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
Chap. V. Of Vagrants Debauched Persons and Councils Chap. VI. Of Imposition of Hands Sureties in Baptism c. Chap. VII Vniformity in Common Prayers No Marriages without Certificates Loane of Ministers Synods and Colloquies Chap. VIII An Abjuration made by a Socinian Chap. IX Secret Promises of Marriage and several Cases of Conscience about Absolution Churches Ingratitude Age of Communicants of Marrying the Sister of a deceased Spouse Accounts of the Poors Money Divorces Chap. X. Method in Calling of National Synods Chap. XI General Advertisements unto the Churches about Printers Elders Books Schollars Lord's Supper Ministers in Noble Mens Houses Censures on Lords Censure upon a certain Book The Second Synod of PARIS 1565. Synod V. SYNOD V. Articles Decreed in the National Synod held the second time at Paris the twenty fifth of December 1565 and in the fifth Year of the Reign of King Charles the Ninth CHAP. I. NIcholas de Galars Minister of the Church of Orleance being chosen President and Lewis Capel Minister of Meaux and Peter Le Clere Elder of the Church of Paris Scribes after the Invocation of the Name of GOD. CHAP. II. An Explication of the Canons of the CHVRCH-Discipline and an Addition of several others General MATTERS I. FOrasmuch as the Church of God ought to be governed by a good and holy Discipline and that no other may be introduced but what is grounded upon the Word of God the Ministers and Elders deputed from the Provinces of this Kingdom to confer about Ecclesiastical Affairs and met together in the Name of the Lord after diligent Perusal of the Book and other Writings of M. J. Morelly concerning the Polity and Discipline of the Church and sufficient Conferences had with him from the Holy Scriptures about it do by this present Act condem his said Books and Writings as containing evil and dangerous Opinions subverting that Discipline which is conformable unto the Word of God and at this day received in the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom and whereas delivering up the Government of the Church unto the People he would bring in a new tumultuary Conduct and full of Confusions upon it from whence would follow many great and dangerous Inconveniencies which have been remonstrated unto him and he once and again admonished to abandon these Matters which yet he will not do but persists in his Assertions saying That he is perswaded those his Opinions are built upon God's Holy Word We having divers times exhorted him to approve and consent unto that Order which is received and conserved in these our Churches as appointed by our Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles and proved to him from their Sacred Writings because we hope that the Lord will be gracious to him and also because he does not differ from the Church in any of the fundamental principal Articles of our Faith the Brethren of this Assembly supporting him with Christian Charity are of Opinion that he be received to the Peace and Communion of the Church provided that as he hath formerly promised by Writing and now again protested to ratifie and sign with his own Hand this his Promise so that for time to come he do carry himself peaceably and subject himself to the Order and Discipline established in the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom without ever any manner of ways publishing those his said Opinions neither by Word of Mouth nor Writing contrary to the said Discipline or to a Treatise in confirmation of it which may shortly be printed provided also that according to his former Promises and at the request of the Lords of the City and Church of Geneva to whom he hath not yet given sufficient Satisfaction though he is bound in Duty to reconcile himself unto them which is evident from his own Letters that he do once more by new Letters of his own Writing confess and acknowledge to have offended them and do beg their Pardon because that being an Inhabitant of their said City he did contrary to the Orders of the Seignory print and publish his said Book without having first demanded and obtained their License and being called both by them and the Consistory of that Church to give an account of that his Contempt he did not appear at the day assigned him These conditions being performed by him and the Consistory of that Church whereunto he shall joyn himself must take knowledge whether he hath fulfilled them or no and they accordingly may receive him as a Member of the Church and admit him into Communion with them or else proceed against him by Ecclesiastical Censures CHAP. III. The manner of Proceeding in Ecclesiastical Censures II. FOrasmuch as Sins committed in the Church ought to be corrected by the Word of God and according to the Rule of Charity and all Sins are not alike grievous and scandalous some being more enormous others of a lesser nature some secret and others publick we must therefore according to their quality and aggravations accommodate the Censure and Reprehension so then secret Sins whereof the Sinner by means of Brotherly Admonitions shall be brought unto Repentance and hath reformed them shall not be brought into the Consistory but those only which these first means cannot reform nor amend or Sins publickly known the cognisance of which belongs unto the said Consistory who must proceed to the Reformation of them by proper and convenient Censures considering these sins with all their circumstances that so according as the case requireth they may apply either a severe and rigorous Reprehension or a more moderate one in the Spirit of Meekness as may be most expedient to bring the Sinner to Repentance who to this end shall by the Authority of the Consistory be for some time deprived of the Lord's Supper if it be needful that so he may be humbled Excommunication must not be used but in extream necessity or finally excommunicated and totally cut off from the Body of the Church according to that Order hereafter declared if so be he shew himself rebellious to the Holy Admonitions and Censures inflicted on him and continue obstinate and impenitent But inasmuch as this is the last and most rigorous of all Remedies it shall never be used but in case of extremity when all fair and gentle Means have proved ineffectual And whereas even unto this day in divers places this distinction between this last Excommunication and temporary Suspension or simple Privation of the Lord's Supper hath not been observed as it ought that both the one and the other may be duely used the Ministers and Elders interpreting these words of Excommunication and Suspension from the Lord's Table The words Excommunication and Suspension explained No Minister of his private Authority can deprive a Man of the Lord s Supper do give it as their Opinion That no Person should be deprived or suspended the Lord's Table by the single Authority of the Pastors or of any other but only by the Consistory which shall prudently consider
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
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
Face and called him to the Knowledg of thy self the only True God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent and animated him with a Spiritual Courage to make a publick Confession this Day of thy Holy Faith and that Hope which thou hast begotten in his Soul and granted him this Grace to offer himself in thy Presence unto this Holy Sacrament of Baptism the Seal of thy Covenant the Pledg of the Remission of our Sins and the Token of our Admission into thy House by a Supernatural New Birth So most blessed God we beseech thee to dart in upon him more and more the Beams of thy Mercy to forgive him all his Sins to purge his Conscience with the precious Blood of the Lamb without Spot who taketh away the Sins of the World O cause him Lord to feel the Almighty Vertue of his Propitiation Let thy Holy Spirit sanctifie him and make him a new Creature that he dying unto Sin may live unto Righteousness and putting off the Old Man with his Works he may put on the New Man who is renewed in Righteousness and true Holiness And as we are now pouring upon his Head the Waters of thy Sacrament so we beseech thee more especially to pour down upon him the Gifts and Graces of thy Holy Spirit Receive him into the Number of thy Domesticks and honour him with the Adoption of thy Children Give him Grace that during his whole Life he may devote himself entirely unto thy Service and yield that Obedience and Religious Worship to thee which is thy Due and his Duty And let him persevere faithfully in thy Holy Covenant for ever-more that as we do now receive him in thy Name into the Communion of thy Church Militant so thou mayest another Day exalt him into the Bosom of thy Church Triumphant and gather him at his Death unto that general Assembly of the First-born whose Names are written in Heaven Hear us O merciful Father that this Baptism which we do now administer to him according to thy Sacred Ordinance may produce its Fruit and Vertue in him as thou hast declared in thy Holy Gospel to us for the sake of thy dear Son in whom thou art well-pleased even our Lord Jesus Christ who hath commanded us to call upon thee saying Our Father which art in Heaven c. Then the Minister addressing himself to the Sureties who present the Catechumen shall say My Brethren As you have charitably employed your selves in the Instruction and Edification of this our Brother and are Witnesses of tha Baptism which he shall now receive through our Ministry so do you not promise before God and this Sacred Assembly to continue more and more to strengthen and confirm him in the Faith and to stir him up unto all good Works Answ Yes This done the Minister speaking unto the Catechumen who upon his Knees waiteth for Baptism shall say Forasmuch as we have received these Evidences of your Faith pouring Water upon him N. I Baptize thee in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen The Conclusion of the Form of Baptizing Strangers from the Covenant of God whether Pagans Jews Mahometans Anabaptists or any other Infidels who had not been before baptized 11. If in Churches served by divers Pastors any one of them be disabled either through Age or some other Infirmity from administring the Cup yet shall he always distribute the Bread in the Lord's Supper unto the Communicants and this Canon shall be observed in all the Provinces without exception 12. Whereas in many of the greater Churches of this Kingdom it hath been found requisite for their more general edifying to handle the Sunday's Catechisms by way of Common-Places in Divinity and not by familiar Questions and Answers And to promote their Instruction who are well grown in years they have substituted extraordinary Catechisings on certain Days immediately preceding the Lords Supper we approving their Practice do notwithstanding exhort the rest of the Churches to conform themselves unto the Order prescribed by the Discipline as much as possibly they can And in case they cannot every Lords Day Catechise their Children yet shall they chuse out some days of the Week peculiarly for this Exercise especially before the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is to be administred and the Provincial Synods are ordred to see this punctually observed in every Church of their Jurisdiction and to give an Account thereof unto the next National Synod 13. To explain that Canon of our Discipline which bindeth Pastors in their ordinary Course of Preaching to expound some one particular Book of Holy Scripture from the beginning to the end thereof this Assembly declareth that the Intention of the National Synod which decreed that Canon was not thereby to debar or hinder any Pastors from edifying their Churches by expounding of any Books or Texts of Scripture particularly chosen on extraordinary occasions as of the Lords Supper c. nor to impose upon them any necessity of prosecuting the Exposition of the same Book which was the Subject of their Lord's Day Sermon upon the Week Days in which the far greatest Part of the People are taken up with the Occupations of their Secular Callings and Families that they cannot attend upon such Sermons and so would be deprived of their chiefest Edification but in this respect to leave all Pastors to their Liberty 14. Henceforward the Moderators in Synodical Assemblies and the Deputies which shall be sent from the Provinces in their Name to assist in National Synods shall be chosen as the Canons of our Discipline have determined not by the Churches but by Plurality of Suffrages of the Provinces And in case any absent Person should be elected yet this shall not abridge the Pastors of their Liberty in Voting 15. For the better Understanding the Third Canon of the Ninth Chapter of the Discipline This Assembly declareth that the Memoirs wherewith every Province intrusteth their respective Deputies ought to be resolv'd in their Provincial Synods by plurality of Votes and signed in the said Assemblies by the Moderators and in case this be omitted there shall be no more regard had unto them than unto Motions made by Private Persons who had no Order nor Commission and propounded such matters of their own Head 16. Upon the Eighth Canon of the Ninth Chapter of the Discipline it was decreed that the Moderator of the Synod having propounded the Matters of Discipline which are to be debated shall defer the giving of his Suffrage till all the Deputies have given theirs and he having gathered their Votes shall then at last have the Casting Voice CHAP. X. Observations made on Reading the National Synod of Alenson held in the Year 1637. 1. IN compliance with that Petition of the Deputies of Vivaretz and of the Church of St. Stephen in Forest which had agreed in a particular Treaty made with the Church of Bonlieu and by Consent of the Province of Burgundy that the said Church
got out of God's Ark and the Deluge is about thee Where wilt thou pitch the Sole of thy Foot Go then as the Dove and return unto thy place Salvation is not to be had any where else Thou knowest it as well as I. Whether art thou gone Where art thou a going Dost not thou know that Jesus Christ only hath the Words of Eternal Life Thinkest thou to find it any where else Why Man He only is the Way the Truth and the Life Thou hast changed thy Riligion thou hast quitted thy Party thou hast abandoned thy Flock Good God what hast thou done O Friend I forbear to speak my Fears But once again What hast thou done Thou hast quitted the Rich Pearl with the Cock in the Fable for a Grain of Wheat See from whence thou art fallen and consider I beseech thee Dear Friend what thou hast gotten by thy Fall Thou embracest a Religion patch'd up of Human Ceremonies Thou knowest it well a Religion which is an Hodge-podg of Jewish and Pagan Ceremonies blended together Thou hast thrown thy self into its Arms thou liest in its Bosom thou wearest its Livery and art marked with its Marks And thou very well knowest why and wherefore Thou wast remiss in thy Duty Thou wast not payed thy Sallary This was thy frequent Complaint Thou idle and slothful Servant oughtest thou to forsake thy Lord's Service and his Flock Thou wast not serious enough nor caredst to take pains in thy Calling Instead of studying and giving thy self to reading thou hauntedst wicked Companies which thou knowest corrupt good Manners and being such an one thy self thou couldst not chuse better Birds of a Feather will Flock together More I might say but I spare thee Well Man what hast thou done Consider I beseech thee and I adjure thee to it by the Bowels of our ancient Friendship that 't is the true Religion which thou hast forsaken and that only in which Salvation is to be had and that the very Church of Rome her self believeth all the Articles that the Reformed Church believeth And I can speak it and thou knowest it as well as I that in case she were divested of all her Jewish Ceremonies and Human Inventions and of Men's Traditions which are set up in the room of God's Word the Romish Religion would be no longer Roman but Reformed What then hast thou done Thou hast took the Shadow for the Substance the Ceremonies for the Truth I protest unto thee upon my Soul that thou art out of the way Friend Give me thy Hand and I will once more set thee in the right way and thou shalt taste how gracious the Lord is to them that fear him that he is ready to forgive most willing to shew Mercy and if thou hast recourse unto him by Prayers and Supplications in the Name and Merits of his Dear Son thou shalt certainly obtain the Remission of thy Sins thro his Name My Friend thou hast joyned thy self to the Communion of Idols and art a Partner with Idolaters and dost thou think in their Communion to work out thy Salvation Be not deceived God will not be mocked No Idolaters shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Ah! dost not thou know that our Religion which thou hast quitted giveth the Glory of Man's Salvation unto the Christ of God only That it ascribeth the Salvation of Believers to the Lord Jesus only That it preacheth nothing else but what the Elect Apostle of the Gentiles preached even Jesus Christ and him Crucified That it putteth Confidence in none but God And as David seeketh for none in Heaven but God That it adoreth no Creature whatsoever but adoreth God only Father Son and Spirit Three Persons in one God That it invocateth God only because besides him there never was nor never will be any that can help save and deliver That with the blessed Virgin she calleth him her God and her Saviour That it teacheth not the Doctrin of Devils nor forbiddeth Marriage nor to obstain from Meats which God hath created to be used by the Faithful and those who have not known the Truth with Thanksgiving That it is not Sacrilegious to rob the People of the Cup against the express Commandment of God That it reacheth God to be a Spirit and that such as worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth That it teacheth to fear God and to honour the King whom may the Lord of his Mercy long preserve To sanctifie the day of Rest but not Festivals which are only Men's Inventions To keep Promise and Covenant tho to a Man's Loss and Hurt Rather to serve God than Men And forasmuch as God hath spoken the Word that he will not give his Glory unto another nor his Praise unto Graven Images it teacheth all to ascribe Glory unto God only and to give him the Thanks of all our Mercies because he is the sole Author and Donour of them Our Religion doth not take away any of God's Commandments nor suffereth any Images to be made nor Pictures to be hung up that they should be served and adored A Religion neither addeth to nor taketh any thing from the Holy Word of God for it well knows that such as do so the Plagues written in that Word shall be inflicted on them and their Names shall be blotted out of the Book of Life It teacheth with St. Paul that the Divine Scriptures can make us wise unto Salvation and with St. John that the Blood of Jesus cleanseth us from all Sin and that there is none other Purgatory for our Sins than Christ's Blood Time would fail me and I should but waste it if I told thee That the Death of the Son of God is our Life his Wounds our Health and that there is none other Sacrifice for Sin than that one only and never to be repeated Sacrifice of his Death Friend our Religion teacheth that by this Sacrifice we have the Remission of all our Sins and that where the Remission of Sins is there is no more Oblation for Sin and therefore no Mass Take heed unto thy self Friend for if thou sinnest wilfully after Admonition after that thou hast received the knowledge of the Truth know of a Truth that there is no more Sacrifice for Sins Do not then count the Blood of the Covenant a prophane thing for thou knowest that 't is a most fearful thing to fall into the Hands of an incensed God Be zealous therefore and Repent In short thou knowest that all the Doctrins of our Religion are contained in thâ— Holy Scriptures and yet thou hast quitted it What hast thou done Thou art return'd unto Babylon from which God hath brought thee forth in the Loyns of thy Fathers that thou mightst not participate in her Sins nor in her Plagues Thou hast return'd with the Dog unto thy Vomit and with the Sow that was washed to wallow in the Mire My Friend my Bowels are troubled for thee Believe and follow my Counsel Awake and
r. should p. 462. l. 3. after by r. the. p. 488. l. 32. f. make paying r. pay in p. 489. l. 54. put the Comma after Amyraud p. 500. dele the last line p. 511. l. 27. f. those r. whose p. 512. l. 26. r. give p. 540. l. 22 23. dele and if it be possible p. 545. l. 49. f. decreeing r. during p. 549. l. 46. after taken insert off p. 550. l. 32. dele dare p. 556. l. 11. f. our r. their p. 567. l. 25. for this r. his p. 568. l. 3. r. but the next time p. 569. l. 26. r. for his Family's subsistence p. 578. l. 18. r. ninety p. 585. l. 8. r. there can be p. 595. l. 3. r. Religion that neither addeth AN INTRODUCTION UNTO THESE COUNCILS THE CONTENTS OF THE INTRODUCTION The State of Religion in France before the Reformation Section 1. The Dawn of it in the Preaching of Waldo 2. And of his Disciples 3. Persecutions raised against them and by whom 4. The glorious Out-breaking of the Reformation how and by what Instruments in that Kingdom 5. The Growth and Progress of it Churches gathered Pure Worship instituted Bible translated into the Mother-Tongue 6. New Persecutions excited The first National Synod 7. Confession of Faith composed and presented to the King 8. The Confession it self in 40 Articles 9. Remarks upon the Confession 10. Discipline designed 11. The whole Body of the Discipline of those Reformed Churches in fourteen distinct Chapters 12. Remarks upon the Discipline And Apology for those Churches Two thousand one hundred and fifty Reformed Churches in France in the Year 1571. They had more than 200000 Martyrs in ten Years time 13. The Acme and Perfection of the Reformation Religion at a stand for 22 Years from the 1572 to the Year 1594. When Henry the Fourth last revolted then began the Reformation to lose ground in France French Ministers Latitudinarians and Accommodators who and for what but condemned by their National Synods 14. The Edict of Nantes with all its Articles The secret Articles of that Edict 15. The President du Thou and the Lord of Calignon spend three Years in drawing up this Edict 16. Observation and Infractions of the Edict Misery of the Reformed after the death of Henry the Fourth 17. The Edict of Nismes granted to the D. of of Rohan and the whole Body of the Protestants 18. Reflections upon this Edict and its Non-observation A Declaration of this present King Louis the Fourteenth confirming all the former Edicts of Pacification with Acknowledgment of the great Services and Merits of the Reformed 19. The true Causes of their Ruin the great Services they had done the King in his greatest needs 20. The various Methods used for the destruction of the Protestants in France 21. Law Suits in many Articles and Cases 22. Great Oppressions by fiery Zealots 23. Protestants ruined by perjur'd Papists 24. Incouragements given to Popish Priests and Missioners The Cheaters cheated 25. The miserable condition of sick Protestants 26. The cruel Oppressions of a French Gentleman 27. A General Inundation of Criminal Processes False Witnesses against Protestant Ministers 28. The Reformed deprived of all Offices Orders for it 29. New Converts freed from paying of Debts Protestants may not dispose of their Estates 30. Violations of the Edict by corrupt Expositions of it 31. The Schools of the Reformed their Colleges and Vniversities suppress'd 32. New Laws made which were a torment to them Those Laws specified and enumerated 33. Protestants may not receive into their Temples any revolted unto Popery Seats in their Temples for the Roman Catholicks 34. Multitudes foreseeing the approaching Storm quit the Kingdom 35. The Protestants ruined by the Verbal Declarations of their King His Letter to the Duke of Brandenburg 36. Juggling Tricks used to mischief the Reformed 37. Five most notable ones 38. The Mob stirred up by Decrees to desire their extirpation by venomous Libels 39. The care and endeavours of the Reformed for their own preservation yet ineffectual 40. Persecutions of the Protestants by Dragoons 41. In Berne their horrible Cruelties to fright the Reformed into Popery 42. A Specimen of those Cruelties 43. The barbarous usage of the Nobles and Commons of the Reformed in France Several memorable Relations of it 44. The Martyrdom of Monsieur Homel 45. The Intendants Bishops Priests and Missioners Ring-leaders in persecution A Form of Abjuration propounded and to be signed by the Protestants 46. A Letter from Metz giving an account of their sad estate there in that City 47. A Letter from Geneva relating the doleful estate of the poor Refugees in that City 48. Consultations at Court for the total extirpation of the Reformed Religion 49. The Edict repealing that of Nantes 50. The wretched estate of the exiled Pastors 51. And of the remaining Protestants in that Kingdom 52. Treacherous dealing with poor Ministers A Letter about it 53. The Pope's Congratulatory Letter to the King 54. A Pastoral Letter to the Brethren groaning under Babylonish Captivity and Tyranny 55. Remarks upon the Manuscript Copies out of which this Synodicon was extracted and composed 56. A Catalogue and Order and Time of the National Synods 57. THE INTRODUCTION SECTION I. The State of Religion in France before the Reformation EVrope a little before the Reformation was universally over-run with Idolatry Superstition Ignorance and Prophaneness The greater part of the Priests said not Where is the Lord and they who should have taught the Law of God knew him not The Pastors also transgressed against him and the Prophets Prophesied by Baal There was like People like Priest sottish brutish and debauched Sect. 2. In this woful estate the Sovereign Mercy of God brake forth as the Sun out of a dark Cloud in a most illustrious manner upon the Kingdom of France visiting it in the first place and before all the Nations of Europe with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ the Day-spring from on high The verity and purity of Christian Doctrine God's great Ordinance to recover sinful Nations from their Antichristian pollutions is Preached and published unto it Angels as it were from Heaven holy Men and Messengers of God came flying with the little Book of Life in their hands not as a Sealed Vision dark and unintelligible but open plain clear and easy to be understood into the Cities and Towns of that Kingdom and call aloud unto the Inhabitants thereof to repent of all their abominations to turn from all their Idols Superstitious and irreligious practices and to fear and serve God only through Jesus Christ the alone Mediator betwixt God and Man This was done at first by that famous Trumpet of Reformation the blessed Waldo of Lions who being a Neighbour to the Vaudois received the holy Bible and Doctrine of Eternal Life and Salvation from them in the year 1160. It having been conserved in their Valleys times immemorial yea said Fryar Reynerius from the very days of the Apostles Sect. 3. But he was not
Thomas at Cambridge in the Year 1586. The Confession which is commonly added to the End of the Bible and bound up with it and with the French Psalm-Books consists of Forty distinct Articles Yet there is an Edition of it by Justus Livius a Printer of Leyden and dedicated to the States-General of the Netherlands which hath Monsieur Chamier's Preface and is distinguished into Thirty five Articles in the Year 1616. I have consulted and compared several Printed Editions of the Confession as that of Hawtyn of Rochell in the Year 1616. and he was Printer to the National Synods which exactly agreed with several others printed since and with the Latin Edition in the Corpus Syntagma Confessionum printed by Chouet at Geneva in the Year 1654. And at Geneva was kept one of the three Parchment Originals of this Confession as the other two were reserved one at Paw in Berne and the third in the Archives of the City of Rochell and unless my Memory fail me there is one of these Originals in the City of Leyden in Holland and in the Custody of the French Church there But I will not be peremptory Sect. 11. The next thing which was done by this first National Synod was a Draught of their Church-Discipline The Canons of which at first were but a few yet they did in three and twenty Synods alter add amend augment and meliorate their first Plat-form 'till they had brought it to that compleat Form and System of Articles which was the established Order for the Conduct and Government of all their Churches I have heard very many of their most grave learned and judicious Divines magnifie it as a Master-Piece In truth their pious Reformers saw a great necessity of reviving and restoring the ancient Discipline and therefore at the same time that sound Doctrine and pure Scripture-Worship was introduc'd into their Churches they did also set up Discipline and that it might be effectually practised they did in the Synod of Orleans the sixteenth Article of General Matters ordain That the Canons of Church-Discipline should be read in the Consistories of the Reformed Churches in France on those Days when as the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administred and all Pastors Elders and Deacons all Moderators Assessors Scribes and Deputies of their Synods National and Provincial and all Members of Colloquies were expresly injoined according to their solemn Promises when they were first received into their respective Offices to see that it was diligently faithfully and vigorously executed And O! that the Generation which succeeded the first Reformers had not lax'd the Reins how happy might they have been In the Morning of the Reformation they were fair as the Moon clear as the Sun and terrible as an Army with Banners The greatest Princes of France submitted their necks to this golden Yoke of Christ A National Synod was formidable to the most daring Sinner Their Discipline duly and prudently managed preserved the Purity of Doctrine Worship and Morals among them And now I shall present it to me Reader SECT XII The Discipline of the Reformed Churches of France CHAP. I. Of Ministers CANON I. THAT such Persons may be chosen into the Ministery as are meet for so sacred an Employment Chap. I. Of Ministers let the standing Canon of the Apostle be observed That inquiry be made into their Doctrine whether they be apt to teach and also into their Conversation with all possible Diligence CANON II. Novices lately received into the Church especially Priests and Monks shall not be admitted unto the Sacred Ministry without a long and diligent inquiry and experience had both of their Life and Doctrine approved at least by the space of two Years since their Conversion and confirmed by good Testimonials from the places of their abode nor shall they be ordained no more than unknown Persons without the Advice of Provincial and National Synods CANON III. If any Bishop or Curate should desire to be employed in the Ministry of the Gospel he cannot be admitted till he be first a true Member of the Church and renounce all his Benefices and all other Dependencies on the See of Rome and make acknowledgment of all his Offences formerly committed by him according as he shall be advised by the Consistory and after long proof and experience had of his Repentance and godly Conversation CAN. IV. A Minister of the Gospel unless in times of Difficulty and Cases of very great necessity in which he may be chosen by three Pastors together with the Consistory of the Place shall not be admitted into this Holy Office but by the Provincial Synod or by the Colloquy provided that it be at least composed of seven Pastors which number being found in a Colloquy some of the Neighbour Ministers shall be called in to concur with it and the Minister elect shall be presented with good and valid Testimonials not only from the Universities and particular Churches but also from the Colloquy of that Church in which he had been most conversant CAN. V. The Minister presented shall be examined in this manner First by Propositions from the Word of God upon such Texts as shall be given him the one necessarily in French the other in the Latin Tongue if the Colloquy or Synod shall judge it expedient One whole day shall be granted him to prepare himself for each of these Exercises If by them he give satisfaction unto the Assembly there shall be tendered him a Chapter of the New Testament by which his skill in the Greek Language shall be known and as to the Hebrew they shall be careful to see that at the least he can serve himself of good Books for the understanding of the Scripture in that Original Unto these there shall be added an Essay of his skill in the most needful parts of Philosophy let the whole Examen be managed with singular Charity and without Affectation of any thorny or unprofitable Questions Finally he shall compose a brief Confession of his Faith in Latin on which he shall be opposed by way of Disputation And if after this Examination he be found capable then the Assembly remonstrating to him the Duty of that Office whereunto he is called shall further declare that Power which is given him in the Name of Jesus Christ See Obs 1. upon the Discipline in the Synod of Tonneins to minister both in the Word and Sacraments and he shall be fully and solemnly ordained in that Church unto which he is sent and the said Church shall be informed of his Election by the Act or Letters of that Synod or Colloquy which shall be delivered and read unto them by a Pastor or Elder CAN. VI. He whose Election shall be declared unto the Church shall Preach publicity the Word of God on three several Sabbaths but without power of administring the Holy Sacraments or of solemnizing Marriages in the audience of the whole Congregation that so they may know his manner of Teaching and the
that when the Dragoons had done their part as effectually as they could the Intendant with the Bishops and the Military Commander do once again assemble these miserable Inhabitants totally ruined and exhort them to obey the King and become Catholicks adding in case of obstinacy most terrible Threats And the new Converts never failed in this juncture to execute what they had promised to entice and seduce them from the true Religion This they could do the more successfully because the Reformed had yet some kindness for and confidence in them 4. When the Master of a Family thinking to get rid of the Dragoons had obeyed and signed an Abjuration yet for all this he was not freed from his Tormentors unless that his Wife Children and the meanest of his Servants did not also follow his example And if Wife or Children or any of his Domesticks escaped their hands and fled for their Lives they renewed their Persecutions upon him till such time as he had brought them back again which being sometimes utterly impossible their change of Religion did not in the lead benefit or avail them The Form of Abjuration imposed upon the Protestants when they turn'd Papists and which they stiled The Mark of the Beast I here offer to my Reader 's perusal THE Mark of the Beast OR The Profession of the Catholick Apostolick and Romish Faith which the Protestants in France were inforced to make and subscribe through the Violence of Persecution in France In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen I do believe and profess with a firm Faith all and every thing and things contained in that Creed which is used by the holy Church of Rome to wit I believe in one God the Father Almighty who hath made Heaven and Earth and all things visible and invisible And in one Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God and born of the Father before all Ages God of God Light of Light True God of the True God Begotten not made of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made who for us Men and our Salvation came down from Heaven and was Incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary and was made Man and was Crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate he suffered and was buried and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of the Father and he shall come again with Glory to judge both the quick and the dead whose Kingdom shall have no end And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord and Giver of Life who proceedeth from the Father and the Son who with the Father and the Son together is Worshipped and Glorified who spake by the Prophets And I believe one Catholick and Apostolick Church I acknowledge one Baptism for the Remission of Sins and I look for the Resurrection of the Dead and the Life of the World to come Amen I receive and embrace most firmly the Apostolick and Ecclesiastical Traditions and the other Observations and Constitutions of the same Church In like manner I receive the holy Scripture but with that sence which the holy Mother Church hath and doth now understand it to whom it doth belong to judge of the true sense and interpretation of the Sacred Scriptures and I shall never take it nor interpret it otherwise than according to the unanimous Consent of the Fathers I profess also that there be truly and properly seven Sacraments of the new Law instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ and needful for the Salvation of Mankind although not alike needful to every one to wit Baptism Confirmation the Eucharist Penance Extreme Vnction Orders and Marriage and that they do confer Grace And that Baptism Confirmation and Orders cannot be reiterated without Sacriledge I receive and admit also the Ceremonies received and approved by the Catholick Church in the solemn Administration of all these for-mentioned Sacraments I receive and imbrace all and every thing and things which have been determined and declared concerning original Sin and Justification by the holy Council of Trent I likewise profess that in the Mass there is offered unto God a true proper and propitiatory Sacrifice for the living and the dead and that in the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist there is truly really and substantially the Body and Blood togâ—â—her with the Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ and that in it there is made a Change of the whole substance of the Bread into his Body and of the whole substance of the Wine into his Blood which Change the Catholick Church calls Transubstantiation I confess also that under one only of those two Elements whole Christ and a true Sacrament is received I constantly affirm that there is a Purgatory and that the Souls there detained are relieved by the Suffrages of the Faithful In like manner the Saints reigning with Jesus Christ are to be Worshipped and Invocated and that they offer up Prayers unto God for us and that their Relicks are to be honoured I do most stedfastly avow that the Images of Jesus Christ and of the Ever-Virgin Mother of God and also of the other Saints ought to be had and retained and that due honour and veneration must be yielded to them Moreover I affirm that the power of Indulgences was left unto the Church by Jesus Christ and that their usage is very beneficial unto Christians I acknowledge the Holy Catholick Apostolick and Roman Church to be the Mother and Mistress of all other Churches And I promise and swear true Obedience to the Pope of Rome Successor of Blessed St. Peter Prince of the Apostles and Vicar of Jesus Christ. In like manner I receive and profess without doubting all other things left defined and declared by the holy Canons and General Councils and especially by the most holy Council of Trent And withal I do condemn reject and accurse all things which are contrary and whatever Heresies have ken condemned rejected and accursed by the Church And swearing upon the Book of the Gospels he must say I promise vow and swear and most constantly to confess God aiding me and to keep intirely and inviolably unto the death this self-same Catholick Faith out of which no Person can be saved which I do now most willingly and truly profess and that I will endeavour to the utmost of my Power that it shall be held taught and preached by my Vassals or by those who shall belong unto my charge So help me God and these holy Gospels So be it I of the Parish of do Certifie unto all whom it may concern that having acknowledged the falseness of the Pretended Reformed and the truth of the Catholick Religion of my own free will and without any Compulsion I have made Profession of the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Religion in the Church of in the hands of In Testimony of the Truth hereof I have signed this Act
of tools to build his House 'T is the very Character of Hell to force Men to Mass by Fire and Sword by Dragoons Plunder and Tortures And none but the Devil would spirit Men unto such actions and they who use them are undoubtedly his proper Imps and Agents And that you may keep up your abhorrency of Popery never forget this Continually set before your Eyes all its Deformities and never look on them or it through those false Glasses which the Doctors of Lies do now adays represent them to you You see their Temples full of Images before which they bow down and worship contrary to the express Commandment of God Thou shalt not make unto thy self any graven Image thou shalt not bow down thy self before them And flatter not your selves with this that possibly you may not be obliged thereunto for the people with whom you are do it and you partake in this their Sin of Idolatry at leastwise if you do not abhor it both with heart and mouth Set before you that Idolatrous Worship performed unto Creatures and in particular that Honour which being due only unto God is yet nevertheless given unto the Mother of our Saviour Jesus Christ and unto Saints and then remember those dreadful words As I live saith the Lord I will not give my glory unto another And remember also that Idolaters are in the Van of those that shall never inherit the Kingdom of Heaven Consider that Sacrifice ordained by their Church and wherein you must adore a bit of Bread Do not think you shall escape by this foolish suggestion We only adore Jesus Christ who is in Heaven For the Pagan Idolaters might have used the same plea That when they kneeled before their Idols they lifted up their Hearts to the true God Never be reconciled with them for that great wrong they do your Souls in robbing you of the Cup which is but one half of the Sacrament when as Jesus Christ hath given you the whole of it Never accustom your selves to that barbarous Language which keeps you from understanding your Religion and leaves it only to be gazed at with your eyes Keep up a perpetual aversion for that vain heap of Pagan and Jewish Ceremonies which are in a direct line of opposition to the purity and simplicity of Christianity But know 't is not enough that you detest all these things with your Heart you must also condemn them with your Mouths Your Judgments herein must not be concealed you must be ever and every where ready to confess the Truth And therefore as often as you shall have occasion declare openly without guile or reservation that you abhor that Worship unto which you are compelled to be present Never go to Mass unless they drag you to it by main force and whil'st they force you to it declare publickly that you do not in the least with your heart consent thereunto and if by the same violence wherewith they brought you to it they keep you at it yet manifest by your Actions that you have not any belief nor respect for those false Mysteries Keep carefully your Books of Piety of Devotion and of Controversie and read them with singular diligence and attention Preserve them by hiding and conveying them from the reach and search of your Persecutors Above all keep as your most precious Jewels the most Holy Bible and suffer every thing rather than suffer your Bibles to be snatcht away from you Read them daily and with the greatest devotion Concerning your poor Children 'T is true they will be ravisht out of your Arms and led to the Catechistical Exercises of the Priests and 't is to be seared this will be done with so great violence that 't will be impossible for you to hinder it yet as soon as they shall be returned from them never fail to destroy what those Priests have built up Instruct them in the Truth and infuse into their Souls a sacred abhorrency of the Romish Religion And this you may do by causing them to read carefully those places of Holy Scripture which are contrary to it Never forget nor spare any pains or expence in procuring from foreign Countries Books capable of instructing and strengthening you and when as the Priests shall have robb'd you or your own cause others to be brought you whatever rates you pay for them The poor Country Peasants and Mechanicks in Towns and Cities by reason of their ignorance are expos'd to greatest dangers But the strong ought to support the weak and you must earnestly endeavour each others edification This you may do as you travel into your Country-houses as you walk in the Streets yea when as you meet one another in your Shops there being none by you of the contrary Religion Supply these poor People with Books for their Instruction and exhort them without ceasing to bear up against all discouragements and never to let loose their hearts unto Idolatry but contrariwise to detest and oppose it by their discourses Maintain a continual Correspodence among your selves and perfectly know one another principally those who love the Truth and mutually incourage one another in your Resolutions never to forsake it If you can at any time meet together secretly by Night in the Retirements of your Houses let it be for the reading of God's Word and of good Books capable of instructing you but above all for Prayer Proper Prayers for your condition shall be sent you from foreign Countries By reason of that commerce and communion you are necessitated to hold with the Papists endeavour also after their Conversion Who knows but that God may have ordained this sore Persecution for this very end that you should carry the light of the Gospel into the very bosom of Popery in order to its destruction But take heed unto your selves For should you be dumb dogs and dissemblers and counterfeit the Papists before the Papists God will give you up to a reprobate sence So then forbear not speaking unto the Papists when you meet them but entertain them with Discourses of Religion And speaking to them of the violence offered unto your Consciences give them a lively pourtraict of the Deformities of their Religion and Purity of your own shew them the Vanities and Impurities of their Worship of their Idolatry and sottish Opinions And labour powerfully by all means their conversion And that this may be successful order your Lives with the greatest accuracy and circumspection 'T is visible that the sinful disorders and miscarriages of your Conversations have brought upon you those fearful Judgments from God under which you are now groaning There was no kind of worldliness in which you were not ingag'd such as rich Houshold-Goods Vessels of Silver Tapistry Feasts Gluttonies Idle Days Plays Pastimes Cloth of Silk and Gold Rings Pearls and Jewels If you be wise your first Reformation must begin here all these must be rejected sell your Tapistries your Silver Vessels wear the plainest Woolsteds have nothing to
Gentleman who had promised her Marriage by words de praesenti all usual Solemnities halving been observed who yet notwithstanding now refuseth to accomplish the said Marriage pretending Inequality of Fortune and Difference of Religion and that for these reasons he cannot comply with her We advise that before she insist on those things which are consecutive to the interruption and separation of the Marriage as the demanding of her Rights and other matters of that nature from him that she procure the accomplishment of the Marriage according to his Promise XXXIII In some Places and Temples where the Word of God is preached the Bells being rung to give notice of it is it expedient that Men and Women meeting together for that purpose in a certain Chamber of those Temples should answer Questions propounded to them from the Books Chapters and Verses of the Holy Bible by the Minister and give each of them their Scence and Interpretation of those Texts of Scripture It was answered That this course was evil and of dangerous consequence and that the Minister of Croissil did very well to oppose himself against it And the Churches are advised not to bring in any such Practice Candidates must not be sent up and down to uncertain places there to preach XXXIV Those of Caen send their Candidates abroad to preach the Word whence divers Scandals have ensued because some of them have been Persons of ill Life and it was contrary to what had been ordained at Rouen However the Reasons urged by them are these That by the Council of Poictiers Deacons were permitted to Catechize and they could not suddenly lay hands on any being as yet Novices and also because they sent them unto such places as had not ability to maintain a Minister Is this Action of theirs worthy of Reprehension We answer That in the National Synod of Poictiers Deacons were indeed permitted Catechising but it was when they were fully resolved to serve in the Ministry of the Gospel and also by reason of the difference of Opinions hereabout this very matter had been remitted unto this present Council But because there was not at that time any thing spoken about Propositions and that they had been warned of this by the Provincial Synod of Rouen not to indulge unto this practice any more they shall therefore be censured An enforced Promise of Marriage is null XXXV A Minister of Caën did so very much importune a Maid that she gave him promise of Marriage and promiseth to espouse him on this Condition When the Mass shall be no more used in the City of Caën whereupon the Minister gives her certain Rings and a while after demands the accomplishment of their Marriage But the Maid will not consent and saith That her Father did by Threatnings constrain her to make those Promises which is also acknowledged by the Father The Provincial Synod of Caën declared the Nullity of that Promise because it had been extorted by force and had it been performed there would have arisen great Scandal For sometime he acquiesceth in the Sentence of that Synod and receiveth again his Rings But now as he saith being pressed to it by his conscience he believes himself bound unto her and therefore makes his Appeal unto this present Synod who having seen the causes of this Appeal orders That he submit himself to the Direction of the Provincial Synod of Caën which they judge to be most equitable And the Provincial Synod of Caën also is enjoyned to inquire into the Call and Life of this Minister and in special to discover the means used by him for the obtaining this pretended Promise and to take knowledge of it that he may be suspended and deposed if so be necessity do require it XXXVI A Gentleman troubles the Church and wills that his Wife come up immediately after him unto the Lord's Table before any of the Men And altho' it had been ordained by the Synod of Caën That he should follow the general practice of the Churches yet nevertheless he will not conform thereunto This Assembly orders a Letter in their Name to be sent him advising him to walk with more Humility XXXVII It 's demanded Whether those words You neither need me nor my Goods uttered upon speech of Marriage do imply a Promise This Synod answers negatively XXXVIII A Minister of Limonsin whose Conversation was otherwise blameless by the Threats of Enemies writ to the Queen-Mother That he never consented to the taking up of Arms although he had consented and contributed thereunto Item That he promised to preach no more until such time as the King should License him and that he had promise made him to injoy his Conscience living quietly in his own House Since being convinced of his Sin he did freely of his own accord without having been solicited thereunto make publick Confession of it before the whole Congregation hath lived very holily yea with the rare Testimony of a Very great Repentance and in particular he did acknowledge his Offence upon a solemn Sacrament-day in the presence of all the Ministers of the Country insomuch that all the Faithful departed exceedingly edified by his Example He hath also for a long time together forborn the exercise of his Office 'T is demanded Whether this be a sufficient Penance and he may enter again upon his Charge the People earnestly desiring it We are of Opinion that this is sufficient However he shall once again write unto D'Escars who was the cause of his Fall to give him to understand his Repentance if so be the Consistory and Neighbour-Ministers think it fitting and he is intreated if he can to acquaint the Queen with it And in case of Scandal taken against his Church for this Action 't is left to the Prudence of the Provincial Synod of Lymousin to remove him unto some other place The Lord's Supper m y nor be given to an Abbess who retains the Revenues of her Abby XXXIX The Church of Vivaretz demand Whether they may without wronging their consciences give the Sacrament unto an Abbess who having quitted all Idolatry doth notwithstanding retain the Revenues of her Abbey and not imploy them to their right uses 'T is answered That they may not admit her to the Lord's Table XL. A Minister being sound insufficient who was put into the Ministry without Examination what is to be done with him especially since a Multitude do desire to have him It 's advised That he go and follow his Studies elsewhere for some time XLI Unto the Question Whether Marriage may be performed in his private House who is sick of a Disease which hinders him from going abroad It is answered That it is not lawful because though he cannot go yet he may be carried unto the Church XLII A young Man promiseth Marriage unto a Maid but oftentimes protests before her Parents and divers others That he will not take her in Marriage if she be not a Virgin They do all give him
that they may be combin'd into one and by this means gain a Minister for the Church of Rouen or if this don't like them they may contrive some better expedient And this course also shall be taken by the Province of Xaintonge for the supply of the Church of Xaintes XXV This Assembly prays and intreats the Province of Brittany to lend Monsieur De la Melluniere unto the Church of Vitré and at the same time to make provision for the Church of Cuisit where he is at present XXVI The Lord Du Plessis presented himself in the Name of the King of Navarre unto this Assembly proposing from His Majesty That there might be sent unto him being now on the other fide of the Loire certain Deputies Persons of Quality and Understanding who might be near His Majesty to acquaint him with the true State of our Churches and that he also might reciprocally communicate unto the Churches all Matters of Importance tending to their welfare and preservation This Assembly is of Opinion That all the Churches be exhorted effectually to comply with His Majesty's Demands and in order thereunto to name one or two Deputies to be dispatcht unto him in the Name of the Churches and this to be done out of hand and the Province of the Isle of France is to see it done without delay Means for uniting the German and French Churches Synod of Gap Gen. Mat. art 11. Synod of Rochel art 4. after the choice of Moderator and Assessor XXVII A motion being made for an Union and Agreement betwixt the Churches of Germany and ours this Assembly adviseth That Monsieur De Chandieu be solicited to undertake a Journey for the effecting of it and in case the said Monsieur De Chandieu have just Excuses for not accepting the Employ Monsieur De Seire shall be intreated to supply his place XXVIII Monsieur Salnar is intreated to write in the Name and by the Authority of this Synod unto the Princes and Divines of Germany and he shall confer with the Lord Du Plessis about the subject matter of his Letters and the said Letters shall be sent to Monsier De Chandieu to be represented by him XXIX Monsieur De Chassincour is intreated by this Assembly to continue his Office at Court and the Churches are exhorted to perform their Duties to him whereof the Brethren of the Isle of France are order'd to give him notice XXX The Deputy of Lower Languedoc demanding that our Brother Vilette Minister in the Church of La Sala may be removed thence and translated unto Montpellier because of that great Service he may do there and that his Church may be some otherways provided This Assembly leaveth the decision of this matter unto his Provincial Synod which after due consideration had of all Circumstances shall determine of it XXXI Monsieur Laurence Bouchart formerly Minister of Privas in Lower Languedoc deposed for his scandalous Crimes having appealed unto this Assembly it examined the Causes of his Deposition and all the Proceedings in and about it and now judgeth that he cannot be restored unto the Minstry whatever Testimonials of Repentance may be produced by him XXII To the Case propounded by the Deputies of Berry Whether his Marriage should be tolerated who had espous'd his Wife's Niece and that had some Years after his said Marriage joyned himself unto our Religion and communicated with us at the Lord's Table and hath had several Children by this Wife This Assembly answereth That by the 14th Verse of the 18th Chapter of Leviticus such a Marriage is incestuous and that therefore in no wise can it be tolerated and that they provoke not the Wrath of God more heavily against them they ought to separate one from the other And whereas these Persons committed this sin in the time of their Ignorance we advise that they privately confess it unto the Consistory where they shall be admonished counselled and comforted from the Word of God XXXIII Complaint being made by divers Persons of the Censure passed on Brocard's Exposition of the Book of Genesis in the last Synod of Rochel where he was condemned for Impiety and Prosanation of God's Holy Word and blaming it as too strict and rigorous tho' some would acquit him of Impiety because he agrees with us thoroughly in all the Articles of Faith This Assembly doth confirm the afore-mentioned Censure judging that that Doctrine is not only impious which is contrary to the Articles of Faith but that also which perverts the true sence and meaning as his doth of the Holy Scriptures because they be the true Foundation of the Christian Doctrine Yet that satisfaction may be given them who are displeased at the Censure past on this Book of Brocard's there shall be extracted out of it a Catalogue of his grossest Errors and communicated abroad for their perusal and information XXXIV Monsieur De Bellefleur appealing from the Sentence given against him in the Synod of Higher Languedoc by which his Treatise against the Discipline of our Churches was condemned this Assembly having read his Treatise and the Answers made unto it doth confirm the said Saentence past against the said Bellefleur To whom notwithstanding a Letter shall be dispatcht in the Name of this Assembly and the Answer of our Brother Monsieur Berault shall be communicated to him in which if he do not acquiesce the next Colloquy or Synod shall denounce him Schismatick XXXV The Deputy of Higher Languedoc related the Affair of Arias and Bourgade complaining that they were too severely censured by their Pastors Berault and Gironnin whereupon the Synod came unto this Resolution That the Piovince shall be informed that they have full Power and 't is their Duty to judge definitively of it and that the Censures given by the Consistory of Montauban and the Provincial Synod against them shall be in force and if the said Plaintisss be not quiet nor demean themselves peaceably and modestly according to their Duty The Colloquy of Lower Quercy calling in two other Ministers from the Neighbour-Colloquy shall in the Name and Authority of this Synod judge definitively of this Fact XXXVI The Province of * * * Higher Lower Languedoc is appointed by this Assembly to convoke and assign the Time of Meeting for the next National Synod which is once for all ordained two Years hence in the Month of May. May 16. 1583. Thus Signed by Peter Merlin Moderator And René Pineau Scribe The End of the Synod of VITRE THE ACTS DECISIONS and DECREES OF THE XIII National Synod OF THE Reformed Churches of Christ IN The KINGDOM of FRANCE HELD At Montauban in the Year of our Lord 1594. THE CONTENTS of this SYNOD CHap. I. Deputies unto the Synod Synodical Officers chosen The Lord's Supper to he received by all the Deputies in the conclusion of the Synod Chap. II. 7. Observations upon the Confession of Faith and its Approbation Chap. III. 21. Observations upon the Discipline being so many Additions and
be most sharply reproved and if after one or two Admonitions they do not refrain they shall be suspended the Lord's Table And all outragious Blasphemers Forswearers and suck-like Persons shall in no wise be tolerated in the Church but upon the first Offence shall be punished with Suspension from the Lord's Supper and if they continue in this their Vngodliness they shall be publickly excommunicated And this Assembly voted unanimously That when the Deputies of the Provinces shall be returned to their several respective homes they shall cause this Article to be read in all the Churches in the Audience of all the People 21. The Articles of our Discipline having been all read over one by one they were all approved and ratified by the joynt and common Consent and Suffrages of all the Provincial Deputies in the Name of all our Churches and in this self same Form in which they are couched by the former and this present National Synod And this Synod declareth farther That the Copies of it corrected and amended by the Commissioners authorized thereunto shall be hereafter followed and observed both as to Number of Articles and Terms and Words by which they be expressed that so such as shall take the pains to transcribe it may conform themselves exactly to those said Copies of our Discipline CHAP. IV. Of General MATTERS 1594. Synod XIII I. IN every Province there shall be chosen some sit Person to answer the Writings of our Adversaries not that by this Canon we intend to abridge any other of our Brethren of their liberty to use those Gifts and Abilities which God hath given them for his Churches Service And this shall be done at the sole Charges of that Province in which the Answer is made And if any Person shall presume to print his Book before he hath first communicated it unto his Colloquy or Synod according to our Discipline he shall be most severely censured and his Work shall be suppressed II. The Colloquies shall be exceeding careful that that Article of our Discipline concerning the Maintenance of poor Schollars designed for the Ministry be diligently observed and that they make Report of it unto their Provincial Synods and the Provincial Synods shall give account thereof unto the National that so it may be manifested how they have performed their Duty in this particular But forasmuch as the Expedients contained in that Article arc not sufficient for this end and the Churches Stock is very mean and low the farther Consideration hereof is referr'd unto the General Assembly at St. Foy The last Translation of the Holy Bible by the Pastors and Doctors in the Church of Geneva is to be received in ours III. Reserving liberty unto the Church for a more exact Translation of the Holy Bible our Churches imitating the Primitive Church are exhorted to receive and use in their Publick Assemblies the last Translation revised by the Pastors and Professors of the Church of Geneva And Thanks shall be presently given unto Monsieur Rotan and by Letters unto our Brethren of Geneva who have at the desire of our Churches so happily undertook and accomplished this great and good Work and they be further intreated to amplifie their Notes for the clearer and better understanding of the remaining dark places in the Sacred Text and Ministers in the respective Provinces are ordered to collect those difficult passages and to make Report of them unto the next National Synod who shall consider which most needs explication Mr. Calvin's Catechism to be used in our Churches IV. A Resolution being took in the last National Synod of Vitré at the desire of the Deputies of Xaintonge that they should consider whether Mr. Calvin's Catechism ought to be changed it is now decreed that it shall be retained and Ministers shall not be permitted to expound any other yet this Explication shall be done by familiar Questions and Answers And as for general Catechisings which are usually done before the Lord's Supper all People without exception shall be catechised in such a manner as every Church judgeth best sitting for their instruction V. To the Case propounded by the Deputies of Anjou and Tourain this Assembly replies That there is no need of an express particular Form of Prayer at the Ordination of Ministers However that Article concerning their Ordination shall abide in its full force and be carefully observed VI. There shall be nothing changed in the 4th Article of the 10th Chapter of our Discipline Nevertheless that all Abuses may be prevented either by Pastors or Churches the Colloquies may appoint two or three Ministers No regard is to be had unto the reciprocal Complaints of Pastors and People one against the other unless in such Cases as merit Suspension and Deposition who shall transport themselves upon the place to remedy and redress them and in case of failure by the Colloquies the Provincial Synods shall provide against such neglects and omissions 7. Whenas a Minister complains of his Churches Ingratitude and the Church on the other hand shall lay the blame on its Pastor there shall be no Notice taken of either of them unless it be in a case of very great and enormous wickedness for which the Pastor meriteth Suspension or Deposition from his Office and that Sentence shall be pronounced by the Provincial Synod And then also some effectual course shall be taken to provide against the afore-mentioned Ingratitude And the Churches shall be censured for concealing so long a time what ought to be more early discovered Ungrateful refractory Persons shall be deprived of the Lord's Supper VIII Forasmuch as the Ingratitude of divers Persons in not contributing to their Minister's Subsistance is more notorious than ever and that this crying sin threatens the Churches with a total dissipation after mature deliberation we do decree That in case these ungrateful Wretches having been several times admonished by their Consistory do persist obstinately in this their sin their Consistory shall deprive them of Communion with the Church in the Sacraments IX Colloquies shall be exhorted to observe carefully the 38th Article in the first Chapter of our Discipline Pastors must be resident The Apocryph◠not to be read in the Churches X. Colloquies and Synods shall take special heed that Pastors reside as much as possible on their Churches XI The Churches are advised to see to it that their Deacons or Readers do not read publickly the Apocrypha but the Canonical Books of Holy Scripture This Article was repealed by the Synod of Saumur art 5. Gen. Mat. XII Whenas there shall be any considerable Sum of the Churches Money given to their Poor lying by in Stock and there be no present urgent occasion for its distribution the Deacons may put it out to Interest upon good security and receive such profit for its Loan as is allowed by his Majestie Laws and those of Charity but with this Proviso that both the Deacons and Consistory do immediately call it
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
aforesaid Letters of Abolition and Pardon and that they disavow those persons if there be any such as have accepted and consented to them And whoever shall demand or approve them we declare those persons to have acted contrary and prejudicial to the sincerity of their Intentions and to their approved Loyalty and Fidelity All which we do once more publish not out of vanity or vain-glory but to give Testimony unto the Truth and that we are ready to adventure our Honours Estates and Lives in the performance of those Duties Services and Obedience which Their Majesties may expect from us who are their most humble most faithful and most obedient Servants and Subjects From Privas in Vivaretz the first of June 1612. Signed by Chamier Moderator Du Moulin Assessor Scribes Monsanglard and Manjald CHAP. X. General Matters 2. THE Consistories of those Towns in which Printers professing our holy Reformed Religion do live are exhorted to look carefully to the Impressions of our psalm-Psalm-books that nothing be inserted into the Calendars trenching upon the honour of any particular persons And our Brethren the Pastors of Geneva are desired to bear a strict hand over the Printers in their City that this Canon be punctually observed by them 3. Proposans maintained by the Provinces shall not be received into the Ministry without the consent of their respective Provinces nor shall any Proposans maintained by particular Churches be received into a Pastoral Charge without the consent of those very Churches from whom they received their Exhibitions 4. The Deputies of the Province of Aujou queried at what time after their Conversion from Popery to the Communion of our Reformed Churches such persons might be called into the Office of Elders and Deacons This Assembly ordained that it might be about the same time that other such might be admitted into the Ministry to wit after two years tryal and experience had of them and of their sincerity 5. Forasmuch as a torrent of Dissolution Irreligion and Profaneness is broke in upon us and most shameful divisions are risen up in our Churches which do visibly and terribly threaten us with the near approaches of God's Judgments ever since the Death of our late King This Assembly enjoyneth all the Churches within the Realm to proclaim an extraordinary Fast which shall be celebrated the first Wednesday in November next and be Universally and most Religiously observed by them The Provinces are exhorted carefully to collect the History of those Ministers and other Christians who in these last times have suffered for the truths of the Son of God and to transmit such Memoirs unto Geneva that they may be inserted into our Book of Martyrs and published to the World by the Pastors of that Church 7. Altho a person be chosen Counsellor for the Province and would thereupon be reputed for and Act as an Elder yet shall he not be admitted unto the Office of an Elder unless he pass through the forms prescribed by our Discipline CHAP. XI The Act of Re union 8. THE present National Synod of the Reformed Churches in this Kingdom desiring to secure the Peace and Union of the said Churches and inflamed with the Zeal of Gods House and Glory and grieved to see Satan sowing the Seeds of discord among us which redound to the Infamy and weakning of the said Churches and may in after times produce worse and more dangerous effects moved with charity towards the Members of our body and being willing to make some provision for a Fraternal concord the indispensable duty of all the Faithful hath and doth now resolve to exert it self even unto the utmost for the compassing of a Blessed and Holy peace and re-union among ourselves under their Majesties Authority And having once again Sworn our Oaths of Allegiance and Fidelity to them and that this Union may be the more easily effected and obtained This Assembly ordereth the Sieurs du Moulin and Durant Pastors and the Sieur de l'Isle Grossat Elder in the Church of Orleans to be joined as Commissioners together with our General Deputies in Court And all persons are exhorted to labour that the Memory of past matters be Buried in Oblivion and in the name of all our Churches to become Peace-makers that so the several humors and different Opinions risen up in the Assembly of Saumur may be Ballanced Allayed and Composed Declaring that the General desire of the said Churches is to reunite in one their affections who have been alienated from each other and this to be done according to the Methods and Counsels given and prescribed by this Assembly whereunto they may make such Additions as their Zeal and Prudence shall suggest and they shall diligently and conjointly inform the Provinces of their actings herein together with the result and success of their Mediation To this end Letters shall be Written and sent from this Assembly unto the Lords Mareschals and Dukes of Bouillon and de les Diguieres exhorting and adjuring them in the Name of God that they would be pleased at the instant intreaties of our Churches to join themselves together with us in an humble Petition and Address unto their Majesties and to testifie by evident effects their Zeal and Affection towards them and readily to embrace all opportunities that may either publickly or privately contribute to the safety of the State Quiet and Honour of the Kingdom as also that they would be pleased to join themselves together with our Churches for the procuring an entire removal of those Letters of Abolition verified and published of late by the Parliaments although never demanded nor deserved by us and to insist on it that the more important and necessary matters in our Petitions tendred unto their Majesties may receive a gracious answer and to endeavour that for the future all gratifications of persons and parties may be equal and all marks and notes of division and separation may be removed demonstrating thereby their forgetfulness of what is past and that they do cordially pursue without partiality the good of all and that generally upon all occasions which may so fall out they do manifestly express their zeal care and affection to the common publick Weal of our Churches as they shall be required admonished and informed by the General Deputies of the said Churches Moreover the said Lords shall be exhorted in our before-mentioned Letters that they would be pleased to resign up their own private Interests to those of the publick and that they would lay by their own particular Resentments which have been very much inflamed by the cunning crafts artifices and devices of the Enemies of our Religion and that they would hold a more firm Correspondence and sincere intelligence with the Lords Duke of Rohan and of Sully of Soubize de la Force and of the Lord du Plessis and with all others from whom by reason of these unhappy differences they have been estranged that so being all joyntly reunited in the Bond of Friendship they may
hold that such persons ought not to be rebaptized And therefore those Churches unto whom these poor Wretches be presented are advised to take all possible care that they be well principled in the Faith of our Lord Jesus 5. At the request of the Provincial Deputies of Anjou Saumur g. m. 2â— Alez g. m. 1. and of the Isle of France This Assembly ordained that the Decree of the National Synod of Saumur shall be still in force which was couched in these words That although by reason of the present necessity of these times in which we now live Pastors are permitted to be sent Deputies unto these Political Assemblies in which affairs relating to the Churches preservation are treated and debated Yet our Provincial and general civil Assemblies are earnestly requested to discharge and dismiss all Pastors from Deputations unto Court and this at the desire of several Provinces 6. At the request of the Province of Berry all the Provinces are enjoined to extend their Equity and Charity towards the poorer Churches Gergeau p. m. 39. in their distributions of the Kings money and in their allowances for expences in travel unto the general Assemblies whether they be Political or Ecclesiastical 7. The Deputies of Burgundy demanded whether a Patron might with a good Conscience sell away his right of Presentation unto any Rectory or Benefice 1 Vitré g. m. 15. provided he dispose of those moneys unto pious uses It was answered that he might warrantably do it For it was thus decreed in the National Synod of Vitré in the year 1583. 8. The same Province of Burgundy demanded that a special Canon might be made for direction how we should receive 3 of Râ—chel g. m. 16 Below Art 19. and what maintenance we should exhibit unto Monks who come unto us from foreign parts Order was given unto the Provinces where such Fellows first come to examine them most strictly and to see whether they be fit for the study of Divinity that so they may be supplied with maintenance accordingly or to employ them in other Callings according to their Capacities and the said Provinces shall give account of them unto the National Synods that they may dispose of them as of their own Peculiar 9. The Province of Higher Languedoc moving it Fâ—â—lliâ—rs Obs 14. all the Churches are injoined to suppress with the greatest care imaginable all manner of Insolencies such as they call Charivary's Redemptions of Marriage and the like and they who after admonitions prove incorrigible shall be prosecuted with all Ecclesiastical Censures and Magistrates professing the reformed Religion are intreated to exert their Authority so as to hinder or punish such Scandals 10. The Deputies of the said Province demanding Gap Obs 9. upon the former Synod that Ministers ordained abroad without the Kingdom might not be permitted to exercise their Ministry in our Churches at home without subjecting their Testimonials unto the Examination of Colloquies or Provincial Synods The Assembly ordered that all the Provinces should yield exact Conformity unto the ninth Article of Observations upon the Discipline made by the Synod of Gap on that of Gergeau 11. At the request of the forementioned Deputies the Professors in our Universities are ordered not to be too easy in giving their Testimonials unto Scholars but first of all carefully to examine their parts proficiency and conversations and according to the progress they have made in Humanity St. Maixant g. m. 30. and of Univers 8. Alez g. m. 6.1 Paris 13. Philosophy and Divinity and as they shall merit to give them their Attestations 12. On a Remonstrance exhibited by the Deputies of Normandy it is ordained that if a Pastor have given his Ministry unto any one particular Church he shall not leave it at his pleasure but shall first demand and obtain the advice and consent of his Colloquy or Provincial Synod in the matter and in case they judge of its expediency he may remove 13. This Assembly ordaineth St. Foy 7. that Catechising be more frequently used in all our Churches than ever and that the manner of expounding it whether Sermon-wise or by Questions and Answers is wholly left to the prudence of the respective Consistories who are to consider of the capacities and apprehensions of the Children in their Churches 14. Forasmuch as divers notable errors have been met withal in the Impressions of whole Bibles and of the New-Testament singly and of the Psalm-Books The Consistories of those Churches which have a Printing Press belonging to them are injoined to look carefully to it that their Printers have good Overseers and Correctors of the Press and that they Print with a fair Character and a good Paper And particularly the Pastors of the Church of Montauban are charged to call in all the Copies of the New Testament Printed in their City in Octavo and to suppress them because of the many and frequent faults in that Impression which quite alter and pervert the sence and because of the evil Consequence if that Impression should be vended and in answering the Letters of our Brethren the Pastors and Professors in the City and University of Geneva this Clause shall be inserted that we earnestly desire them to over see the Impressions of the Holy Bible of the New Testaments and Psalm Books that they may for the future be more correct than heretofore 15. The Deputies of the Isle of France demanding that the second part of the fifth Canon in the sixth Chapter of the Discipline might be a little qualified Saumur g. m 8. This Assembly did not think fit to make any alteration in it but exhorts Consistories Colloquies and Synods to use it unto Godly Edifying 16. The Deputies of Anjou and Poictou remonstrating how exceeding needful it is Figeac 51 Alez Obs 4. upon this Syn. that our Universities should be supplied with able Professors in Divinity This Assembly exhorts the Provinces to come prepared for this Debate unto the next National Synod and in the mean while to consider how to raise a Fund for the maintenance of some Scholars of great parts and hopes who may be wholly destinated unto this work or to find out some better expedient if they can 17. Complaints coming to us from divers hands Alez Obs 5. upon this Syn. that the Pensions paid by Scholars in the University of Saumur are so very high and the expence so exceeding great that many cannot and others will not send their Children to it This Assembly chargeth Monsieur Rivet Lanusse and de la Pilletierre that in their way homeward to their respective Provinces they do visit the University Council of Saumur and report unto them these Complaints and to assure them that in case they do not take some effectual course for moderating those excessive rates for lodging diet and washing the next National Synod will advise about it and transfer the said University to a cheaper and more convenient place 18. The Deputies of
not from the unchangeable Election unto Glory any other Benefit or Experience or Assurance than vvhat may flovv from a mutable and contingent Condition But besides that this is a most gross absurdity to suppose a Certainty vvhich is uncertain it is also repugnant to the common Sence and Experience of the faithful who together with the Holy Apostle rejoyce in the Sence and Feeling of their Election praising God for this Divine Benefit according to the Counsel of our Lord Jesus for that their Names be vvritten in the Book of Life Luke 10.20 vvhich is in Heaven In short they oppose the Sence of their Election to the fiery darts and temptations of the Devil challenging him thus Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect Rom. 8.32 CANON VIII Those vvho teach that God out of his Just and Soveraign vvill only hath not decreed to leave any one in fallen Adam and in that common Estate of Sin and Condemnation and to pass them by in the Communication of Grace necessary to vvork Faith and Conversion For this is firm and immutable Rom. 9.18 He vvill have Mercy on vvhom he vvill and vvhom he vvill he hardneth Item Matth. 13.11 To you it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven but unto them it is not given Item Matth. 11.25 26. I give thanks unto thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth for this that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes and little Children It is even so O Father for such is thy good pleasure CANON IX Those that teach that the cause wherefore God sendeth the Gospel rather to one Nation than to another is not the Sole and Soveraign good will and pleasure of God but because one Nation is better and more worthy than another to whom the Gospel is not communicated For Moses doth in plain words contradict it speaking thus unto the Children of Israel Deut. 10.14 15. Behold the Heavens and the Heaven of Heavens belong unto Jehovah thy God the Earth also and all that is in it but Jehovah delighted in thy Fathers only to love them and hath chosen their posterity after them to wit you from among all People as is evident this day And Jesus Christ Matth. 22.28 Woe unto thee Chorazin woe unto thee Bethsaida for if these Miracles had been done in Tyre and Sydon which have been done in the midst of you they would have repented in Sackcloth and Ashes CHAP. II. Of the Death of Jesus Christ and Mans Redemption by it CANON I. GOD is not only Soveraignly Merciful but also Soveraignly just And his Justice requireth as it is revealed to us in his Word that our Sins committed against his Infinite Majesty be not only punished with Temporal but also with Eternal Punishments in Soul and Body Nor can we avoid those dreadful punishments unless the Justice of God be fully satisfied CANON II. Now we being utterly unable of our selves to satisfie Divine Justice and to deliver our selves from the Wrath of God God out of his boundless Mercy hath given us his Onely Son to be a Surety for us who was made Sin and a Curse upon the Cross for us and in our stead that he might make satisfaction for us CANON III. This Death of the Son of God is the One Onely and most perfect Sacrifice and Satisfaction for our Sins whose worth and value is Infinite and which is abundantly sufficient to expiate the Sins of the whole World CANON IV. And this Death is of so great a Value and Dignity because the Person who suffered it is not only a True Man and perfectly Holy but is also the Onely Son of God of the self-same Eternal Essence with the Father and the Spirit For such a one must our Saviour needs be because he felt in his Death the Sence of Gods VVrath and Curse which we had deserved by our Sins CANON V. Moreover the Gospel-promise is that whosoever believeth in Jesus Christ crucified shall not perish but have Everlasting Life Which promise ought to be preached and tendered indifferently unto all Nations and Persons to whom God in his good pleasure shall send the Gospel and together with it the great Command of Faith and Repentance CANON VI. And whereas many who are called by the Gospel do not repent nor believe in Christ Jesus but perish in their Infidelity this cometh not from any defect or insufficiency in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ offered upon the Cross but the fault is in and from themselves CANON VII But all that truely Believe and are delivered and saved from their Sins and Everlasting destruction through Jesus Christ this singular benefit is derived to them from the mere Grace of God only which he oweth no Man and it was given them from all Eternity in Jesus Christ CANON VIII For such was the most free Counsel and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father that the quickning Power of God and the saving efficacious Vertue of his Sons most pretious Death should extend it self unto all the Elect to give them and them onely Justifying Faith and thereby infallibly to bring them unto Salvation That is to say God would that Jesus Christ by the Blood of his Cross wherewith he confirmed the Nevv Covenant should efficaciously redeem all those and none other out of every Nation Kingdom People and Language vvho from all Eternity vvere chosen unto Salvation and vvere given him by the Father that he should give them Faith vvhich as all other Gifts of the Holy Ghost he hath acquired for them by his Death and purge them by his Blood from all Sin both Original and Actual committed before and after Faith that he should keep them faithfully unto the end and finally present them before the Father glorious vvithout any spot or blemish CANON IX This Council proceeding from the Everlasting Love of God towards his Elect hath been powerfully accomplished from the beginning of the World unto this very day The Gates of Hell having in vain opposed it and it shall be also alwayes in succeeding Ages accomplished yea in such manner that the Elect shall be in their appointed time gathered into one and there shall be alwayes upon Earth in one place or other a Church of Believers founded in the Blood of Jesus Christ which will bear a constant Love unto its Saviour who as the Bridegroom for his Dearly Beloved Bride hath yielded up the Ghost upon his Cross which also shall persevere in his Service and shall praise and glorifie him now in time and to all Eternity Errors Rejected The Orthodox Doctrine having been Explained the Synod Rejecteth their Errors CANON I. WHO teach that God the Father destinated his Son unto the cursed Death of the Cross without any certain or determined Counsel to save any one particular Sinner so that the Necessity Utility and Dignity of the Impetration of Christ Jesus his Death might have been wholly saved and