Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	act_n	king_n	law_n	3,407	5	4.5886	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85896	The generall and particular acts and articles of the late national synod of the reformed Churches of France, assembled by the permission of the King at Charenton neare Paris, beginning the 26th of December, 1644. Where by the present estate of those churches, as also their doctrine and discipline may be knowne. With divers other remarkable passages, and letters from the King and Q. Regent of France, to the said synod, and of the synod to their Majesties, and other great personages. Never before printed either in French or English, and now faithfully translated out of a written French copy. Whereunto is added a formulary of baptisme for those who from paganisme, Judaisme, and Mahumetisme, are converted to the Christian faith; as also of those Anabaptists who have not bin baptised before, composed in the nationall synod set forth at Charenton in the yeare 1645. and now faithfully Englished.	Eglises réformées de France. Synode national (1644-1645 : Charenton-le-Pont); Anne, Queen, consort of Louis XIII, King of France, 1601-1666.; France. Sovereign (1643-1715 : Louis XIV)	1646 (1646)	Wing G488; Thomason E361_5; ESTC R201205	74,805	110

THE GENERALL And Particular ACTS and ARTICLES Of the Late NATIONAL SYNOD Of the Reformed Churches of France Assembled by the Permission of the King at Charenton neare Paris beginning the 26th of December 1644. Whereby the present estate of those Churches as also their Doctrine and Discipline may be knowne With divers other Remarkable Passages and Letters from the King and Q. Regent of France to the said Synod and of the Synod to their Majesties and other great Personages Never before printed either in French or English and now faithfully translated out of a written French Copy Whereunto is Added a formulary of Baptisme for those who from Paganisme Judaisme and Mahumetisme are converted to the Christian Faith As also of those Anabaptists who have not bin Baptised before composed in the Nationall Synod set forth at Charenton in the yeare 1645. and now faithfully Englished LONDON Printed by T. W. for G. Emerson and are to be sold at the Swan in little Britaine and at the blacke Beare in Pater-noster Row 1646. The Stationer to the Reader THe Church hath been under a threefold oppression first violent under persecuting Emperours 2. Fraudulent under insinuating Hereticks 3. Violent and fraudulent both under the Romish Antichrist every one worse then other This last the most pernicious and perillous as in whom the force and fraude of both the former were combined in one The first was grievous to the body but could not touch the soule the second destroyed the soule though it spared the body the third spared neither but by Impostures lies and a thousand falshoods entangled the soule in damnable errours and upon the bodies of Christians what savage cruelties they have exercised is as incredible to be beleeved as impossible to be exprest They have persecuted poore Christians with fire and water with fire to consume their bodies and bones to ashes With water to consume their very ashes if it were possible to nothing Of this the Church of France hath had most sad and long experience For the persecutions of the Protestants in France How many Edicts Proscriptions Proclamations for their utter destruction are still witnesses thereof What combination of Princes what Armies raised Townes burnt who le Countries depopulated Witnesse that of Merindol and Chabriers private murders publick Massacres as that of Paris wherein were most bloudily cut off very many thousands what cruelties have been exercised for number incredible for fury unsufferable had they not been inspired and supported by the divine power What lingring torments were invented to make them dye piecemeale ut sentiant se mori among many other one is most memorable of a Frier that tooke a poore Protestant filled his bootes full of grease set him upon a forme with his legs hanging over a soft fire and so broyled him to death with many more too tedious to mention here And yet for all these cruell sufferings they have kept the faith and obtained a good report they have been bettered by it like gold that comes the purer out of the fire they have been the cleaner for winnowing the clearer for scowring Tortores nisi habeat Ecclesia non haberet fidos Doctores And certainly this Church though it hath been under many cloudes yet such lights have still broke out in it that the world hath not seene the like And as God hath still moved the hearts of their Princes to give them some intermission of suffering so now a permission of doing even to assemble at Charenton for setling of that Religion whereof their chiefe Princes are enemies If God will restore his Temple Cyrus a heathen King shall grant a Commission for building of it In this Synod there are many things remarkable first the goodnesse of God in moving the hearts of the King and Queen Regent towards them 2. Their loyalty againe in their humble submission to their Soveraigne Princes their obedience to them and praiers for them though of a contrary Religion In the Acts of this Synod observe first their wisdome and moderation in Discipline 2. Their piety and purity in Doctrine but our approbation can adde nothing to their worth If any shall question what need of such frequent Assemblies as many there be that move such questions let him heare what Saint Paul sayes It is necessary that heresies be amongst us Therefore as necessary are often Assemblies of Pastours of the Church Necessitatem hanc furor haereticus imponit and this made the Apostles themselves call a Synod Acts 15. It seemes two dangerous Sects were now like to trouble that Church against whom care is taken in this Synod viz. the Anabaptist and the Independent The first the most pestilent sect that sprang up of late times and could never catch many Disciples in a cleare water did not the latter trouble these streams But the reverend Pastours have put in sufficient caution against them both and God grant their neighbours may follow their worthy president Concerning differencies about matters of indifferency the most antient and true bond of unity is not one discipline one ceremony one policy but one God one Faith one Baptisme and so one Church Una erit consortio aeternitatis and ad colendum unum Deum tota est instituta God grant one thing more sit una vinculo charitatis And that we may all keepe the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace In the name of God Acts of the Nationall Synod of the Reformed Churches of France assembled by the Permission of the King at Charenton neare Paris the 26th of December and dayes following 1644. AFter the opening of the Assembly performed by a Prayer pronounced by Sieur Drelincourt Pastour of the Church of Paris Monsieur the Marquess of Cleremont deputed Generall exhibited the Breuets dispatched by the Commandement of the King for the calling togethe● of them the tenour whereof followeth This day being the twelfth of the Moneth of February 1644. the King being at Paris upon the most humble Petition made unto him by his Subjects of the Pretended reformed Religion to permit them the Convocation and Assembly of a Nationall Synod for that there hath bin none since that of Alenzou in the year 1637 His Majesty with the advise of the Queen Regent his most honoured Lady Mother desiring to gratifie and favourably to treate his said Subjects hath permitted them and doth permit them the calling together of a Nationall Synod in the moneth of December next at Charenton with charge that therein they treate onely of such affaires as are permitted them by their Edicts and that the Commissary appointed by his Majestie shall assist in the said Synod as hath been accustomed In witnesse whereof his Majestie hath commanded mee to expedite this present Declaration which he hath signed with his own hand LOUIS There appeared in the said Assembly with their Letters of trust which were read by Sieur le Cog Ancient of the Church of Paris assisting at the Table with Sieur Calliart Ancient chosen to

censured Articles 23. 24. Men may not be deprived of the Supper of the Lord for any ordinary and accustomed fashion of habits in this Kingdome but in this ranke they may not be comprehended which are branded with the notorious marke of impudicity dissolution and over curious novelty as painting naked breasts and the like things of which there is great abuse as well in Men as Women For these things the Consistory shall proceed with a simple suspension of the Sacraments to the end that they may range themselves to that which is most agreeable to Christian modesty Articles 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. Dancings shall be repressed and they which make a practise of dancing after they have been oftentimes admonished shall be excommunicated when they shall continue pertinacious and rebellious therein The Consistories are to be exhorted thoroughly to practise the Article and to cause it to be read in the name of God and authority of the Synods and the Colloques and Synods are to be exhorted to take care in their Consistories that they doe their duty in conserving of them Mummery Jugling Gaming Puppet playing shall not be tollerated neither yet a French game called Faire le Roybait nor Shrove Tuesday be observed of the faithfull they are all forbidden c. Article 30. They which call others to duells or being called thereunto do accept thereof which shall have ●ulled their parties Notwithstanding they shall have obtained their Princes favour or shall be otherwise justified they shal be censured even to the suspension of the Lords Supper which suspension shall be speedily pub●ished and in case that they desire to be received unto the peace of the Church they shall make publicke acknowledgement of their offence Article 31. The Articles here contained touching the Discipline are not so resolved on among us but that if the benefit of the Church require it they may be changed howbeit it shall not be in the power of the Ministers Consistories Colloques or Provinciall Synods to add thereunto nor to diminish from them nor to change them without the advise and consent of a Nationall Synod According to that which hath been agreed upon in the last Nationall Synod held at Gorgean the first day of May 1601. An Extract from the Acts of the Nationall Synod held at Rochell the 2. of Aprill 1571. THis present direction being read and dilligently examined according to the word of God by all the Ministers and Antients deputed by the Churches of France They have in the name of the said Churches promised and protested to keepe and observe them for the edification of the Church the conservation of the order and union of them to the honour and glory of God Another Extract touching the Confession BEcause there is found among men divers sorts of Confessions The Synod hath declared that to be the confession of Faith of the Reformed Churches in France which beginneth thus Wee beleeve that there is one only God c. The which was presented in the first Nationall Synod held at Paris the second of May 1559. As when were present Ja●e by the grace of God Queen of Navarre the high and puissant Princesse Henry Prince of Navarre and Henry Burbon Prince of Conde and the most Illustrious Prince Lewis Count of Nassaw and Messieur Gaspard Count of Caligne Admirall of France and many other Lords and Nobles of great quality Generall Acts of the Nationall Synod Assembled at Charenton c. THe Assemhly prohibits all Provinces to take an Oath of Schollers to the prejudice of the right of al● Nationall Synods and the common edification of the Churches that they shall never depart from the service of the Churches of those Provinces in the Which they were first received in the Ministery of the Gospell At the requisition of the Province of Ceuenes t●e Assembly for to explaine the first Article of the generall Acts of the Nationall Synod held at Saint Maixant have declared that no particular Church may make enquirie after any Pastour without the permission of a Colloque or Provinciall Synod nor establish him by Act in pursuite of such an enquiry without advise be it of the Synod in body or be it of the neighbouring Pastours attending the liking and agreement of the Synod The Province of lower Guyenne having desired that an injunction were made unto all the Churches to keep conformity with them which have received the custome that particular persons entering into the Church humble themselves before God and every man apart make his prayers for the imploration of his assistance in the hearing of the Word The Assembly hath not judged it fitting to make a Rule of such a thing which of it selfe is free but hath left the Churches in their Antient usages exhorting them all respectively to seeke that which tends to edification and to avoyd all ostentation affectation and superstition The Assembly enjoynes a Collection to bee made throughout all the Provinces for the reliefe of the Captives detained in Argier Tunis and other places Upon the Remonstrance of the Provinces of Anjon and the Isle of France all the Churches which have places for Printing houses are particularly charged not to suffer any alteration or change to be made in the Translation of the Scripture or in the Rithmes of the Psalmes or in the text of the Confession of faith Liturgy and Catechisme without expresse order of the Consistory authorised by the Provinciall Synod Upon that which hath been reported by certaine Deputies of Maritime Provinces that many comming from forraigne Countreys which call themselves Independants because they teach that every particular Church ought to govern it selfe by its own proper lawes without dependancy of any person in Ecclesiasticall matters and without obligation to acknowledge the Authority of Colloques and Synods for their government and conduct and establish their habitations in this Kingdome which may hereafter cause great inconvenience if it be not in good time carefully prevented The Assembly fearing that the contagion of this poyson gaining insensibly may bring confusion and disorder among us and judgeing the said sect of Independants not onely prejuditiall to the Church of God insomuch as that it endeavours to introduce confusion unto the place where it hath its being opening wide a gate unto all sorts of singularities and extravagances and taking away all meanes of bringing a Remedy thereunto but also it is very dangerous to the State so that if it have place it will forme as many Religions as there be particular Parishes or Assemblies It is therefore enjoyned all the Provinces and especially the Maritime to take care that this evill take not footing in the Churches of this Kingdome to the end that Peace and uniformity as well in Religion as in Discipline be inv●olably maintained among us and that nothing be here brought in which may alter in any manner the service which is due to God and the King A Report being made of certaine Writings printed and Manuscripts by

faults before them Article 30. As for the crimes which shall have been declared unto Ministers by them which beg for counsell and comfort it is remitted to the conscience of the Ministers to judge if they ought to declare them unto the Magistrates and in this the Ministers shall with great wisdome have regard unto all circumstances It is demanded if a Minister ought to reveale to the Magistrate the Crimes which shall have been revealed unto him in secrecy by him which shall beg for counsell and comfort It is agreed that this be remitted to the conscience of the Minister who shall have a prudent regard of all circumstances It is demanded if it be lawfull to the faithfull to appeach them which being in the Church have committed any crime punishable by the Lawes As for scandalous vices and dammageable to the Common-wealth the faithfull ought to further and assist the Magistrate against them which are impenitent and persevere in their evill But in the behalfe of them which shall have fayled for once and prosecute not their failings one Ecclesiasticall censure shall suffice Article 31. If one or more stirre up debate to breake the union of the Church upon any point of Doctrine or of the Discipline or concerning the forming of the Catechisme of the administration of Marriage and of the Sacraments and publick prayers And because for this particular admonitions cannot give sufficient remedy the Consistory of the place shall readily endeavour to dissolve and appease all without noyse in all meeknesse by the word of God And if the gainsayers will not acquiesce the Consistory shall intreat the Colloque to assemble themselves on a time and place most convenient having first caused the said gainsayers to make an expresse promise which is to be enregistred not to scatter their opinions in any sort or manner but to attend the said Convocation of the Colloque upon paine to be censured as Schismaticks with exception notwithstanding that they confer with the Pastours and Ancients if they have not been taught and otherwise in case that the said gainsayers refuse to make the said promises they shall be censured as Rebells according to the Discipline The Colloque likewise shall joyntly proceed as above And if the gainsayers having been patiently heard and fai●ly refuted continue satisfied all shall be enregistred if not a Provinciall Synod shall be held to assemble themselves extraordinarily if need require in a time and place that the Colloque shall judge most proper after the promise such as is before reiterated made by the gainsayers The Synod Assembled shall advise as before with good and mature consideration of circumstances of the matter place time and persons if it shall be expedient that the conferences with the said gainsayers be made in the presence of the people in open Court and that they give audience unto him of the Assistance which shall speak yet so notwithstanding as that the decision of all appertaine to others rather then unto them which are Assembled in the Province and all following the order set downe by the Discipline And then if the gainsayers will not range themselves they shall make the same promises as before whereupon they shall be transmitted to an ordinary Nationall Synod or if necessity require to a Nationall Synod extraordinarily Assembled the which shall heare them with all holy liberty and freedome and there shall be made an entire and finall resolution by the word of God unto which Resolution if they refuse to acquiesce from point to point and with expresse renouncing of their errours enregistred they shall be cut off from the Church Article 32. A Pastour or Ancient breaking the union of the Church or stirring up contention upon any point of Doctrine or Discipline which be shall have signed or of the forme of Cathechisme the Administration of Marriage Sacraments or publick Prayers not willing to range themselves unto that which the Colloque shall have determined shall be suspended of his charge and be further proceeded against in a Provinciall or National Synod Article 33. In every Church they shall prepare Instructions of all notable things which concerne Religion and in every Colloque one Minister shall be deputed to receive them and to bring them to a Provinciall Synod CHAP. VI. Of the union of Churches Article 1. NO Church may pretend Primacy or domination over an other nor one Province over another Article 2. No Church may doe any thing of great consequence which may comprehend the Interest or damage of other Churches without the aduise of a Provinciall Synod if it be possible to assemble themselves and if the businesse be pressing and urgent shee shall communicate and have the advise and consent of other Churches and of the Province by Letters at the least Article 3. The Churches and particular persons shall bee warned not to depart for any persecution which may arise nor to procure for themselves any peace or liberty apart which breakes the holy Union of the body of the Church They which doe otherwise shall be censured according as the Colloques or Synods shall judge expedient Article 4. The disputes of Religion with the Adversaries shall bee regulated in such sort as that the Ministers shall not begin the onset and if they be engaged in verball Disputations they shall not doe it but according to the rule of the holy Scripture not giving place to the Ancient Doctors for the judgement and decision of Doctrine they shall not enter into dispute unlesse it be regulated by writing respectively given and signed And as for publike dispute they shall not enter into it but by advise of the Consistory and of a certaine number of Pastours which for that effect shall be chosen by the Colloques or Provinciall Synods They shall not enter into any dispute or generall conference without advise of all the Churches Assembled in a Nationall Synod upon paine to the Ministers which shall doe to the contrary to be declared Apostates and forsakers of the Vnion of the Churches Article 5. The Churches ought to take notice that the Ecclesiasticall Assemblies of Colloques and of Provinciall Synods as well as Nationall are the chaines and butteresses of their Vnion and concord against Schismes Heresies and all other inconveniences to the end that they doe their duty and employ themselves by all meanes unto what the said Assemblies shall order and Decree The Pastours shall come every one of them accompanied with one Ancient in the Ecclesiasticall Assemblies and if they be sent alone they shall not have more regard unto their Instructions then unto them of the Ancients when they shall come alone That which cannot be finally concluded or determined in the Consistory shall be brought unto the Colloque and thence to the Synod CHAP. VII Of Ecclesiasticall Assemblies Article 1. IN a Colloque the neighbouring Churches shall assemble themselves twice every yeare if it may be or foure times according to the Ancient custome This is reserved unto the wisdome

are admonished to behave themselues there with all modesty rejecting all ambition hypocrisy vanity and superstition CHAP. XI Of Baptisme Article 1. BAptisme administred by him which hath no vocation nor any Commission is altogeather null and invalid Article 2. A Doctor may not Preach nor administer the Sacraments in the Church unles he be chosen Doctor and Minister Article 3. A Pagan or Jew of what age soever he be ought not to be Baptised before he be instructed in Christian Religion and that it appeare so by his Confession Article 4. The Children of Fathers and Mothers of the Romish Church and of excommunicat persons may not be received into the Baptisme of the Reformed Churches although they be presented unto them by faithfull suretyes if they have Father and Mother when they have no Father or if they consent not when consent is required nor transmit their authority yet yeild their rights unto the surety in regard of instruction with promise that they will suffer their Children to be instructed in the true Religion they may be Baptised Article 5. The Children also of them which are called Bohemians Saracens or Egyptians may be received into the Baptisme of the reformed Churches upon condition that the suretyes oblige themselves for the education and instruction of them which are so Baptised Article 6. They shall not administer Baptisme unles it be in Ecclesiasticall Assemblies where there hath been a Church publickly erected where it is not publicke and the Fathers through infirmity feare to bring them to be Baptised in the Assembly the Ministers shall advise prudently how far they ought to yeild though there be allwaies the forme of a Church together with exhortations and publicke prayers But if there be any Church whereunto the people cannot Assemble the Minister shall not make difficult to Baptise the Child of a faithfull man presented unto him with prayers and exhortations Article 7. For that we have no Commandement from the Lord to take God Fathers and God Mothers to present our Children at Baptisme there may be no expresse law imposed on persons to use it howbeit for that the custome is antient and brought into the Church for a good end to wit to witnesse the faith of his Parents and at the Baptisme of the Child to charge themselves with the instruction of him in case that death take away his Parents also to entertaine the society of the faithfull by amiable conjunction They which will not follow this but themselves alone will present their Children they shall instantly be exhorted not to be contentious but to range themselves to the ancient order and accustomed which is good and profitable Articles 8. 9. 10. It is fitting that they which will present children at baptisme be of age sufficient as of 14. years of age at the least and that they have received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Article 11. They which are suspended of the Supper of the Lord may not in the quality of God-fathers and God-mothers present children at baptisme so long as the suspension shall last It is decreed that for whatsoever fault it be the faithfull may not be refused to present children at baptisme unlesse that they have been suspended of the Sacraments by the judgment of the Consistory Articles 12. 13. They of the Religion which present children by Proxie at baptisme in the Roman Church shall be sharpely censured as consentting to Idolatry It is demanded If it be lawfull to accompany the Papists to the doors of their Temples at the convoy of Baptismes and Marriages It is answered they may not and in such case they are lyable to censure Article 14. Touching the names given unto Children in Baptisme In the imposition of names unto Children Men ought to shunne on the one side over much precisenes and on the other superstition and scandall and for that this act as all other ought to serve unto the edification of the Church in such fashion that there where the Fathers are suretyes require that their or other mens names be given to their Children or being presented by them may be received provided that they be not names prohibited in this 14. Article as names of office of Angell or other notoriously ridiculous The Ministers shall be exhorted for the difficulty they make unto names henceforth to behave themselves with all modesty without being so difficult Besides the Ministers are exhorted not to make any more difficulty in receiving names from Fathers and sureties at Baptisme though they be not contained in holy Scripture provided that they containe nothing which is indecent Article 15. The Ministers shall admonish their flocks to behave themselves with all reverence when that Baptisme is administred and to abate the contempt that the greater part have of Baptisme which they shew by departing out of the Assembly when it is administred ● It is decreed that none depart the Congregation unlesse great cause require it upon paine to be censured by the Consistory Article 16. The Consistory shall have an eye on them which without great consideration keep their children too long without being baptised The Consistory are charged to exhort the faithfull to present their children at Baptisme so soone as they may after their birth and to censure them that are rebellious even to the suspending them from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper The faithfull are to be exhorted as well in Sermons as particularly not to suffer their children to be unbaptized if it be not upon very great consideration Article 17. Though a faithfull Husband have a Wise of a contrary religion yet is he not excusable if the child be presented unto Baptisme in the Roman Church therefore he shall not be received to partake of the Lords Supper unlesse it be in case that he hath endevoured to hinder it with all his power Article 18. Baptisme shall be enregistred and carefully kept in the Church with the names of the Fathers and Mothers Godfathers and Godmothers and Children baptized Article 19. They shall enregister in he Booke of Baptisme the names of Fathers and Mothers of Children borne of unlawfull copulation so far-forth as they may possibly know it unlesse them that are borne of incest to the end that the memory of so enormous a wickednesse may be extinguished in which case it shall suffice to name the mother with him and her which present the child and of all illegitimate there shall be mention made that thy are borne out of Marriage CHAP. 12. Of the Lords Supper Article 1. WHere there is no forme of a Church it is not permitted to administer the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Article 2. Children under the age of twelve yeares shall not bee received to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Article 3. Priests Monkes and other Ecclesiasticks of the Church of Rome shall not be admitted to partake of the Lords Supper untill they have made publick acknowledgement of their forepassed life and profession Article 4. Beneficed men which beare

faithfull shall bee Advertised to prepare themselves by the reading of this present Act. Particular Acts. REport being made by the Deputies of Normandy of a Processe commenced by the chiefe of a Family of the Church of Rouen as well against her which hath been without permission espoused by his Sonne as against her Parents The Assembly ordereth that the Sonne who hath beene deprived of the Communion inconsequence of this difference seeke the grace of his Father by all duties of submission and respect according to the word of God and that the Father be intreated and earnestly sought unto by the Consistory to limit time in which he will be pleased to voyd the suite which time being passed the Sonne may be admitted to the participation of the Lords Supper The Church and Academy of Sedan having represented by Letters the favourable and gracious entertainment which they doe receive and have received from their Majesties since they have thought good to incorporate the Principali●ies of Sedan and Rancourt unto France and that they need that by order of this Assembly Schollers be sent unto them as unto other Academies of this Kingdome It hath been Decreed that Answer shall be made unto them to testifie the joy that all the Churches take in their prosperity and to assure them that their Academy shall be alwayes upon an equall consideration with others in this Kingdome The Academies for them of the Religion of the Kingdome of France 1. MOntauban 2 Nisme● 3 Die 4 Saumu● 5 and last Sedan lately added A Colledge erected at Chatillon for Schollers founded by Marshall Chatillon and others with Contribution of the Churches Contributions unto those Academies by particular Churches in all the Provinces The whole summe which is levied amounts to fifteen thousand eight hundred Livers A Division of the summe of fifteen thousand eight hundred livers every liver being two shillings of English money remaining of the summe of sixteene thousand livers accorded by his Majesty payd to defray the charges of the Assembly There being 54 Deputies every one of them received 292 livers 11 sous by the hands of Monsieur de la Veilliere Anjou for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous The Isle of France for 3 Deputies to wit Sieur Blundell Drelincourt and Le Cog 877 livers 15 sous Normandy for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous 4 deniers Dauphancy for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Ceuenes 1170 livers 7 sous Bearne for two Deputies 585 livers 3 sous Lower Guienne for two Deputies 585 livers 3 sous 6 Deniers Xantaigne for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Vivarets for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Berry for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Poicton for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Britany for two Deputies 585 livers 3 sous High Guyenne for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Lower Languedock for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Burgundy for three Deputies 877 livers 15 sous Province for two Deputies 585 livers 3 sous The two hundred livers remaining are to bee employed to defray the charges of the two Deputies if they have need as hath been observed before By reason of the dearnesse of Provision the journeys of the Deputies have been taxed according to the requisition of sundry Provinces at 6 livers the day The Province of Anjou have required that the right of the Convocation of the next Nationall Synod be continued unto them of the said Province The Synod hath accorded unto them their Demands and Agrees that after the expedition of the breuet of his Majesty the said Province shall have the said Convocation and the Synod shall Assemble at Loudun It is agreed that unto the Acts Signed by the Secretaries of this Assembly shall be given the like faith as if they had been signed by the Moderators and the whole body of the Synod Six Ministers were deposed this Synod for changing their Religion One of them named Esay Laurent aged fourscore yeares was deposed for Simony and Rebellion to the Discipline Particular Acte SIeur Blundell who was employed in the service of the Church of Houden when he was deputed by the Province of the I le of France and hath since been drawne thence by the last Provinciall Synod which hath permitted him his Residence at Paris for to intend his studies as it may appeare by reading of the Act of the sayd Synod The Assembly being entreated first to judge of the quality which ought to be given him by the Acts of this Nationall Synod and to take into consideration if it may approve his Residence in Paris Secondly they are to advise in case they are to prepare themselves to answer unto his said Treatise of Primacy if it bee fitting that hee keepe himselfe neare to defend it or if they thinke it fitting that that charge ought to be given unto some other hee leaves it to their consideration as also all which concernes the disposition of the Churches as likewise the ordaining that all they which can make any observations upon the said Treatise may communicate their Instructions to the end that profit may be reaped thereby Thirdly if the Treatises of which he hath produced a List by him composed on divers matters concerning Theology and History may be of any profit Fourthly if that in case that the Aydes which hee had hitherunto at Paris faile him or that hee find himselfe too much diverted if it may be permitted him to retire himselfe elsewhere or without any charge of the Churches he had the meanes to intend the defence of the truth according to the Arrests of the Nationall Synods of Castres Charenton and Alenson and to end the rest of his dayes in serving God and his Church The Synod acknowledging the profit that the Publick receives of his learned labours and that to finish them he cannot bee in a more proper place then Paris as well because of the communication which he may have there with divers learned men as for the reason of the use of many rich Libraries of France he continue there his Residence As for that which concernes the quality which is justly due unto him of the Minister of the Gospell it is enjoyned him to keep himselfe neare for to answer to his booke of Primacy as being a person which may acquit himselfe therein very worthily he is exhorted also to put in light so soone as hee may the Treatises of Theology and History the List of which have been read in this Assembly and of which we hope that the Church of God shall receive very much edification It is enjoyned him particularly to hasten the Edition of his Treatise of Bishops and Priests by the which he shewes that there is small appearance that Saint Peter was ever at Rome And because that the Assembly knowes his excellent gifts amongst other things the great knowledge that he hath in the Antiquity of the Christian Church which causeth all the Churches to esteeme of him greatly They cann●t in any sort

Religion which mourne in many places of this Kingdome seeing themselves deprived of the meanes to serve God according to the sense of their consciences in the Liberty which hath been granted them by the Edicts of the Kings your Predecessours of most glorious memory and confirmed by your Majesty upon your comming to the Crowne and deploring that by the rigour of some of your Officers they be excluded of their Charge and government of all sort of Trades and Occupations a dealing which hath taken from them contrary to the intention of your Edicts the meanes by which they may be able to gaine their livelihood as well as other of your subjects These things Sir shall be more particularly represented to your Majesty by the writing of Complaints which we have taken the hardines to present unto you and unto which we hope to receive favourable Answers to the end that the throne of your Majesty being grounded upon piety Justice during your happy Raigne that Equity and Clemency meet together and all sort of vertue flourish and the heaven poure downe his most pretious Benedictions as well upon your Sacred person as upon your people in such sort as that after they have seene the glorious Victories and magnificall triumphs of David they may behold to succeed the peace happinesse and abundance of Solomon We may end our dayes praising God blessing your Majesty and leaving to them which shall come after us the condition in the which we principally take glory in To be for ever of your Majesty Sir The most humble most faithfull and most obedient subjects and servants the Pastours and Ancients Assembled in the Nationall Synod and for all At Charenton 27th January 1645. A Copy of the Letter written to the Queen Regent MADAM AS we have opened this Assembly with the most sincere protestation of our fidelity so now we finish it with most humble thankes which are due to the bounty and clemency of your Majesty wee shall Madam be altogether ingrate of wee all find not in our selves a most deepe resentment of yours and the Kings favours Because that it is by the favourable permission if your Majesty that we have obtained the liberty to have our meeting in this place where the incomparable wisdome which holds the helme of your Regency governs the French Empire with so much good successe as that it possesseth an happy tranquility so that whilst other neighbouring Kingdomes mourne being beaten with fearfull tempests wee have had the good hap to busie our selves in our affaires under the shaddow of your royall protection with all safety And seeing that your Majesty hath dained not only to accord unto us a generall Deputy by whose mouth our humble supplications may enter into your most Sacred thoughts but also to poure out of the source of your liberality upon all this Assembly so many singular testimonies of the bounty and grace of your Majesty which touch most sensibly our spirits Wee dare as yet send prostrate to your feet Sieurs Langley and Cattiby Pastours with Sieurs de Maraude and Pelena Ancients newly to present unto you our most humble thankes and to implore the protection of the Kings Soveraigne Iustice in the name of all them which living with us under the benefit of the Edicts confirmed by the King at his comming to the Crowne suffer contrary to the intention of your royall Clemency divers troubles in all the Provinces of the Kingdome If the assurance wee have of hearts enflamed with zeale for the service of our lawfull Prince and grounded upon the inviolable fidelity of generous thoughts not to yeeld to any of your people in most entire obedience but to live and die therein with constant Resolution be capable to excite our just hopes wee shall live Madam in this to obtaine of your grace the generall remedy of our evills And after naturall obligations of faithfull subjects and religious among Christian people to enter into that of servants filled with good deeds which desire not to possesse their lives no longer then employing them in most ardent vowes for the preservation of the person of the King the deare Son of your Majesty obtained of heaven by the common supplications of all France for the benediction of his youth for the establishment of his Scepter sustained now by your Royall hands and for the perpetuall glory of your Majesty continuing ever Madam Of your Majesty the most humble most faithfull and most obedient subjects and servants The Pastours Ancients c. At Charenton Ianuary 27. 1645. The Confession being read it was Signed by all the Deputies which have unanimously in the name of all the Provinces made solemne Protestation of their continuance in the Inviolable profession thereof even to the last gaspe of their lives An Act that is to be published against Sieur Militier Sunday January 29. 1645. Most deare Brethren IT is a long time that you have beheld with griefe the Sieur Theophilus Brocheur Sieur de Militier employed to withstand by writings published the beliefe of our Churches and that you have been wounded with just griefe caused by the scandall of his proceeding totally differing from the duty of a Person raised from his infancy in the profession of the true Religion the which he hath in such sort contemned as that he loves rather to abound in his own sense and to leave himselfe seduced by his owne proper prejudgings then to hearken never so little to the Remonstrances which have been made unto him in all charity First by the Consistory of this Church and in the pursuance thereof by the Nationall Synod assembled at Alenson in the yeare 1637. by expresse order whereof the Consistory denounced against him that for default of returning unto himselfe within six moneths and giving glory unto God he shall not be acknowledged for a member of this Reformed Church This just and necessary advertisement having no way touched him and not having hitherto produced any other effect then to render him the more inexcusably obstinate The Nationall Synod of the Reformed Churches of this Kingdome desirous to remedy a scandall so long continued among them and to procure so much as in them lyeth your edification came to this Conclusion in this place confirming the proceeding Arrest assembled at Alenson declare unto you by our mouth that the said Sieur de Militier long since more then ten yeares being deprived of the Communion of the Lords Table and cut off from the Church in the yeare 1638. and from the number of the faithfull of our Confession may no more be accounted by you among the members of the Reformed Churches Pray the Lord that touching his heart with all the puissant vertue of his Spirit he may returne himselfe from the gall of bitternesse and that he would be pleased to give him the grace to turne himselfe from darknesse unto light and from error unto truth to the end that as the fall of this personage hath for many yeares afflicted