicity and plainness of Holy Scripture and to the common Expositions of the Orthodox Creed grounded thereupon and approved by our National Synods particularly by that of Charenton held in the Year 1623. They be also forbidden the using of any new Expressions subject to ill Constructions and Mis-interpretations or contentiously to dispute one with the other upon such Questions or Interpretations or to draw reciprocally the Saw of Controversie betwixt them in Polemical Writings nor shall they violate directly or indirectly the Canons made either in this or former Synods about Printing of Books for whose Contents the Licensers of the Press shall be responsible as much as their Authors unto the Provinces And those Provinces within whose District and Jurisdiction our Universities lie shall take a most especial care of them and see them visited from time to time by Persons chosen to that purpose and to oblige all Professors both in Philosophy and Divinity to send every six Months unto the Examiners of Books in the Neighbour Provinces one or two Copies of the Theses disputed and defended in the publick Schools And the neighbour Provinces are empowred with full Authority together with those in which our Universities are erected to take a particular knowledge of their Estate And in case any Pastor or Professor or any Member of our Churches reading or perusing the Books printed with the License of our Examiners shall find any matter of importance which they may count worthy of Reprehension we give order That they apply themselves to the Authors of those printed Discourses or to the Examiners and Licensers of them and to demand Satisfaction from them and in case they refuse to give it then shall they address themselves unto their Colloquies and Synods And that Church and Province out of which the said Complaint cometh forth is forbidden as are also all other persons whatsoever from intermedling with this Affair or to take upon them to judge and decide it or to inflame and spread this Controversie any farther but according to the Canons of our Discipline they shall leave and resign it entirely unto those Assemblies
well as in the Pres des Clerks by the Ladies Princes yea and by Henry the Second himself This one Ordinance only contributed mightily to the downfal of Popery and the propagation of the Gospel It took so much with the genius of the Nation That all ranks and degrees of Men practised it in the Temples and in their Families No Gentleman professing the Reformed Religion would sit down at his Table without praising God by singing Yea it was a special part of their Morning and Evening Worship in their several Houses to sing God's Praises The Popish Clergy raged and to prevent the growth and spreading of the Gospel by it that mischievous Cardinal of Lorrain another Elymas the Sorcerer got the Odes of Horace and the filthy obscene Poems of Tibullus and Catullus to be turn'd into French and sung in the Court Ribaldry was his Piety and the means used by him to expel and banish the singing of divine Psalms out of the prophane Court of France The Holy Word of God is duly truly and powerfully Preached in Churches and Fields in Ships and Houses in Vaults and Cellars in all places where the Gospel-Ministers can have admission and conveniency and with singular success Multitudes are Convinced and Converted established and edified Christ rideth out upon the white Horse of the Ministry with the Sword and Bow of the Gospel Preached Conquering and to Conquer His Enemies fall under him and submit themselves unto him O! the unparallell'd success of the plain and zealous Sermons of the first Reformers Multitudes flock in like Doves into the Windows of God's Ark. As innumerable drops of dew fall from the Womb of the Morning so hath the Lord Christ the dew of his Youth The Popish Churches are drained the Protestant Temples are filled The Priests complain that their Altars are neglected their Masses are now indeed solitary Dagon cannot stand before God's Ark. Children and Persons of riper years are Catechised in the Rudiments and Principles of Christian Religion and can give a comfortable account of their Faith a reason of that hope that is in them By this Ordinance do their pious Pastors prepare them for Communion with the Lord at his holy Table Here they communicate in both kinds according to the Primitive Institution of this Sacrament by Jesus Christ himself Sect. 7. Though the Churches of God walked in the Comforts of the Holy-Ghost and were multiplied throughout the whole Kingdom yet were they exercised with Fiery Tryals and underwent most cruel and inhumane Sufferings Satan stormed that his Kingdom was assaulted weakned and subverted this boileth up his Revenge and causeth him to throw out Floods of Wrath against the Church travelling under the pangs of Reformation Hence the Saints of God are imprisoned arraigned for their Lives and condemned by merciless unrighteous Judges for their Profession of the Truth unto the Flames Others are murdered in cold Blood and massacred without any legal forms of Justice in the least And yet in the sight of those cruel Deaths and most barbarous Executions the first National Synod is called and celebrated in the Metropolis of the Kingdom at the very Doors of the Court God inspiring with Zeal and Courage the Pastors of several Churches to meet and consult together about the arduous and most important Businesses of the Reformed Religion Sect. 8. Two things among others were dispatch'd in this Council 1. They publish the Confession of their Faith and tell the King and Kingdom what they believe and practise This was put into the Hands of their Young King lately come to the Crown upon the Death of his Father who though he had sworn to see that famous Martyr of Christ Annas du Bourg Counsellour in the Parliament of Paris burnt yet was at a Tilt by Count de Montgomery a Protestant wounded with a Launce in the Eye and died before he could perform his Oath How Francis the Second entertained this Confession when it was tender'd him is not my Business to relate I shall only give my Reader the Confession itself and I do the rather lay it before him because it is a brief System of the Protestant Religion constantly read at the opening of all their Synods and because of the frequent References unto it in and by all those National Synods which I now publish Sect. 9. The Confession of Faith held and professed by the Reformed Churches of France received and enacted by their first National Synod Celebrated in the City of Paris and Year of our Lord 1559. ARTICLE I. WE believe and confess That there is but one God only whose Being only is simple spiritual eternal invisible immutable infinite incomprehensible ineffable who can do all things who is all-wise all-good most just and most merciful ARTICLE II. This one God hath revealed himself to be such a one unto Men first in the Creation preservation and governing of his works secondly far more plainly in his word which from the beginning he revealed to the Fathers by certain Visions and Oracles and then caused it to be put in writing in those Books which we call the Holy Scripture ARTICLE III. All this holy Scipture is contained in the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament the Catalogue whereof followeth The five Books of Moses namely Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers and Deuteronomy Item Joshua Judges Ruth the first and second Book of Samuel the first and second Book of Kings the first and second Book of Chronicles otherwise called the Paralipomena one Book of Esdras Nehemiah Hester Job the Psalms Solomon's Proverbs or Sentences Ecclesiastes the Song of Songs Esaiah Jeremiah with the Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonas Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zachariah Malachi Item the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew according to St. Mark according to St. Luke and according to St. John as also the second Book of St. Luke otherwise called The Acts of the Apostles Item the Epistles of St. Paul the Apostle to the Romans one to the Corinthians two to the Galatians one to the Ephesians one to the Philippians one to the Colossians one to the Thessalonians two to Timothy two to Titus one to Philemon one Item the Epistle to the Hebrews the Epistle of St. James the first and second Epistle of St. Peter the first second and third Epistle of St. John the Epistle of St. Jude and the Apocalypse or Revelations of St. John ARTICLE IV. We acknowledge these Books to be Canonical that is we account them as the most certain Rule of our Faith and that not so much because of the common consent of the Church but because of the Testimony and Perswasion of the Holy Ghost by which we are taught to distinguish betwixt them and other Ecclesiastical Books upon which although they may be useful yet we cannot ground any Article of Faith ARTICLE V. We believe That the Doctrine contained in these Books is proceeded from God from whom only and not from men it deriveth
its authority And forasmuch as it is the Rule of all Truth containing all Matters necessarily required for the Worship of God and our Salvation it is in no wise lawful for Men nor Angels to add unto or to take from this Doctrine or to change it And hereupon it followeth That it is not lawful to oppose either Antiquity or Custom or Multitude or Humane Wisdom Judgments Edicts or any Decrees or Councils or Visions or Miracles unto this Holy Scripture but rather that all things ought to be examined and tried by the Rule and Square thereof Wherefore we do for this cause also allow of those three Creeds namely the Apostles the Nicene and Athanasius his Creed because they be agreeable to the Word of God ARTICLE VI. The Holy Scripture teacheth us That in that one and simple Divine Being there be three Persons subsisting the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost The Father to wit the first Cause in order and the Beginning of all things The Son his Wisdom and Everlasting Word The Holy Ghost his Vertue Power and Efficacy The Son begotten of the Father from everlasting the Holy Ghost from everlasting proceeding from the Father and the Son these three Persons are not confounded but distinct and yet not divided but of one and the same Essence Eternity Power and Equality And to conclude in this Mystery we allow of that which those four ancient Councils have determined and we detest all Sects and Heresies condemned by those holy ancient Doctors St. Athanasius St. Hilary St. Cyril and St. Ambrose ARTICLE VII We believe that God in Three Persons working together by his Power Wisdom and incomprehensible Goodness hath made all things not only Heaven and Earth and all things in them contained but also the invisible Spirits of which some fell head-long into Destruction and some continued in Obedience That the fallen Angels being corrupted by their Malice are become Enemies of all good and consequently of the whole Church That the holy Angels having persevered by the Grace of God are Ministers to glorifie his Name and serve his Elect in order to Salvation ARTICLE VIII We believe that God hath not only made all things but also ruleth and governeth them as he who according to his will disposeth and ordaineth whatsoever cometh to pass in the World Yet we deny that he is the Author of Sin or that the blame of things done amiss can be laid upon him seeing his Will is the soveraign and infallible Rule of all Righteousness and Equity but this we confess That he hath those admirable Means as whereby he maketh the Devils and the Ungodly as his Instruments to serve him and to turn the Evil which they do and whereof they are guilty into good So that when we acknowledge that nothing can be done without the Providence of God we do most humbly adore his Secrets which he hath hidden from us nor do we enquire into those which are above our reach and Capacity Nay rather we apply unto our own use that which the Holy Scripture teacheth us for our Peace and Comfort to wit that God to whom all things are subject doth watch over us with a Fatherly Care so that not so much as an Hair of our Head falleth to the ground without his Will and that he hath the Devils and all our Adversaries fast bound in Chains that they cannot without leave first given them do us any harm ARTICLE IX We believe that Man being created pure and upright and conformable to the Image of God through his own fault fell from that Grace which he had received and thereby did so estrange himself from God the Fountain of all Righteousness and of all good things that his Nature is become altogether defiled and being blind in his Understanding and corrupt in his Heart he hath utterly lost that Integrity and although he can somewhat discern between Good and Evil yet we do affirm That whatsoever Light he hath it straightway becometh Darkness when the Question is of seeking after God so that by his Understanding and Reason he can never come to God And although he be indued with Will whereby he is moved to do this or that yet forasmuch as that also is in bondage to Sin that he hath no freedom to desire that which is good but if he have any 't is the gracious Gift of God ARTICLE X. We believe that all the Off-spring of Adam are infected with the Contagion of Original Sin which is a Vice hereditary to us by Propagation and not only by Imitation as the Pelagians asserted whose Errors are detested by us Nor do we think it necessary to inquire how this Sin cometh to be derived from one unto another For it is sufficient that those things which God gave to Adam were not given to him alone but also to all his Posterity and therefore we in his Person being deprived of all those good Gifts are fallen into this Poverty and Malediction ARTICLE XI We believe that this stain of Original Sin is Sin indeed for it hath that mischievous Power in it as to condemn all Mankind even Infants that are unborn as yet in their Mothers Womb and God himself doth account it such yea and that even after Baptism as to the Filth thereof it is always Sin Howbeit they who are the Children of God shall never be condemned for it because that God of his rich Grace and soveraign Mercy doth not impute it to them Moreover we say that it is such a Depravedness as doth continually produce the Fruits of Malice and Rebellion against God so that even the choicest of God's Saints although they do resist it yet are they defiled with very many Infirmities and Offences so long as they live in this World ARTICLE XII We believe That out of this general Corruption and Condemnation in which all Men are plunged God doth deliver them whom he hath in his eternal and unchangeable Counsel chosen of his meer Goodness and Mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ without any consideration of their Works leaving the rest in their Sins and damnable Estate that he may show forth in them his Justice as in the elect he doth most illustriously declare the Riches of his Mercy For One is not better than another until such time as God doth make the difference according to his unchangeable purpose which he hath determin'd in Jesus Christ before the Creation of the World Nor can any one by his own power procure unto himself so great a Blessing because we cannot by Nature nor of our selves excite in our selves any one good Motion Thought or Affection until such time as God does prevent and incline us to it by his Grace ARTICLE XIII We believe That whatsoever is requisite to our Salvation is offer'd and communicated to us now in the Lord Jesus Christ who is made of God unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption so that whosoever leaveth Christ doth renounce all interest in and