the future be prevented XV. To the case Whether a Promise made by a Maid at the Age of eleven with the consent of her Parents to which before twelve she had renounced Ministers contracting unfitting Marriages to be severely censured Promises of Marriage made by Minors though with the consent of Parents are null A Papist maynot be married unless he or she do renounce the Mass Renters of Benefices where Idolatry is shall within a limited time be excommucate He that continues and hardens himself in his sins shall be excommunicate might be dissolved This answer was given That such a Promise was Null XVI It being moved Whether Ministers might marry them who were downright Papists The Synod answers That it may not be done unless they do positively renounce the Mass XVII Gentlemen or other renting Benefices from Priests where Idolatry is not as yet purged shall be seriously admonished to abstain from so doing within a certain fixed time and in case of final Disobedience to this Admonition they shall be cut off from Communion at the Lord's Table XVIII As to the difficulty propounded by our Brethren of Nismes Whether a Minister may with a good Conscience leave his Church when his Wife after that he hath done his Duty in order to her Conversion will not live with him It is answered That all circumstances considered he shall renew his Endeavours for the Conversion of his Wife and in the mean while he shall have his liberty to resume again his Charge as soon as he shall have reduced his Wife unto her Duty XIX Our Brother of Xaintes having demanded what is to be done in this case A Man having done publick Penance in the Church for divers Faults committed by him yet again and again returns unto the same Sins ought he to be excommunicated or not Our Judgment is because he hath not truely hearkned unto the Church that he be excommunicate XX. As to that Question Whether the Promises of Marriage may be given before a Priest because the Mother will have her Daughter contracted by a Priest It is answered Forasmuch as the presence of the Priest is only required that the Espousals should be performed by him 't is our Advice that it ought not to be done XXI A young Man promiseth Marriage unto a Maid with this express Condition inserted in the Contract That he promiseth Marriage provided the Maid consents to be married in the Reformed Church the Maid promiseth and consents for a time afterward seeing the Troubles arising for Religion she will not yeild unto it and saith farther That she will never have this young Man It 's demanded Whether he is hereby freed from his Promise We answer The young Man shall endeavour by his diligent Sollicitations to perswade her and 't is left to the prudence of the Consistory to judge of the Diligences used by him and accordingly to proceed to a Declaration of the Nullity of the Marriage if need be XXII Such as bearing Office in the Reformed Church having in times of Persecution fallen into Idolatry shall be deposed from their said Office and before they be again received unto the Lord's Table shall undergo publick Penance And if private Persons are guilty of the same Crime they shall do the same Penance enjoyned them by the Consistory all which shall be performed with Christian Charity and due Moderation according to the Rules of our Ecclesiastical Discipline XXIII The case being moved Whether it be sufficient that the Fornication of a Man be proved by his Harlot and the Testimony of some worthy Person who shall depose that he heard the Fornicator acknowledge his Crime and that those belonging to the House do testifie of theit frequenting each others company 'T is our Counsel That the Consistory of the Church would exhort the Accused to confess the Truth confronting him the Harlot and Witnesses together and to examine well all Circumstances And if he persist in his Denial yet to suspend him from the Lord's Supper provided the Witness be an honest Person and without reproach XXIV The Churches shall be advertised not to celebrate the Marriage of strange Persons who dwell not in the places where those Marriages are to be solemnized unless they bring Certificates from those Churches whereunto they do belong A Pagan Maid must not be baptized till she have been well instructed in the Christian Religion XXV A Maid brought from among Salvages and not instructed in the Principles of Christian Religion ought not to be baptized before she can give a rational account of her Faith and that by a publick Confession XXVI In the Province of Berry whenas over and above the Synodical Assemblies and Propositions to exercise the Gifts of young unordained Preachers in order to their Approbation for the Ministry there shall be other Assemblies specially convened to consult about necessary and emergent Affairs they shall be held by the common Agreement of the Churches Consistories and not by any other Authority that so that Article of our Discipline may not be thwarted which expresly ordaineth that no Church shall usurp any Authority over another XXVII The Minister of Memiot desiring our Judgment in this case A Gentleman caused his Child to be baptized by a Priest who continues practising his Idolatry Shall this Child be rebaptized or not It 's answered in the Negative XXVIII The Minister of Chasteneauef and Mazon desired Resolution unto this case Whether he may with a good Conscience lend another his Name that under the covert thereof he might enjoy the Profits of a certain Benefice We answer That he ought not to do it in any wise XXIX Forasmuch as the Minister of New castel in Normandy hath of his own accord forsaken his Ministry induced thereunto by the perswasions of his Wife as he protested before the Colloquy at Diep it is resolved that the Brethren Ministers of that Colloquy shall censure him according to his Deservings and put him in the Catalogue of Desertors A Man may not marry his Brother's Widow XXX It being demanded Whether it were only a Prohibition of Humane Laws That the Widow of the deceased Brother might not be married to his surviving Brother The Council answered That such Marriages were also forbidden by the Word of God And though under the Law of Moses it was ordained That when the elder Brother died childless the younger Brother should raise up Seed unto him yet this was only a temporary Law to God's Ancient Israel and intended only for the preservation and distinction of their Tribes XXXI One having renounced his Benefices demands advice What he shall do with his Writings Deeds and other Evidences belonging unto the Lands and Revenues of those his said Benefices We advise him to discharge himself by due course of Law according to the Ordinance of the Magistrate and he shall cancel his Letters of Presentation XXXII A certain Lady craves our Advice Whether she may claim her Right and Interests in a
made this Decree That if through want of will on their side they were not employed in the sacred Ministry they shall be bound to make restitution unto those Churches which had furnished them with necessary Supplies towards their Education as soon as God shall enable them XLIX The present Synod returns Thanks unto Monsieur Beraud Rotan and the other Pastors for their pious endeavours in maintaining the Truth at the Conference held at Mants with Monsieur De Perron and other Popish Theologers and ratifies their whole proceeding and that offer made by them to continue the said Conference at the pleasure and commandment of His Majesty In pursuance whereof the Synod hath nominated twenty Pastors out of whom twelve shall be chosen to confer with those of the Romish Church that so the Provinces may have notice and come prepared for the said Conference And in case the Provinces would recommend any other they are required to do it speedily and shall acquaint the said Beraud and Rotan with it Catalogue of those nominated for the General Conference The twenty Persons nominated are Monsieur Rotan of Xaintonge Monsieur Ceovt of Bourgogne * * * Mr Chauve See the Synod of Saumur Gen. Mar. 12. Monsieur De L'Estang Godion of Poictòu Monsieur D'aneau of Higher Languedoc Monsieur Pacard of Xaintonge Monsieur De la Noue of Anjou Monsieur Constans of Lyonnois Monsieur Cazenave of Bearn Monsieur De la Banserie of Normandy Monsieur De la Faye of Geneva Monsieur De Beaulieu of France Monsieur Des Alâ—ues of Tourain †††Another Copy hath Monsieur De Serres Monsieur Chamier of Dauphine Monsieur De Chambrisé of Brittany Monsieur Ricotier the Son of Gascony Monsieur Gigord of Lower Languedoc Monsieur Berault of the Higher Guyenne Monsieur | | | But Baron's Name was razed out Baron of England Monsieur Melanez of Gascony and Monsieur Junius of Leyden in Holland L. The Province of Lower Languedoc demanding our Advice What course should be taken with those Ministers who having been deposed did afterwards live soberly and religiously without giving any the least offence tho' a long time had past since their Deposition whether it were lawful to employ them again in the Dispensation of the Word and Sacraments in that self-same Province where they had been deposed or not This Synod answers That it is in no wise expedient because contrary to the very Letter of the Canons of our Discipline LI. The same Deputies having moved That there might be nothing innovated as to the Observation of Holy-days such as Christmas and the rest the Synod doth accord unto it LII This Assembly having seen Monsieur Daneau's Answer unto the first part of Bellarmin's Works doth judge them worthy to be made publick whereof Notice shall be given our said Brother by Letters from this Synod and he is entreated to intimate in his Preface that he designed brevity in his Answer because others had been more large and ample LIII Monsieur De Serres having requested by his Letters written to this Synod See Synod of Saumur Part. Mat. 3. that some learned Men might be appointed to revise his Collection out of the Fathers a Work undertaken by him to prove our Religion to be the most Ancient Catholick Religion and the Romish to be New and Particular This Synod hath ordained That the said De Serres shall cause three Copies of his Collection to be fairly transcribed whereof one shall be sent into the Lower Languedoc and from thence into the Higher Languedoc Guyenne and Gascogny another into Xaintonge and from thence into Poictou and the Churches beyond the River of Loire and the third shall be sent unto Geneva that care may be taken about its Impression And till it be thus revised the said Monsieur De Serres is expresly ordered neither to print nor publish any thing of the said Collection LIV. The Synod being informed that several Sums of Money were collected in the Churches for their Service whereof no account hath been render'd This Synod ordereth That all Receivers of those Collections made in the said Churches do bring in their Accompts of those Moneys unto the next National Synod notwithstanding any Agreement past between these Receivers and particular Churches to the contrary And the Province of Lower Languedoc shall give Notice to Monsieur De Serres and John Chalais that they come and yield up their Accounts and pay in the remaining Moneys in their hands at the time appointed them before the six Ministers and six Elders or other Persons well skill'd in matters of Accompt which shall be deputed by the Synod of Lower Languedoc and these Accounts shall be audited in the City of Monpellier And in case the said Monsieur De Serres refuse so to do he shall be suspended from the Ministry and the said John Chalais from the Sacrament And both of them are required to appear in Person before the next National Synod But De Serres died the very day before it sat LV. The Deputies of Higher Languedoc demanding Whether Sinners who had committed certain Crimes for which by Sentence of the Magistrate they were punished with Brands of publick Infamy ought also to be censur'd by the Church so far as to do publick Penance in the face of the whole Congregation The Synod resolved affirmatively because they be two distinct Matters the Jurisdiction of the Civil Magistrate and the Ecclesiastical Cognisance taken by Consistories this relating to the Conscience and the interiour concerns of the Soul and that only to the Body and outward Man CHAP. V. Of APPEALS I. WHereas the Church of Rochel hath brought an Appeal from the Province of Poictou about Monsieur Esnard whom the said Church claims for its Minister by Vertue of an Order granted it by the National Synod celebrated in the Year 1581. It is now decreed That because the. said Church hath not produced the Grant of that Synod Monsieur Esnard shall remain where he is at present in the Province of Poictou and moreover the said Church shall be censured for having used Terms of Law in the said Appeal II. An Appeal being brought by the Colloquy of Angoulesme against the Church of St. Mesme about a Judgment past in the Synod of Xaintonge This Article was razed out in the Synod of Saumur Part. Mat. 4. this Assembly doth confirm that Judgment in the whole and in every part of it denounced by the said Synod which is also charged by the Authority of this Assembly to censure Monsieur De Bargemont and his Associates for troubling us with their Impertinencies III. The Church of Cognac and Monsieur De Bargemont having appealed from a Judgment given in the Synod of Xaintonge held at Pons This Assembly decreeth That the said Monsieur De Bargemont shall be appropriated to the Church of Segonsac with this Proviso that he serve alternatively the Church of Coignac and Segonsac and that
the Church of Segonsac do give him full satisfaction for all his Arrerages within the prefixed Term of Six Months from the first of July next And if the Church of Coignac refuse their Consent unto this Condition then the said De Bargemont shall appertain solely to the Church of Segonsac And if it so fall out that the said Church of Segonsac be wanting unto their Duty and which is now re-inforced upon them 1594. Synod XIII the said de Bargemont shall be at liberty to be conferr'd on any other Church excepting that of Cognac IV. An Appeal being brought by Monsieur Cazaux and the Consistory of Mauvoisin from an Order made in the Provincial Synod of the Higher Guyenne After that Monsieur de Fontenailles and the Church of Castillon were heard this National Synod did confirm that Order of the Provincial Synod hold this present Year at Lectoure and in case the said Church of Castillon cannot throughly effect the purport of that Order then the said Sieur de Cazaux shall be at liberty to serve the Church of Mauvoisin V. Appeals being brought by Monsieur Beraut Minister of God's Holy Word of the one part and by Messieurs the Consuls and Elders of the Church of Montauban on the other part from an Order of the Synod of Higher Languedoc about the space of time granted unto the said Berault for attending his private domestick Concerns and the looking after his Estate lying at a distance from the City of Montauban This National Synod confirmeth that Order of the aforesaid Provincial Synod for the full term of One Year to be granted the said Monsieur Beraut for attending his necessary private Businesses which shall begin from the Day of his Departure And he is desired as a Testimony of his Respect and Love unto his Church to leave his Family in the said City or at least within the Province as also his Church is admonished to pay in unto him during his absence his Salary as a Token and Pledge of their great and unfeigned Respects unto their Pastor the said Monsieur Beraut and both the said Monsieur Beraut his Church and the Colloquy shall carefully and unanimously endeavour that his place be supplied and all the requisite Duties of his Pastoral Office be acceptably discharged by some other worthy Minister in his Church during that Year of his absence VI. An Appeal being brought by the Churches of Montauban and Venez for that by the Synod of Higher Languedoc held at Montauban and Lectoure Monsieur de Castlefranc Minister of the Gospel was consigned to the Church of Realmont and yet the Isle of France doth pretend a Right unto the said Monsieur de Chastlefranc This Synod declares That the Province of the Isle of France had nothing to do with the said Monsieur De Chastlefranc and whereas Monsieur de Chastlefranc doth also make his Appeal unto this Synod we decree That the Churches of Montredon and Venez have a Right to claim him as their own peculiar Minister nevertheless the said de Chastlefranc shall officiate in the Churches of Montredon Venez and Realmont conjointly at each of them six Months together during which time this Synod doth order that the Church of Realmont shall provide themselves of an able Pastor otherwise they shall be proceeded against by the sharpest Censures as is usually done in such Cases by their Colloquy And if it so fall out that the said Church of Realmont do need the Labours of the said Monsieur de Chastlefranc he is intreated to assist them as far as his strength will suffer him VII The Church of Monpellier having brought an Appeal from the Provincial Synods of Lower Languedoc who had dispos'd of Monsieur de Villette to the Church of Valleragne This Assembly doth confirm the Judgment of the said Provincial Synod and declareth That the said Church of Monpellier cannot of Right lay any Claim to the said Monsieur de Villette CHAP. VI. Particular MATTERS 1594. Synod XIII I. THE Deputies of the Province of Gascony Perigord and Limousin desiring that the Churches of Coudonnois and Landers might be joyned to the Provincial Synod of Agenois Perigord and Limousin and being opposed herein by the Remonstrances of the Deputies from the Province of Higher Guyenne and most especially by the Pastor of the Church of Lectoure Mr. Bernard Ennis in the name and behalf of the Colloquy of Armagnac After mature consultation it was resolved That the Synods of the Higher Guyenne and Gascogny should remain as they are in their present establishment not but that in time coming and in case necessity so require it there may be made an alteration and the Churches of Armagnac which are now divided from their Colloquy shall reader an Account unto the next National Synod of their separation from it till which they shall remain incorporated with it II. The Churches of Augoumois shall be joyned to the Provincial Synod of Xaintonge and Aunix for the perfecting a sixth Colloquy according to the equal division of those said Churches III. The Church of Bergerac shall be sharply censured by Letters from this Assembly for that by theirs to us they professed a Resolution not to subject themselves to the fourth Article of the tenth Chapter pf our Discipline IV. Those of the Isle of France shall be severely censured for proposing to this Assembly a politick Union with those of the Romish Gallican Church in defence of the Liberties of the Gallican Church against the Pope And Letters shall be dispatch'd unto those fore-mentioned Persons to acquaint them that their Proposition was judged utterly unworthy our consultation and they shall be farther censured for demanding competent Judges both of the one and other Religion to decide the Points in controversie between us as also for demanding that neither National nor Provincial Synods be conven'd unless on very great and weighty occasions and that very rarely 5. The Church of Aymet complaining That Monsieur Balarand their Pastor absented himself from them and was setled in the Church of Castres without any lawful dismission from them After that the Provincial Deputies of Gascony had been heard as also the said Monsieur Balarand and the Petition of the ancient Deputy from the City and Church of Castres and after reading the Act of Dismission given unto the said Balarand by those of the Church of Aymet subscribed by those self-same Persons who have now written to those of the City of Castres and yet some of them have since signed a Revocation of that Grant this Synod doth assign the said Monsieur Balarand unto the Church of Castres to be their ordinary Pastor but on these conditions First That the Church of Aymet be provided of an able Pastor within six Months or sooner it may be by the Colloquy of Perigord or Synod of Gascony at the sole Charges of the aforesaid Church of Castres according to the offers made by Monsieur Bassol their Deputy Secondly That the Judge of Castres do cause all
Sedan worthy of severe censures for not bringing or sending hither the Accounts of Moneys received for the maintenance or their Professors and Regents according to the Decrees of Gap and Gergeau And that for the future they may be more carefull of the Moneys belonging to the University of Montauban there shall be detained in the hands of the Receiver General five hundred Livers and for the Universities of Nismes Montpellier and Sedan two hundred and fifty Livers for each of them and with this farther penalty that in case hereafter they shall be guilty of the like neglect there shall be defaulked from their portions five hundred Crowns But if upon auditing their accounts they be found just and faithful then the detained summs shall be restored to them Finally the Provincial Synods are ordered to give in unto the National Synods a true report as in Conscience they be bound to do how the Professors and Regents in the several Universities of their respective Provinces do discharge the duties of their places and to be very careful in the form of their Acquittances and other evidences of their Integrity and to send them all by the Deputies of their Province unto the National Synods 11. Reading that Article of the Synod of Gap concerning censures to be inflicted on the breakers of Marriage-promises without just cause divers difficulties in divers places having risen hereupon This Assembly judgeth that neither private persons nor Consistories have authority to dissolve such Promises and therefore they shall be turned over to the Judgment and Lawful Decree of the Civil Magistrates and those refractory persons who will not discharge their injoined duty shall be pursued with all Church-censures CHAP. V. Of Particular Matters St. Maixant Art 1. of observat on this Synod 1. IT is ordained for time coming that particular Acts of Appeals Censures and things of the like nature shall not be delivered but unto the parties concerned in them 2. This Assembly declareth that the Act of the Synod of Montpellier not permitting any Certificate to be given them who through fear of Witchcraft would solemnize their Marriage in other Churches besides their own shall remain in full force as not being contrary to that of the Discipline which concerneth attestations in the Chapter of Marriages Charities ordered the poor Saints of Saluces 3. For as much as the necessities of our poor Brethren of the Marquisate Saluces are exceeding great they being banished and persecuted for the true Religion as is evident by the Relations of their Deputies Charles Garnier and Constans Vivyan This Assembly exhorts all the Churches in the Provinces of this Kingdom to assist them by extraordinary Alms and 't is left to the prudence of every Provincial Synod to take that course for Collecting the Charities for them as they shall judge most proper and convenient to the state of their respective Churches And whereas in divers Churches there have been Moneys already gathered for them it is ordained that in no wise those summs be diverted from their designed use but be out of hand sent unto them And that they may be reputed Natural French men our Deputies which shall be sent unto Court are expresly charged to procure the Declaration from his Majesty for their being naturalized 4. Henceforward the Deputies of the Provinces shall bring with them unto the National Synods an exact Catalogue of the number of Churches Ministers and Proposans in their respective Provinces together with an account of their particular Stipends annually paid them by the Receiver of the Province as also the Testimonials of the Universities concerning our young Students in them if possibly it may be done Proposans may be present as silent Learners in National Synods 5. Proposans may be admitted into the National Synod when as general Matters of Doctrine and Discipline are debated provided they bring with them good Testimonials But as for other Persons which are not Ecclesiastick whatsoever their quality or condition may be it hath been already judged inexpedient because of divers ill Consequences to grant them this priviledge A remedy against contentions for the Professors place in an University 6. If in case of difference about the Call of Professors and Regents in our Universities one of the contending parties should seek for relief and assistance any where else than in our Ecclesiastical Assemblies he shall be prosecuted by all the Censures of the Church and if he continue obstinate and rebellious he shall then be Excommunicated and if he be already seized of a Professorship this Synod Decreeth that no Wages shall be paid him and declareth him a Person utterly uncapable of any Academical Office 7. To prevent for the future that evil custom crept into the Churches and which hath caused a great deal of trouble unto this Synod by reading and examining an infinite number of Acts passed before secular Judges which may finally bring in upon us that base Chicanery so much practised by crafty Lawyers and utterly unworthy the Gravity of these Assemblies Wherefore all such manner of proceedings are most expresly forbidden and all persons are commanded to keep themselves to a native plainness and simplicity as best suiting with Church affairs on pain of having their papers and propositions rejected who shall do otherwise Pecuniary matters may be dismissed from one Province to another 8. In case a person complain of His being overcharged in pecuniary matters by the Provincial Synod in which the Synod is a Party he may demand a hearing before the next Provincial Synod which shall have power to judge finally in that affair without bringing such matters before the National Synods 9. When as the publick Fast shall be celebrated in the Churches of France those of Bearn shall be acquainted with the time and causes of it by the Province of Lower Guyenne and those Churches shall be comprised in all matters relating to our Union yea and in those Complaints and Petitions which shall be presented unto his Majesty by the means of our General Deputies 10. Monsieur Baldran Deputy for Bearn moved that whereas the Churches of Soulle and Bigorre lying within the bounds of France were yet notwithstanding unto this day annexed to the Churches of Bearn and supported by them both with the grant of Pastors and Moneys for their subsistence wherefore he requested that they might be enrolled among those who shared in the Moneys of his Majesties bounty and withal he left them to the sole disposal of the Churches of this Kingdom either to be Incorporated with them or implanted into any other Synod besides that of Bearn as they should conceive most expedient This Assembly ordaineth that for the present two portions of the said moneys shall be assigned out of the Dividend of Lower Guyenne unto those two before mentioned Churches and they have full power to declare in the first Provincial Synod of Bearn to which of the Provincial Synods of France they will adjoin themselves consulting
Sieur Quinson Pastor of the Church of Chartres and Favieres appealing in their name from a Decree of the Provincial Synod of the Isle of France held at Charenton by which the Lord de Bijannettes was left at liberty either of communicating with the Church of Blainville whereof he was a Member or because he was nearer with that of Favieres he contributing both to the one and other This Assembly confirms that Decree of the Synod of the Isle of France and declares the Appeal to be null and void because the difference is of their nature which may be finally determined by the Provincial Synods However for time coming it is ordained that no Member shall joyn himself to another Church without leave first had and obtained from the Colloquy or Provincial Synod which shall very well weigh and consider of all Motives and Arguments inducing to it 16. This Assembly took no notice of the Appeal brought by the Province of Lower Languedoc from the Judgment of that of Vivaretz about the business of Monsieur Rossell because according to the Canon of the last National Synod it might have been finally determined in that Province as also because the difference arose from a particular Agreement which the said Rossell made with the Church of Gignac wherein they had obliged themselves to pay him over and above his Salary that portion accrewing to them from the Moneys granted us by His Majesty Nevertheless this Synod did expresly prohibit for the future all such Bargains and Agreements and ordains that Pastors shall have from their Churches settled and certain Wages in which payment shall not be reckoned their Augmentation from the Moneys of His Majesties Bounty And Ministers shall give Acquittances unto their Churches of all Moneys received from them at the quarterly payments 17. The Sieur Guibert Pastor complaining of a Judgment passed in the Provincial Synod of Xaintonge whereby he was consigned Minister to the Church of Archiac The Assembly having heard the Deputies of that Province and the said Guibert also declared the Decree of the said Province just and equitable and ordaineth his continuance in the said Church until such times as by advice of the Colloquy or of the same Province he may be elsewhere employed if need be but they be exhorted to take care for his comfortable maintenance 18. The Colloquy of Mayne appealing from a Decree of the Colloquy of Touraine chosen Umpire between that of Mayne and Anjou by which the Church of Prinjey and Gallirante had been adjudged to the Colloquy of Anjou upon hearing the Arguments produced by the said Colloquies this Assembly revoketh and reverseth the Decree aforesaid and adjudgeth the Church of Prinjey and Gallirante unto the Colloquy of Mayne 19. A difference falling out between the Provinces of the Isle of France and Berry upon this occasion divers Gentlemen and others formerly Members of the Church of Chartres had lately joyned themselves unto the Church of Basoches and Genouille gathered in the Colloquy of Blesois because of its nearness to their Habitations and more Commodious for them The Synod hearing the arguments on both sides and perusing the Memoirs doth leave the Gentlemen and other persons to their full Liberty either for Basoches and Genouille or for that of Chartres 20. The Sieur Beraud Pastor and Professor in the Church of Montauban and the Sieurs de Novellan and de Vaures Deputies from that Church unto the last Synod of Higher Languedoc and Guyenne held at Pamiers appealed for that the said Beraud was aggrieved by the aforesaid Synod which having restored the Sieur Benoist to the aforesaid Church and refused to give him his dismission tho he humbly demanded it and had ordained that he should be reconciled with the said Benoist that they might live for the future amicably in peace and good correspondence together And the Sieurs de Novellan and de Vaures appealed for that the said Sieur Benoist was sent back unto the Church of Montauban as if he were one of their own proper Pastors Upon hearing the complanits of the Sieur Beraud and the Deputies of the said Church and the defence made by Monsieur Benoist and on perusal of divers Acts and Letters written on both sides and the Provincial Deputies also being heard producing the Acts on which their Decree was grounded and relating the Charge and Commission given them as they passed through Moutauban both from the party favouring Monsieur Beraud and the party desiring the continuance of the Ministry of the said Benoist This Assembly observing in all their proceedings more of passion than of reason ordaineth that the said Beraud be out of hand reconciled with the said Benoist and the said Benoist shall testifie unto him the great desire he hath for the future of living with him in all Love Honour and Respect and intreat him to forget and forgive all past miscarriages And furthermore it doth absolutely and fully ratifie and confirm that Decree of the Provincial Synod disannulling the Appeal of the said Deputies and exhorts them to a mutual reconciliation and to use their utmost endeavour for the effecting an entire universal Peace in the said Church And in case this be not done the next approaching Provinvincial Synod is charged by vertue and authority of this Assembly to remove them both from it and to employ them elsewhere in some other distinct Churches of the Province and by some other Ministers to serve and supply the Church of Montauban And the Sieurs Bauconis Silvius and de Malleret are ordered to travel unto Montauban and to give the said Church a punctual Account of this our Decree in all its circumstances and the Expences of their Journey shall be defrayed by it And whereas the Deputies of the said Church do desire that Garissoles and Cabault Proposans maintained by them might be examined in this National Synod and that it would be pleased to give in their Opinions of them whether they were persons sufficiently qualified for the Sacred Ministry and capable of assisting their other Pastors it was resolved that this matter should be left wholly to the Judgment of their Provincial Synod who should determine both of their Capacity and Induction into the said Church whereunto however they should not consent till such time as they had unanimously agreed about the Ministry of Monsieur Benoist on which condition they might grant the demands of the said Church And in case it should be a long time before the Synod Assembled that then the Colloquy of Lower Quercy shall finally determine this Affair provided that they call in to act together with them the Colloquy of Armagnac that so all sinister thoughts of partiality in their Judicial Sentence may be obviated and prevented And if in pursuance hereof they shall perceive a design laid for the exclusion of Monsieur Benoist then they shall not in the least proceed to the Ordination of the said Proposans nor unto their Instalment in the Church of Montauban 21. The
him by the Province of Poictou and farther to shame and humble the said Picard it Decrees that he shall continue suspended for a full year and until the next Provincial Synod of Xaintonge unto which he shall give his personal appearance and bringing with him sufficient Attestations of his good Life and Conversation approved by the Inhabitants of the places of his abode he may be re-admitted into the Sacred Ministry but not to officiate within the Precincts of the Province of Poictou and as for his request that we would in some manner relieve him under his great wants this Assembly granteth unto the Province of Xaintonge a supernumerary portion which may be given to him 29. The Appeal of divers persons inhabiting the Parish of St. Sulpice within the Marquisate of Royan who by the Provincial Synod of Xaintonge were adjudged to the Church of Royan was reported together with the arguments urged on both sides This Assembly leaveth the said Inhabitants unto their liberty to join themselves either to the Church of Saujon or Royan as best liketh them only adviseth them to choose that which is nearest the place of their abode And this same order shall be of force with respect to the Village of Petit Pont and la Maison des Hurtins near unto la Tremblade that so the Decree of the Synod of Xaintonge may be confirmed and established And the Appeal of the Church of Aruert is hereby vacated 30. The Appeal of the Sieur Maurice Pastor in the Church of Orange complaining or his Provincial Synod for their over much Indulgence unto the Lady d' Aramond is rejected It being a known case that that same Synod could finally determine in such affairs See the Roll of Apostates in the Synod of Castres 31. The Church of Vertueil and Villefaignon appealed from a Decree of the the Synod of Xaintonge which adjudged Monsieur Perier to be Minister in the Church of Pons for one year with purpose as the Deputies of the Province declared to have continued him there during life if so be those of Pons should approve of it who also did most importunately demand it from this Assembly Upon hearing of all the parties concerned this Synod ordaineth that the said Monsieur Perier shall be the proper and ordinary Pastor of the Church of Pons but with this condition that the said Church do pay unto the Church of Vertueil and her annexed Congregations three hundred Livers disbursed by them for his maintenance at the University and those annexed Congregations shall remain united and conjoined as formerly unto the Church of Vertueil And the Sieur Gomard Pastor of the said Church of Vertueil shall do the same work at Villefaignon as the said Perier had done before him to whom also the said Churches shall pay the remaining dues of his Sallary 32. The Appeal of Monsieur Voysin from the Colloquy of Lauragais concerning the maintenance of his Uncles Widdow Madam Voysin by the Church of Puylaurens is remanded back unto the Province to pass a final Judgment on it 33. The Appeal of Samuel Gautier Lord of Aulnes from the Provincial Synod of Normandy was rejected 34. The Appeal of the Church of Pamiers from the Decree of the Synod of Higher Guyenne importing that the said Church should pay yearly the summ of five and forty Livers unto the poor necessitous family of their late deceased â—astor Monsieur Fraugier was read Whereupon this Assembly having heard on the one side Monsieur Nouellhan pleading for that Church and the Deputies of the Province on the other side against them declared the Appeal Null but withal ordered that the Province was bound in Prudence and Charity to take some course for their present relief and future subsistence either at the sole charges of that Church or in case of their inability by the help and assistance of the Province which also is advised to consult whether it would not be more expedient to continue the Pension as it is now stated or to pay in at once or twice a good round summ as a settled stock for the discharge of that Pension 35. Monsieur Welsh a Scotchman Minister in the Province of Xaintonge Appealed from the said Province because that in its last Synod held at Rochel they had adjudged his Ministry unto the Church of Jonzac until such time as God should recall him back into Scotland Which was a grievance to him This Assembly having read his Letter and the reasons urged for him and for the Province against him approveth the Judgment of the Province and Decrees that he shall serve in the said Church However for the Consolation of the said Mr. Welsh it injoins the next Colloquy to the Classis of Jonzac or the Synod to deliberate what will be best expedient both for him and the Church and in case he be not inclined to serve the said Church of Jonzac another Church shall be provided for him within the Province such an one as may be most meet for him excepting that of Pons to which he was once presented by this Assembly And further he is commanded both in Preaching and in the exercise of Discipline to conform unto that order and manner used and accustomed in the Churches of this Kingdom 36. The Church of Foix and Tarascon complained in their Appeal of the Synod of Higher Languedoc and Guyenne for entring into the common charges a part of two Supernumerary Portions which had been granted them by the last National Synod Upon which it was answered that the said Church had done well in appealing and that it was unjustly Decreed by the said Synod which is now injoined by the authority of this Assembly to make restitution of what they had taken from those two aforesaid Portions unto the said Church 37. The Sieur de Beauvoysin Appealed from the judgment of the Provincial Synod of Lower Languedoc because of the differences fallen out betwixt him and Monsieur Esaiah Ferrier Pastor in the said Province Upon hearing the state of that whole affair at large and the method used by the Province which never refused to accommodate it but only delayed it because of the absence of one of the Parties caused by the proceedings of the other This Assembly judged the Appeal of the said Beauvoysin to be ill laid and therefore remands the whole process back again unto the Province and injoineth both Parties personally to appear at their next Synod and that Provincial Synod to work out between them a good reconcilement Upon which the Memoirs brought by the Lord of Puymichel Deputy for Provence were restored to him that he might put them into the hands of the said Sieur de Beauvoysin 38. The Colloquy of the Isles in Xaintonge Appealed from the Decree of the Provincial Synod which had rebuked the said Colloquy for over-rigorous censuring the Minister of the Church in St. Just because of his non-appearance at their Meeting in Soubize and of the Sieur Petit Deputy from the Synod for publishing
by him but meerly for the peace of it 6. The Elder of of the Church of Aulais in Sevennez complaining of the Synod of Lower Languedoc for imposing Monsieur Jarry as Pastor upon their Church against their will and this testified by him openly in their Synodical Metting That Province is censured for breaking of our Discipline And the next Colloquy which shall sit is to provide the Church of Aulais of another Pastor and the Sieur Jarry of another Church and the said Province shall defray the Charges of the said Jarry amounting to the sum of two hundred Livers 7. The Agreement made betwixt the Church of St. Antonine and that of Verfeuil upon their Appeal brought hither is approved by this Assembly which doth also confirm Monsieur Guerin in the Pastoral office of the said Church of St. Antonine 8. Monsieur Bayly Pastor in the Church of Lyons presented in this Assembly an Account of the difference between his Church and the Province of Burgundy And the Deputies of that Province being heard requesting that the Decree of their Synod concerning the fifth penny of the poors Money might be observed by the said Church of Lyons This Assembly ordered that they should punctually observe and practise that Canon of the National Synod of Rochell relating to this matter and it should also be done in and by all the other Churches of that Province 9. The Colloquies of St. Germain Anduze and Saulne demanding A separation from the Synod of Lower Languedoc that for time to come they might make a distinct Province The whole affair having been Seriously weighed and considered as also that the Synod of Lower Languedoc composed of an hundred Pastors and as many Elders are of an exceeding distance and that their great number brings the greater Confusion This Assembly judgeth the said separation to be very needful for their Ecclesiastical meetings And that for the future the six aforesaid Colloquies shall be divided into two Provincial Synods whereof the one shall consist of the Colloquies afore-mentioned viz. of St. Germain Anduze and Saulne and shall be called the Synod of Sevennes and Gevaudan and the other three Colloquies shall make another Synod called by the Name of the Synod of Lower Languedoc 10. Monsieur Gautier did by his Proctor Captain Pascall Appeal unto this Assembly from the Judgment given in the Synod of Bagnals against Monsieur Bansillon Fastor of Aiguemortes who considering his notorious Crimes had not dealt severely enough with him This Assembly approveth of his Appeal and judgeth that the Province for their lenity and gentle Censures of him are themselves worthy of the sharpest Censures And therefore it decreeth that upon this very account and for what hath been transacted in this Assembly concerning the said Bansillon and because he hath positively denied those matters which since his Repentance he owneth and acknowledgeth that he shall be suspended from his Ministry for the space of three months 11. An Appeal was brought in the Name of the Lord Mareschal de Lesdiguieres Viscount of Villemur from an Order of the Provincial Synod held at Revel which in pursuance of a Decree past in the preceding Colloquy had ordained Monsieur Charles Pastor of the said Town of Villemur to abide and live there notwithstanding the instant desires of the people to the contrary This Assembly having heard the Commissioners deputed to examine this Affair and perused their Evidences produced by them and having heard both the said Charles and the Lord of Bellujon Governour of the said Villemur sent by the said Lord Mareschal who also joyned with him in this Appeal it judgeth that the said Sieur Charles hath incurred the Censures of the Church for his pragmaticalness in intermedling with State-matters and for carrying unto the said Lord Mareschal a Libel fraught with defamatory Articles against the said Governour de Bellujon as also for bringing away with him Memorials of the said Mareschal quite contrary to his intention And in like manner is the said Governour de Bellujon censured for not having first of all formed his Complaints in the Consistory and thence gradually prosecuted them in the Colloquy and Synod according to the Rules of our Discipline and for that he suffered his Family to separate themselves from the Body of the Church of Villemur and to go and joyn themselves in Communion elsewhere And inasmuch as there is little hopes that the said Charles may for the future live quietly and exercise profitably his Ministry in that said Church it is ordered that the next Provincial Synod shall provide it of another Pastor and him of another convenient Church and this without any impairment to his Reputation or Ministry And these several Parties were mutually reconciled pledging their words to bury in oblivion the remembrance of all past-matters and that they would live for time to come in all Brotherly Love and Concord And whereas the said Charles complained that the Expences in this Appeal and Cause were too heavy a burden for his Church the Province was ordered to provide therein according to Charity 12. The Sieur Isaac Boiteux Minister in the Church of Bussy in Burgundy appealed His Father Mother and the Pastors of the Church of Geneva joyned with him in the said Appeal craving that he might be restored unto his aged Father who is a Pastor in the said City of Geneva their Letters also were tendered unto this Synod grounded upon this that he was only a Loane unto the said Province which yet avows the contrary and that the said Boiteux promised without any restriction or reservation to serve them during life But he not appearing in person in this Assembly the whole affair was dismissed over to the Province of Vivaretz with full authority from this National Synod to make a final decision of it 13. The Colloquy of Higher Poictou Appealed complaining of the Synod of Poictou held at Thouars for dismembring the Church of Marcillac from their Colloquy and joyning it to the Colloquy of middle Poictou Upon a full hearing of the matter this Assembly approved the Judgment of the said Synod 14. The Sieur Peyrol Pastor in the Church of Montpellier complained of an Order made by the Synod of Lower Languedoc importing that the Pastors of Montpellier should have a careful Eye over his Sermons in the Church and Lectures in the School But the Deputies of the said Province protesting that it was never the Intention of the Synod to make any such Order or that it should be executed and that they having razed it out of their Synodical Register which also was ratified by the very next subsequent Synod might well content him This Assembly judgeth that this Attestation of the Deputies may suffice him because for that good and laudable Testimony given him we believe that the Article was null both before and after the razing of it And the said Sieur Peyrol is exhorted to undertake couragiously and to discharge faithfully his Professorship of Divinity according to
received for the said City Which accordingly he promised to see done and performed 18. The Deputies of Dolphiny complaining that the Sieur Scoffier had not obeyed the Decree of the Synod of Privas St. Maixant p. m. 21. Privas p. m. 34. in paying the Moneys which he owed them this Synod voted that ninety Livers should be detained out of the Moneys beloning to the Province of Berry in which the said Scoffier serves as a Minister in the hands of the Lord du Candal and delivered unto the Province of Dolphiny yet leaving the Province of Berry at Liberty to take what course they thought good to recover the said sum from Monsieur Scoffier 19. The Deputies of Dolphiny complaining that the Sieur Jarry had received thirty Livers from the Church of Castel-Dolphin upon promise that he should come and serve them which yet he hath not done nor restored to them the said Moneys Order was given to the Synod of Sevennes that they injoin him to make them satisfaction and that they consult what censure to inflict upon him 20. Bertrand Auger or Faugier who was put upon the File of the Deposed Ministers by the National Synod of St. Maixant having cleared himself of the Crimes laid unto his charge was restored unto the exercise of his Ministry by the Synod of Dolphiny whose Deputies now demanding that his name might be razed out of that black Kalander this Assembly did accordingly grant it to them 21. A judgment of the Province of Normandy about some Money-matter being put in execution Privas p. m. 25. which was remanded thither by the Synod of Privas this Assembly ordained that the Province of Brittany should pay two thirds of the charges expended by the Sieur Trizonius who was commissionated in that affair by the Province of Anjou and the Moneys for the said charges shall be kept by the Lord du Candal in his hands out of the Moneys appertaining to the Province of Brittany unless their Deputies would rather compound and make present satisfaction 22. Complaint being made by the higher Generality of Normandy that the general charges for the whole Province were divided by equal portions between the Lower and Higher Normandy although there was a very great inequality both of Churches and Colloquies betwixt them this Assembly ordaineth for the future that the said Charges shall be divided into five parts whereof the Lower Normandy shall pay three and the Higher the other two 23. The Synod of the Isle of France complained of the Church of Paris for not paying in as the other Churches of that Province have done and still do the fifth penny of their Charity-Moneys This Assembly having heard the Sieur Bigot and seen the Acts of the Provincial Synod and the Accounts of the said Church approveth of the administration of their Charities and ordereth that the said Church shall continue in the same estate as it was heretofore only that their Deputies shall bring in to their Provincial Synod an account how they dispose of their fifth penny 24. The difference betwixt the Church of Orleans and their Provincial Synod about Claudius Garnier a Dominican Fryar converted unto the Protestant Reformed Religion is turned over to the Province of Anjou to put a final period thereunto by the authority of this Assembly 25. The Province of Lower Languedoc having referred unto this Assembly the separation of the Churches de la Bastide Viras Vignas and Bessars from the Church of Barjac that they might be incorporated with the Province of Vivaretz After hearing the Deputies of both Provinces and perusal of the Judgment given by the Synod of Lower Languedoc the aforesaid Churches were all adjudged unto the Province of Vivaretz excepting only that those of the Quarter of Bessars and only they are left to their own choice whether to continue Members of the Church of Barjac or to follow those other Churches See before Appeal 38. 26. The expences of Monsieur Raffin in his journey to this Assembly for defending that Appeal brought by the Colloquy of Albigeois shall be re-imburst him by the Provinces of Higher Languedoc and Guyenne out of the portions allotted to the said Colloquy 27. The difference between the Colloquy of Albigeois and the Synod of Higher Languedoc and Gyuenne about the distribution of their respective portions is dismissed over to the Synod of Lower Guyenne who have full power to put a final period to it by the authority of this Assembly 28. The Province of Lower Languedoc desiring to be discharged by this Assembly from paying those summs for which they stood indebted unto the Synod of Privas because that the Apostate Ferrier who had their Moneys and whom they had impleaded for them hath removed his cause by way of Appeal unto the Council It was ordained that the Decree of Privas should not in the least be changed And yet notwithstanding that these Petitioners should be holpen in their just prosecution of the said Ferrier at Law by all the Churches 29. This Assembly approving the labours of Mr. Andrew Rivet Pastor of the Church of Thouars and particularly those learned Works of his published against the Adversaries of the Truth gave him their thanks for them and as a testimony of that love and honour they bear him do give him the summ of six hundred Livers out of the common stock of all the Churches 30. The Synod of Poictou having proposed that there might be a new division and increase of Colloquies in the said Province after hearing the arguments pro and con this Assembly ordained that the Colloquies should abide in number and form as they have ever been untill now 31. The Sieur Chabot petitioned by Letters unto this Assembly that the publick Preaching of Gods Holy Word together with the administration of the Sacraments and all other exercises of our Holy Reformed Religion might be again restored unto the Church of Mussidan It was ordained that Messieurs d' Anglade and Esperien Ministers of St. Foy do visit that Church and Preach at Mussidan and dispose the dissenting parties to a reconciliation till the meeting of their next Provincial Synod 32. The Province of Higher Languedoc is exhorted to consider the distresses of the Church of Aiguesmortes and to assist it with a supernumerary portion equal unto any of those other portions given by them unto Pastors and to be paid out of that stock of Moneys which will be allotted them in the general Dividend 33. And the said Province is intreated to give unto Master Andrew Chanforan the Son of Monsieur Chanforan Pastor of the Church of Poussyn the first place that falls vacant for any Proposan Privas p. m. 19. 34. The Deputies in this Synod are charged when they return unto their respective Provinces to recommend unto them the continuance of their Charity towards the poor Refugees of the Marquisate of Salluces a great many of them still groaning under very pressing wants 2. Vitré obs 8. upon this Synod 35. According
were ordered out of hand to go unto the said Church of Rochecouart and to use their best endeavour to appease the differences in it and to reunite its divided Members and to desire Monsieur Fourgaud their Pastor to devest himself of the burden of his Pastoral Office in it we granting him in consideration of his great and continual Maladies that he shall be Emeritus and only preach unto them when his own conveniencies and health may permit him 25. That Appeal of the Church of Tours from the judgment of the Province of Anjou was dismissed over to the Synod of Poictou who shall put a final Period to it by the Authority of this Assembly 26. The Appeal of the Church of Vsez from the judgment of the Synod of Lower Languedoc is declared null and the Ministry of Monsieur Fauchet is confirm'd in the Church and University of Nismes 27. The Church of Aulais appealed from a judgment of the Synod of Sevennes and sent Letters and Memoirs about it unto this Assembly which accepted of their Appeal against the Decree of the said Synod and declared That the Church of * * * Another Copy has Bâ—â—â—ize another Bâ—â—â—ez and another Bâ—uâ—ezz Brunize shall be for the future annext unto that of Aulais according to their own desire and request unto this Assembly by their Letters written to us 28. Monsieur Banconis Pastor of the Church of Tonneins appealed from the judgment of the Synod of Lower Guyenne for that they had dismissed Monsieur Marmett from being their Minister and had fixed him in the Pastoral Charge of the Church gathered in the House of that most Illustrious Prince the Lord Duke of Rohan But this Assembly declared that the Appeal ought not to be admitted by them because that very Synod hath full power finally to determine of this affair and doth therefore ratify this Synodical Decree 29. The Sieur Colinet Pastor of the Church of Paray having appealed from the judgment of the Synod of Burgundy which had ordained that he and Monsieur Gravier his Collegue should serve the Church of Bourbon their Appeal was declared null and void because he neither sent Letters nor Memoirs about it unto this Assembly 30. The Sieurs Charon la Fosse and Gillet appealing from the Synod of Lower Guyenne for restoring Monsieur de Puch unto his Office of Elder in the Church of Bergerac were never to be regarded in their Appeal because they had not sent any Memoirs or Letters concerning it unto this Assembly 31. The Church of Maringues appealed from the judgment of the Province of Burgundy which had given Monsieur Chesneau their Pastor from them unto the Church of Soubize in Xaintonge but they afterward disclaimed and quitted their Appeal insisting only to be reimburst of their Charges expended by them in bringing the said Chesneau and his Books from Geneva to Maringues and setling him among them and also that their other Expences in getting and setling among them Monsieur Tonnel instead of Monsieur Chesneau according as the Lord des Brosses Elder of the Church in Soubize had offered and stood bound for it unto the Synod of Burgundy might be paid in unto them This Assembly having seen the account of the said Charges amounting to the sum of two hundred and eight Livers nineteen Sous and that Article of the Synod of Burgundy relating to it hath ordained that there shall be presently taken two hundred and eight Livers nineteen Sous out of the moneys belonging to the Province of Xaintonge and put into the hands of the Deputies of Burgundy who also on their part shall pay unto the said Monsieur Chesneau the Arrears of his Salary due unto him as appears by a Schedule now tendered by the Elders of the said Church of Maringues and since granted by him unto a certain particular Friend of his and the Province of Xaintonge may redemand the said sum from the Church of Soubize 32. The Appeal of Monsieur Roussell from the Sentence of the Synod of Dolphiny held at Nions in April 1617. obliging the said Roussell to live in that Province was declared null because he had neither sent any Letters or Memoires about it unto this Assembly 33. The like Judgment was past upon the Appeal of Monsieur Videl acting for the Sieur Bouyer from a Decree of the same Synod 34. The Church of Vitré appealed from a Judgment of the Province of Brittain by which an hundred Livers were taken out of the four hundred granted to their College and given to the maintenance of a small School in the Church of Viellevigne This Assembly ordaineth that the sole right of having a College shall belong to the Church of Vitré and they shall be fully paid their four hundred Livers Tonneins of Univers Art 11. And the Province shall out of the supernumerary Portions attributed to it assign an hundred Livers unto the Church of Viellevigne and continue the payment thereof for the maintenance of a School there And whereas the College of Vitré hath not had any Exhibition to this very day this Assembly will pass a special Order which shall for the future be observed by the Province of Brittain as to this concern 35. The Sieur Soubyran Consul of the City of Aimargues Above Art 13. together with divers Inhabitants thereof Appealed unto this Assembly by Letters and Memoires which were delivered by the Sieur Margaret for that the Synod of Lower Languedoc had confirmed Monsieur Boulet in the Ministry and Pastoral Office of the said Church of Aymargues and required that Monsieur Laurent who had been removed from them by the said Synod might be restored On the other side the Consistory of the said Church petitioned by Letters and Memoires sent by the Sieur Tarascon one of their Elders that the Judgment of the said Synod might be confirmed After a serious Debate of the whole affair and hearing the Deputies of Lower Languedoc it was declared that the Appeal of the Sieur Soubyran and the other Syndics with him could not be approved and that the judgment of the Synod should be fully executed and the Ministry of Monsieur Laurent confirmed in the Church of Bernixy And it being apparent by what hath been brought before this Assembly that there be very great divisions in the Church of Aymargues the Assembly ordered the Sieurs Josyon Joly and the Baron of Montbrun and de la Viale Deputies of the Higher Languedoc as they return to their respective Churches to pass over unto Aymargues and to use their utmost care diligence and prudence to heal their breaches and to reunite the divided Members of that Church and to procure and settle Peace in it and to prosecute those contumacious Persons who rebel against the Government of our Churches and of that particular Church of Aimargues with all Ecclesiastical Censures CHAP. VII A Speech made unto the King by the Deputies of the National Synod of the Reformed Churches in France together with his Majesty's
on his Land and he complained farther of the outrages done him which is also come to our hearing by the Commissioners of that Province Now although this Affair be not of their Nature which are to be brought before the National Synods yet for divers reasons this Assembly hath took this particularly into its consideration and doth condemn the Province of Provence for their uncharitable proceedingss which savour of a base Chicanery every way unbecoming the Servants of God and we do appoint the Colloquy of Gapensois in Dolphiny to inspect their Accompts and to add what they shall judge equitable unto the Churches before-mentioned and that by the Authority of this Assembly which will immediately recommend their afflicted Condition unto our Lords the General Deputies who shall address themselves unto His Majesty and the Privy Council for Justice against their potent Oppressor 8. Monsieur Râ—phael Gabett Pastor of the Church of Tulette in Dolphiny appealed from the Judgment of the Synods of Province held at Manosques the Five and Twentieth of October in the Year 1618. And at Aiguieres the Second of May 1619. Which refused to give him Licence of Departure and Honourable Testimonials though they were but his just and lawful dues and had been granted him by the Church of la Code in which he had served the space of Three years and also by the Synod of Thouart when he quitted it And he complained farther that they denied to reimburse him the necessary Charges he was forced to be at in divers Journeys to this purpose and that they had rejected most unjustly this his Appeal when it was tendred to them This Assembly judging the proceedings against the said Monsieur Gabett very unjust and detective in divers points as was demonstrated unto the Deputies of that Province It ordaineth that all the Acts concerning the said Gabet shall be rased out of their Synodical Books and doth very severely censure the said Province and confirmeth the said Gabett in his Ministry at Tulett in Dolphiny and that the Province of Provence shall give him the Testimonials demanded by him and Twenty Livers appertaining to him as Arrearages of his Sallary 9. Mr. Peter Mercurin Pastor of the Church of Cisteron in Provence appealed from the Synod of that Province for denying him a Sight and Copy of their Synodical Acts 〈…〉 which might informe him of the Arrears due unto him for his â—ension whilst he was yet Student and another had not been substituted in his place and he complained that they inforced him to yield up unto the Province Twenty Livers which were given him by the National Synod of Vitre This Affair was dismissed over to the Colloquy of Baronniers in Dolphiny which should audit his Accompts and determine finally about them by the Authority of this Assembly 10. Monsieur Boulet a Pastor of the Church of Vergeres and Condoignac appealed from a Decree of the Synod of Sevennes confirming the Judicial Sentence of the Province of Lower Languedoc which had ordered Four Hundred Livers to be paid him by the Churches and Two Hundred Livers out of the Kings Money including therein the Portion of the said Churches when as there was more due unto him This Assembly declared that this matter did not belong to the Cognisance of National Synods and therefore ratifying the Synodical Decree of Sevennes it doth Exhort the said Boulet to abstain from all terms of Law in his Appeal and in case he has any new matter of Objection against the Province of Lower Languedoc he may again apply himself unto the Province of Sevennes 11. Mr. John de la Faye Pastor of Aubenas appealed from the Synod of Vivaretz held at Chasteauneuf which had given leave unto the Church of Aubenas to dismiss him as also that he should never any more exercise His Ministery within the Province of Vivaretz Hereupon the Informations brought in against the said de la Faye by certain Ministers and Elders Commissionated by a Colloquy held at Meyras in August last were called for and read and the Deputies of the Province were heard in what they had to declare and offer from their Principals The Letters also of some of the Elders in the Consistory of Aubenas and other Inhabitants of the said Town joyning themselves in that Appeal of Monsieur de la Faye were produced they having to this purpose deputed the Sieur de la Borie de Fons de Seures and de la Faisse with them unto this Assembly Monsieur du Sault also one of the Elders of the said Church was heard speak who together with several other Members of the said Church Consistory and Inhabitants of Aubenas demanded that the Decree of the Synod of Chasteauneuf might be Executed This Assembly saw upon the whole very great miscarriages in every party and therefore did first of all censure those Commissioners who instead of quenching the Fire of Division and Contention had poured in fresh Oyle to increase the Flames and fomented Quarrels and Law-Suits among them directly contrary to the Rules and Canons of our National Synods It censureth also the Provincial Synod for pronoucing Sentence so rashly when as there were just grounds of exceptions against the Evidence and without ever hearing the Confession of the said de la Fay or Convincing him in the least of his Offence and for expressing immoderate Passion against him and foisting into their Acts Matters of small moment as if they had been great Crimes It censureth also the Elders of that Church of Aubenas in general for divers failures observed in their proceedings contrary to our Church-Discipline and particularly those among them who would prefer the lesser number unto the greater and bring in little pettifogging tricks into Consistories which are Ecclesiastical Assemblies a matter of dangerous consequence and pernicious unto our Churches And as for Monsieur de la Faye this Synod not being able any longer to endure those great faults of which he is guilty by his own Confession and that he may be excited for the future better to consult the honour of his Sacred Function whereunto he is called of God It doth now suspend him for Two Moneths from all Exercises of his Ministry which time expired The Colloquy of Valentinois in Dolphiny shall at the Costs and Charge of the Church of Aubenas Commissionate some certain Pastors and Elders to restore the said de la Faye unto his Office in it and mediate and effect a good and firm Peace and Reconciliation betwixt them all And in the Name of God all the Members of the said Church and Consistory who are here present are now Exhorted by this Assembly to use their best endeavours that it may be promoted effected and preserved among all their Fellow-Citizens which also they did very solemnly promise And that nothing may be wanting to compose and heal their differences and that the Hearts of all may be disposed and ingaged to this Holy Peace and Union the Sieurs
tending to his being discharged from the Church of Chastelheraut because of his indisposition This Assembly valuing the Health of the said Sieur de la Piltiere and for divers other considerations doth bestow him upon the Church of Touars and whereas the Church of Chastelheraut pretends to have been at great Charges and Expences about the said Sieur de la Piltiere the Judgment thereof is devolved over unto the Colloquy of Higher Poictou which is injoyned to provide the Church of Chastelheraut of an able and worthy Minister considering what an important Post it is 27. The Church of Vassy appealed from the Judgment of the Provincial Synod of the Isle of France for depriving them of Monsieur Juigne their Pastor because he had for divers years together complained of their unkindness and unthankfulness unto him The Church of Passavant Mont and Pressigny appealed from the Judgment of the same Synod because it had deprived them for their manifest and notorious ingratitudes of their Pastor the Sier Babinett * * * Of this Babinett see the Roll of Apoitates and Deposed in the National Synod of Castres and had given him unto the Church of Vassy At the same time the Church of St. Quentin appealed and complained of Monsieur de Juigne who having been presented to their Church for Pastor by the Synod aforesaid and agreed with them and also begun to exercise his Ministry among them upon pretext of fetching his Goods and Books from Vassy returned thither but never came back again unto them and had left them quite destitute After hearing the Deputies of the Church of Vassy and St. Quintin and the Deputies of the Province and perusal of divers Letters written unto this Assembly by the Churches of Vassy Passavant Mont Pressignay and St. Quintin aforesaid and by the said Monsieur de Juigne This Synod acknowledging that the Province had but too great reasons for making those exchanges and removals doth yet notwithstanding because of the satisfactions and amends since made by them ordain that the said Sieur de Juigne shall continue in the Church of Vassy and the Sieur Babinett in the Church of Passavant Mont and Pressigny and that the Church of St. Quintin may be no longer vacant This Assembly chargeth the Deputies of the Isle of France now present in it to write in their Authority unto the two nearest Ministers of the City of St. Quintin that they ordain Monsieur Mestayer by imposition of hands unto the Ministry in that Church and that he continue there until the sitting of the next Provincial Synod which may either continue him in it or supply the said Church some other way and provide another Church which shall be more to the advantage of the said Monsieur Mestayer And farther this Assembly censureth those Churches of Vassy and Passavant for their disingenuity and ingratitude towards their Pastors and the said Monsieur Juigne for his irresolution and unfixedness 28. Monsieur Juigne some days after this censure came unto this Synod and requested that the Note and Reproach of ingratitude fastned on his Church of Vassy and of irresolution on himself might be removed because that he was ever well pleased with his Church and their not contributing to his maintenance came not from want of Will but from their Poverty and Inability This was granted but the Censure past on him was ordered to hang still on the File 29. The Lord of Aldebert Judge of Sauve appealed from the Judgment of the Synod of Sevennes which had ordained that though Monsieur Bony Pastor of the Church of St. Andrews deserved to be suspended yet he should only receive a sharp and publick Reproof and be continued in his Ministry After the Letters of the said Aldebert and Bony were read and the Sentence of the said Province of Sevennes and those Acts produced when the Judgment was given and the Deputies of that Province were heard and Monsieur Rossel his Petition for the said Bony how that because of his Absence the Business might be remanded back again unto the Province This Assembly declareth that the said Province deserves a very severe censure for being so slow and remiss in its proceedings and using an unjustifiable Indulgence and Lenity when it came to Judgment and decreeth that the said Bony shall continue suspended from his Ministry from that very day whereas this Synodical Sentence shall be signified to him which the Deputies of the said Province shall forthwith inform him of until the next Sessions of the Provincial Synod of Higher Languedoc unto which the Parties aggrieved shall make their complaints The Deputies of Sevennes being charged to summon them unto it that so the said Synod by the Authority of this Assembly may examine and judge and aggravate the Sentence if need be And that Province of Sevennes is ordered to proceed with rigour and vigour against all other Pastors who have demeaned themselves ill in their Office and to render an account thereof unto the next National Synod 30. The Church of Nions appealed from a Judgment of the Synod of Dolphiny importing that the said Church should not seek for it self a Pastor without the Province and that Monsieur Bouvier should be their Minister for Six Moneths The Acts needful to be known for the right understanding of this Case having been all read and the Deputies of the Province being heard This Assembly judged that at present there was no reason for that Church to seek a Pastor abroad out of the Province and the said Province is injoyned to provide them a Minister fit for their Service 31. The Lord of Puyredon Elder in the Church of Nismes appealed from the Sentence of his Consistory about Matters of Precedency and the way of gathering the Votes and Suffrages in the said Consistory This Synod judging this Affair not fit to be debated by it hath dismissed it over to the Colloquy 32. Whereas the Elder of the Church of Charenton St. Mere Vallognes and le val de Serre appealed from the Sentence of the Provincial Synod of Normandy which had provided for the safety and comfort of Monsieur Basnage their Pastor that he should be removed from them and placed elsewhere as he himself should approve of This Appeal was declared null 33. The Appeal of Monsieur Bicheteau Professor of the Hebrew Tongue at Montauban from the Judgment of the Synod of Higher Languedoc held at Montauban the Five and Twentieth day of April last is declared null 34. An Appeal of Monsieur De Mas Pastor in the Church of Campagne from the Higher Languedoc held at Montauban the Five and Twentieth day of April last is declared null 35. The Appeal of Monsieur Perrier formerly Pastor in the Church of Paillac from the Judgment of the Synod of Burgundy which had Deposed him from the Sacred Ministry was declared null 36. The Pastors and Elders of the Church of Issurtille appealed from the Judgment of the Province of Burgundy for refusing them
Church-History wherein we may have the rise growth and progress of all Controversies and their confutation by the Sacred Scriptures for the greater Edification of Gods Church 10. The same Province demanded Whether Consistories might compel an Advocate by Ecclesiastical Censures to depose against his Client such matters as had been secretly communicated to him This Assembly considering that Advocates are intrusted with many Secrets and obliged by the Duties of their Office and Calling to conceal Matters confided to them by their Clients judgeth that no Consistories ought to urge them to it unless in cases of High Treason or things of such great importance 11. The Provincial Deputies Commissionated to our National Synods shall not be suffered to plead for any Church or private Person who appeals from the Judgment of their Province But it shall be lawful for them to bring with them the Memoirs and Instructions of the said Churches and particular Appellants and tender them unto the National Synods who may leave them in the hands of Commissioners to make report of them 12. This Synod ratifying the Decrees of former Synods forbiddeth all Colloquies and Provincial Synods to divert the Moneys given us by the King in any manner whatsoever from their primary use and intendment whereunto they were appointed and ordaineth that they shall be only employed towards the maintenance of our Ministers and the upholding of the Sacred Ministry of the maintenance of our Universities Colledges Proposans the Widows of Pastors and they shall be expended in defraying the necessary Charges of our National Synods according to the Will and Pleasure of His Majesty 13. Monsieur d' Huisseau appearing in this Assembly as he and Monsieur Guydon had been ordered to give an account of their prosecuting Monsieur Palot for the recovery of those great Summs of Money he was indebted unto the Churches He declared that both himself and the said Monsieur Guidon now absent since the last National Synod held at Alez which they had acquainted with the process commenc't by them against the said Palot could not make any great progress therein because of the Wars which a little while after brake out and for that the Commissioners appointed by the King to audit the said Palots Accounts were all out of the way But yet notwithstanding they had not been altogether idle nor lost their time For though this Affair were exceedingly imbroyl'd yet had they got such light into it as would be very beneficial unto the Churches and not only to some of them which were more particularly concern'd above other but would be very useful to the Exchequer it self and to the said Monsieur Palot That the difficulty formerly experienc't in getting Commissioners who might examin the Accompts of the said Palot had made them conclude that to bring this Affair to an happy period it were best to carry and leave it with the Sedentary Judges as those are in the Sovereign Courts And since the opening of this Synod the Lord Malat Secretary to His Majesty a Man of great Probity Capacity and Intelligence and very well known did by a third Person make this offer That in case he would give him a quarter of what Moneys might be gotten in from this Affair he would undertake the prosecution of it without ever demanding any thing else from the Churches for defraying his Costs and Expences If therefore it would please this Synod to continue and prorogue for Six Moneths longer unto the said Lords Guidon and d' Huysseau the faculties and powers granted and confirmed to them by the last Synod of Alez and give them leave to associate with them the said Lord of Mallat and to prosecute this Affair in such Courts and Jurisdictions as they should think good on condition that one quarter of what might be recovered should be given them in lieu of all their Charges and Recompence they hoped that within the term of Six Moneths the Churches should be well contented with their pains and undertakings and reap the fruit and injoy the benefit of them And that an estimate might be made of their progress in this Law-Suit within that time This Assembly is desired to Authorize the Synod of the Isle of France to take cognisance thereof that so according to the success and profit had and obtained they may either order it to be continued or surceased Moreover this Assembly is requested to charge the Lords our General Deputies to come in and assist the said Lords Guidon Mallat and d' Huisseau upon such occasions as do occur and when as they shall be desired by them But the Synod thought it more convenient before they proceeded any farther to conferr in the first place with the Sieur Palot because we had now an easie opportunity for so doing and therefore voted that the Seur Palot should be intreated to come unto this Assembly which accordingly he did and upon discourse he offered that if this Assembly would be pleased to nominate a Committee of their own Members he would very willingly confer with them about this Affair Whereupon the Lords of Montmartyn one of our General Deputies Basnage a Pastor Du Port du Four and de Launay Elders together with Monsieur d' Huisseau were appointed to confer with the said Palot and see if they could bring him to put a fair and amicable end unto it Who having discoursed with him informed this Assembly that he was so far from compounding with the Churches and refunding any thing unto them of the great Summs demanded by us that on the contrary he avowed they were very much indebted to him The Synod hereupon Commissionated the Lords Durant and Mestrezat Pastors Marbau Massoners Biggot and de L' Aunay Elders of the Church of Paris to act joyntly together with the Lords of Montmartyn and Manialt our General Deputies or with any one of them in the absence of the other and to resolve and conclude in the Name and behalf of our Churches whatsoever they should conceive meet in this Affair and to treat and agree with one or more Sollicitors and to give full Powers unto him or them to prosecute it on such Articles and Conditions as in their Wisdoms would most contribute to the Weal Benefit and Advantage of our Churches And to this purpose a special Letter of Attorney was Sealed to them and Delivered by all the Provincial Deputies of the Churches in this Synod but on this Condition that he or they with whom they agreed should not demand nor pretend unto any Moneys of right from the said Churches for their Pains Costs Losses or Sallaries in the pursuit and sollicitation of this Affair 14. The Lord of Candal came into this Assembly and assured it of the continuance of his sincere Affections and Service unto the Churches and did farther declare and notifie with how much diligence and importunity he and the Lords General Deputies for Five Moneths together in this present year had sollicited both His Majesty and the Lords of his
and Chambrun who were appointed Commissioners by the Synod of Charenton to visit that Province had been countermanded by Monsieur Recent the said Recent is injoyned to appear before the next Synod of Lower Languedoc and there to answer unto all Matters that shall be brought in against him and the said Synod shall suspend him from the Ministry in case he be found to have deserved it And those Excuses of the Sieurs Crubellier and Chambrun are accepted but withall the Reverend Mr. Chauve and Bouteroue and in case they by some lawful hindrance should be detained then the Reverend Mr. Le Faucheur and Conel are charged to go unto the next Synod of Provence and there see the aforesaid Canons of those former National Synods to be put in Execution and to remedy those disorders which may and do retard their Observation The Agreement made between the said Province and the Widow of Monsieur Toussains is approved and confirmed The Commissioners appointed for remedying the Confusions in the said Province shall give judgment in that case complained of by the Church of Lormarin and brought before this Assembly The Synod confirming the Sentence of the Province of the Isle of France decreeth that Monsieur du Val shall be numbred among the Pastors that be Emeriti and that a free Portion shall be assigned and payed in unto him as unto others of the same quality and under his Circumstances That the Twelfth Article in the Chapter of Colledges and Universities may be more accurately observed than heretofore all Provinces within whose district the said Universities be Erected are earnestly exhorted to put forth their helping hand that they be reduc't into practice and they shall bring proof of their Obedience yielded to this Canon unto the next National Synod The Province of Guyenne requesting it this Council doth confirm the R. R. Mr. Alba and Ferrand in the Pastoral Charge of the Churches of Agen and Bourdeaux Report being made by the Commissioners appointed for examining the Memoirs of Monsieur du Bois a Pastor sent by the last National Synod unto the Church of Fontaines and Crossy till the sitting of the next Synod of Normandy upon the first Article of his Complaints and Demands he was ordered to apply himself unto the Province of Anjou and the said Province should bestir themselves so effectually that he may have full satisfaction and all his Debts payd him especially by the Lady de la Barce and upon the Second that the Province of Normandy shall give him an Accompt of his Portion which they received for him under his Name it being entered under their Dividend Moreover they shall either provide him of a Church or give him an Honourable dismission from the Ministry in their Province in case there be no vacant Church in it that demands his Service Which also shall be notified to him and that the aforesaid Province hath proceeded to dischâ—rge him CHAP. XIX 1626. The 25th Synod A Deposed Minister Restored MOniseur James Repasseau presenting Honourable Attestations of His Deportment ever since his Deposition and with Showers of Tears most humbly petitioning the Synod that he might reap the fruits and benefits of those hopes which the last National Synod had given him some ground to expect and that upon evident proofs and tokens of his sincere Repentance he might be another day restored unto the Exercise of his Ministry and the Provincial Deputies of Dolphiny being charged by their Synod to intercede for him and by word of mouth to confirm those good and laudable Testimonials which had been given him by the Church of Montlimard where he hath ever since resided and by his Religious and Exemplary Conversation exceedingly edified them The Synod having tender bowels of Love and Compassion for him and yielding a just deference to those affectionate intreaties of the Province of Dolphiny and of the whole Church of Montlimard in which for these Four last Years he hath made his constant aboad to their singular satisfaction after serious Admonitions given him to stand upon his guard and diligently to ponder his Paths and to walk in the House or God with a very Godly Fear and a most Religious Circumspection for the future because of the great scandal which was taken by the Church and World by those within and without at his Sin and Fall especially his best and dearest Friends having been horribly amazed and astonished at it This Synod doth now restore him to his Ministry and to the Exercise of all the Duties and Offices of a Gospel-Minister and decreeth by this present Canon that his Name shall be razed out of the Roll and Catalogue of Deposed Ministers that so when as any Church shall give him a Call to work among them he may re-enter upon his Pastoral Work and charge with as great Honour and Comfort as he was deprived of it with Grief Ignominy and Confusion CHAP. XX. APPEALES THE Sieur Ginoux brought his Appeal from a Judgment of the Province of Sevennes and he was patiently heard speaking of those pretended grievances which occasioned his Appeal and of that opposition which was made and formed by him and his Party against the Settlement of Monsieur Courant in the Pastoral Office in the Church of Alez and about the Suspension decreed against him from the Lords Table by the Consistory of his own Church and the Provincial Synod The Deputies of Sevennes were heard also speaking in the behalf of their Province This Synod did hereupon declare that the said opposition was groundless 1626. The 25th Synod and confirmed the Decree of the Provincial Synod for the Setting of the said Monsieur Courant in the Church of Alez and forasmuch as the said Sieur Ginoux doth yield unto those Exhortations and Remonstrances that have been made him and out of deference to them protesteth that he will relinquish as he now relinquisheth all those Accusations brought by him against Monsieur des Marests and his Colleague Monsieur Courant whom he reckoneth and believeth to be True Worthy and Faithful Ministers of the Gospel Holy and Exemplary in their Lives of Unblemished and Unstained Reputations And farther it ordaineth that the said Sieurs des Marests and Courant shall openly and publickly declare before the Consistory of Montpellier that they do reciprocally hold and esteem the said Sieur Ginoux for an honest Gentleman of good Reputation and without Reproach and after this Declaration thus made the said Consistory shall reconcile them one to the other and by Authority from this Synod the said Sieur Ginoux shall be received by them unto the Peace and Commmunion of the Church and that Suspension decreed against him by the Province of Sevennes shall be removed and taken off the File 2. Letters were read from the Church of Paris with its appeal from the Judgment of the last Provincial Synod and Monsieur Mestrezat and d' Hâ—ysseau with the other Deputies of that Province were heard speaking to it This Assembly
Monsieur d' Huysseau and conformable to the Regulation made in the last Synod of Castres 50. Mr. Du Bois a Pastor discharged by the Province of Normandy complaining that contrary to the Decree of the National Synod of Castres the said Province instead of reckoning with him for his Portion assigned by the 24th National Synod held at Charenton in the Year 1623 unto him had ordered that the free Portion granted him by that of Castres in the Year 1626 should be paid in unto him by the Receiver of the said Province The Assembly having heard the Report of the Commissioners nominated by it to examine his Pretensions doth condemn the said Province for not having followed the Intentions of the said National Synod of Castres and ordaineth that out of the best and clearest Monies belonging to the said Province there shall be detained the Sum of eight and fifty Livers and fourteen Sous in the hands of the Lord du Candall who shall pay it unto the said Mr. Du Bois he giving an Acquittance for it And whereas he hath not touch'd a Denier of his free Portion given him by the National Synod of Castres it shall be paid unto him either by the Lord of Candall or his Deputy in the Province of the Isle of France 51. Whereas the first National Synod of Charenton in the Year 1623 had ordained four hundred Livers to be paid in to the Province of Higher Languedoc now the Lord of Candall out of the first Monies that shall be distributed among the Churches shall reimburse the said Province of that Sum. CHAP. XX. APPEALS 1. MR. Nonis Pastor in the Church of Aulas appearing to defend that Appeal brought by the said Church from the Judgment of the Province of Sevennes which had ordered the Inhabitants of La Breauvaise to be incorporated for the future with the Church of Breas After hearing the pretended Grievances of the Church of Aulas and the Petition brought by the Deputy of the Inhabitants of La Breauvaise confirmed by their Letters and by the Letters of the Church of Breaus and the Reasons given in by the Deputies of the Province for their Judgment whereby it was manifest that the Differences between those two Churches of Aulas and Breas are rather bottom'd on the Passions of some particular Persons than on any real Interest of either And whereas by the Canon of the National Synod of Castres the Province of Sevennes was sufficiently impower'd to pass a final Sentence in this Affair this Assembly condemneth Monsieur Nouis for quitting the exercise of his Ministry in his Church and taking upon him the Office of a Sollicitor which might have been better discharged by another and enjoineth the Deputies of the Province of Sevennes to labour a Composition in the most amicable manner of the Differences between both thole Churches of Aulas and Breau and in case they should not be able to compose them then they shall acquaint the Synod of Lower Languedoc therewith before which the Deputies of both those Churches shall appear and receive their final Judgment Moreover the Synod of Sevennes is injoined to see to it that Mr. Berlé Pastor of the Church of Breau and all other Ministers of the said Province do actually and personally reside with their Flocks And forasmuch as the National Synod of Castres had given full Power unto Provincial Synods to judg finally in the Case of Conjunction and Separation of the Churches and their Annexes this Assembly confirming that Canon ordaineth That in case any Difficulties should arise and hinder the Provincial Synods from coming to a final Judgment then those Causes shall be dismissed over to the Synod of the Neighbour Province nor shall they be brought hereafter unto our National Synods 2. This Assembly approving the Zeal of the Province of Burgundy and the Motives inducing them to give Sentence on Monsieur Durand Pastor of the Church of Issurtille doth however take off that Censure of Suspension from him and restoreth him with Honour unto the exercise of his Ministry and ordereth that the Act from which he appealeth and that which follows it shall be supprest because 't is very clear the said Durand had no Design to execute the Sentence denounc'd against himself but that he proceeded in that Business with all simplicity and uprightness wherein he is exhorted to continue and to walk with more prudence and circumspection according to the Counsel of his Brethren 3. This Assembly revising the Judgment given by the Province of Burgundy against Paul Sarazin heretofore Pastor in the Church of Vison declareth That the said Province proceeded in that Matter with excessive Severity and for the future enjoineth that they never insert into the Causes of their Censures Facts not verified and that in no wise they depart from the wonted Forms And farther the said Sarazin is judged worthy of the greatest Censures for abandoning his Church without leave first had and obtained and for being negligent in conserving the Honour of his Vocation whereunto he had been called by God and amending the Sentence from which he doth appeal this Synod removeth him the said Sarazin from his Ministry which he shall not any more exercise 4. The Judgment past by the same Province against Joseph Aubery formerly Pastor in the Church of Coulonges in the Colloquy of Gex is confirmed in every Point and Article thereof 5. Mr. Chacerat Pastor of the Churches of Ponteau de Mar and Quillebeaf having made his Complaints unto this Assembly and praying that Right and Justice might be done him the next Synod of Normandy was ordered to take special care of him and with all love to provide for the Safety of his Person and that his Life may be made comfortable to him And the said Cacherat is exhorted to continue in the Exercise of his Calling with that Zeal and Conscientiousness he hath ever manifested Yet afterward he revolted 6. The said Mr. Cacherat appealing from the Judgment of his Province and declaring the Grievances pretended to have been sustained by him The Assembly representing to him that his Cause was not of their Nature which should be brought before the National Synods did exhort him to rest satisfied with the Testimonial given him unanimously by his Province of his Probity and Fidelity in the discharge of his Ministry and the rather because these Persons whom he accuseth to have done him Wrong being dead 't is utterly impossible that his Province should procure him a more ample Satisfaction 7. Although the Appeal brought by Monsieur Pejus from the Judgment of the Commissioners of the Province of Berry be not of their Nature which are to be brought unto these National Synod Yet nevertheless this Synod taking to it self the cognizance thereof doth confirm that Judgment given by the said Commissioners in all its Articles and censureth the said Mr. Pejus for not acquiescing in it and enjoineth him to yield full satisfaction to it on pain of being suspended
established in the Churches of this Kingdom and enacted by our National Synods over and besides what hath been determined and decided in the Provincial Synod of Bearn Whereupon the Assembly granted that their Appeals should be judged according to the Discipline framed for the Churches of Bearn by the Command of their famous Princess Jane Queen of Navarre and ratified by the Parliament of Pau a Copy whereof faithfully collationed with the Original shall be deposited in the Hands of that Province which shall be charged with the Convocation of the next National Synod by the Provincial Deputies of Bearn signed subscribed and attested by their own Hand-writings And also it is farther granted them as their Priviledg that whatever Pastors are now actually imployed in the Ministry of the Churches of that Province shall not be removed unto the Service of other Churches in this Kingdom unless their aforesaid Churches do yield a plenary and explicit Consent thereunto 29. Mr. Richard formerly Pastor of the Church at Saponnay in the Province of the Isle of France presented himself unto this Assembly humbly petitioning that they would be pleased to give him some Imployment in the said Province according to the Discipline The Assembly informed him that the Honour of his Ministry had not been blemished by them and therefore if he were not in actual Service as he desired none could be blamed for it but himself and his imprudent Management of his own Affairs and forasmuch as there was not at present any vacant Church in that Province he was advised to depart unto his native Country the Land of Vaux there to pass the Remainder of his Days and the Province whereunto he last belonged is exhorted to continue to him their wonted Charities and to help him with Monies to defray the Expences of his Journey homeward 30. Without making any Reflections on the Prohibition of the Province of Vivaretz this Assembly doing Right upon the Complaint of Monsieur des Maretz ordaineth that the Decree of the last National Synod shall be executed according to the Form and Tenour thereof CHAP. XIV Appeals and Complaints 1. THE Complaints of the Sieur Genoyer against the Synod of Provence and Monsieur Maurice his Brother having been examined and the said Maurice heard speak in his own Defence on each of the Articles brought against him This Assembly judged that the said Genoyer ought not to have troubled them about such mean and slight Matters and which also are not proved and therefore from hence-forward interdicts him all such manner of Proceedings and in the mean while exhorteth the Provincial Synods to read over the Acts of the National that so whatever Matters have been decided in them may not be concealed from the Churches 2. This Assembly conserving the Honour of Monsieur Pascard permits him to exercise the Duties of his Ministry whenas ever he shall be requested thereunto by the Pastors and Consistories in the Province of Xaintonge and this according to the Discipline 3. Although the Appeal of my Lady de Juigne is not of the Nature of those Matters which ought to be presented unto the National Synods yet the Assembly taking Cognizance thereof and weighing the Reasons urged by the said Lady and the Motives oh which the Consistory of Pringey hath founded its Censure confirmed by the Judgment of the Synod of Anjou it decreeth That the said Censure shall be taken off and the said Lady is exhorted to give unto the Church of Pringey the generous Fruits of her Christian Charity and Bounty and that she would as liberally contribute to the Subsistence of that Church and of the Gospel there according to that large and plentiful Estate with which God hath blessed her as she hath done formerly c. to continue it for the future although she may for her greater Conveniency join her self in Communion with any other Church nearer to her 4. The Sieurs le Mousnier de Caux and de Bures appealing on behalf of sundry private Persons Members of the Church of Dieppe the Appeal brought by them from the Judgment given by the Provincial Synod held at Caen and the Provincial Deputies of Normandy and the Acts of those particular Persons aforesaid and of the afore-mentioned Synod and of their Commissioners and of the Consistory of Dieppe together with the Letters of the said Synod to the Church of Dieppe and of their Commissioners sent unto the said Church to see their Sentence executed in it having been all read This Assembly passing by the Defects in the Deputation of Monsieur le Mousnier and his Companions which are contrary to the Forms usually required and received in all Appeals and commending their Love and godly Zeal doth confirm the Judgment of the Synod of Normandy as being grounded upon Prudence and Charity and forbiddeth the Church of Diep and all other Churches of this Kingdom to receive unto the Exercise of the Ministerial Office among them one called Deschamps who by his fastious Pranks and Practices yea and since that the Synod of Caen had notified it by their judicial Decree hath himself publickly demonstrated that his Ministry can never edify nor profit that Church and the Consistory of that Church is blamed for their Imprudence for admitting him to preach among them without ever demanding or perusing his Attestations from the Churches in which he formerly served and from the Colloquies and Synods of which he was a Member whereby they have suffered him very inconsiderately to insinuate himself into the Affections of the People who demanded him to be their Pastor before they had any Knowledg of him And farthermore the Consistory of that Church is forbidden hence forward all Deliberations about either the Reception of any new or Exclusion of any old Pastor without having first consulted the Heads of Families belonging to their Church and according to the Canons of our Discipline it condemneth the Proceedings of the said Consistory who through an Excess of Rigour refused to grant unto the Plaintiffs their Liberty and Priviledg of Appeal whereby they were contrary to the Discipline reduced to a Necessity of making a tumultuous Deputation And whereas the Provincial Synod in decreeing the Exclusion of the said Des Champs did omit what would have principally contributed to their Satisfaction who demanded him for their Minister this Assembly taking the Church of Dieppe into its most particular Consideration doth promise the said Church of Dieppe to provide for them a third Pastor either within or without the Province yea and to ingage them to proceed unto the Reception of the Sieur du Bures recommended by the Testimonial of their Deputies and of the Province and this according to the Canons of our Discipline unto which that said Church is advised to conform it self and by its Union with their Consistory to preserve that Peace and Charity which ought to be among all Christians to the maintaining of which the said Sieurs le Mousnier de Caux and de Bures
have promised to lay themselves out unto the utmost 5. The Church of Plessis appealed requesting that their Pastor Monsieur de Montigny might actually reside in the Town of Plessis according to the Discipline and the Canons of our National Synods and that the Sentence of the Isle of France which had dispensed with him might be disannulled and reversed This Assembly judged that the said Sieur de Montigny was of right obliged to reside at Plessis and ought not to be dispensed with yet nevertheless his Church is intreated to allow him four Months in the Year to attend his private Affairs at his House of Albon provided he do not discontinue the Exercises of his Ministry 6. Monsieur Fabas was heard in his Complaint about the non-executing of that Decree of the last National Synod which had authorized and commissionated the Colloquy of Condommois to take Informations and pass a Judgment of the Contents in the Letters written by those Gentlemen Mr. de la Fitte Gillot and Belard unto Monsieur D' Abadie and Pommarede during their Abode at Charenton and the Defence of Monsieur Rivall upon whose Report those Letters were written and to the Remonstrance of the Colloquy of Condommois who have not acquitted themselves of the Commission given them because the said la Fitte and Gillot refused to submit unto their Judgment and to the Excuse of the Province of Bearn that their Union with the Churches of this Kingdom was not at that time ratified and that they were not obliged to defray the Expences of the Deputies charged by the said Colloquy of Condommois to inform themselves of the Facts of some particular Persons but only those Persons who were concerned This Assembly declareth those Accusations brought in by the said Rivall and Belard against the said Fabas to be null and for this Reason because the first was grounded upon a Report spread abroad from a pretended Accusation brought by a particular Person who afterwards denied it and was proved to be false by all the Persons mentioned in it And the second consists of an ill-taken Equivocation alledged by one only Witness who ought not in any wise to be admitted it being expresly against the Prohibition of the Apostle 1 Tim. 1.5 19. Nor had the Colloquy of Pau any reason to grant a Commission unto Monsieur Rivall to take Information against Monsieur Fabas who opposed his Institution and Induction into the Church of Morlas and by consequence was a professed Party against him and Mr. la Fitte and Gillot have to no good purpose and only upon the single report of the said Rival spread abroad a groundless and unproved Accusation against a Minister of the Gospel Nor should the Province of Bearn have tolerated such Proceedings nor have permitted the Church of Morlas to be divided whenas they could have remedied it by fair and gentle Means according to the Word of God and the Order of our Discipline And whereas Mr. Rival and Bellard have defamed a Minister of the Gospel and occasion'd by their manner of Proceedings a great deal of unjust Reproach to be laid upon him which cannot in the least be justified the said Fabas Rival and Bellard are all enjoined to live in Peace and Brotherly Union and to forbear all Civil and Criminal Prosecutions made or hereafter to be made before the Magistrate upon the score of their Differences and to put a period and final issue unto those which are already begun whereunto the said Fabas and Rival have promised submission respectively and entred already into mutual Articles and Bonds for so doing 7. The Province of Bearn complained of and accused the said Sieur Fabas of rebellion against the Canons of our Discipline and of unlawful Proceedings whereby he designed to invalidate the Censures of the Church and that he did de facto most odiously traduce them before the Civil Magistrate Whereupon the said Mr. Fabas was heard complaining to the contrary and accusing the Province of Bearn for that they did without any lawful Cause remove him from his Church and deprive him of his Ministry in it and have not assigned him any other and have since suspended him the Exercise of his Ministry because he had appealed from their unrighteous Censure And secondly for that divers particular Members of the Church of Morlas after they had unjustly reproached him had divided that poor Church and abstained schismatically from the Exercises of Religion performed in it Whereupon the Acts of the Synod of Bearn and of the Colloquy of Pau were perused as also the Proceedings of the Lords in the Parliament of Navarre at the Petition of the said Fabas and of sundry others belonging to the Church of Morlas and the Inquisition made by the Commissioners of the said Parliament who were sent to Morlas to learn and sift out the Sentiments and Opinion of the said Church there were read also the Letters of the Consistory of the Church of Morlas humbly requesting that Monsieur Fabas might be continued in his Ministry among them and those of Mr. Bellard and other Elders and particular Persons demanding of the Consistory that he might be removed elsewhere This Assembly confirming the Ministry of the said Mr. Fabas in the Church of Morlas judgeth that the Province should not by its Rigour have enforced him to make use of those extraordinary Courses which he did in his own just Defence nor should it have favoured by its connivency the Disunion of those particular Persons who have separated themselves from the Body of the Church of Morlas whereas they should have according to their Duty reconciled them with the rest of their Brethren much less ought they to have took that Course they did to suspend the said Fabas after he had appealed And the said Mr. Fabas ought not in Duty to have departed from the Forms prescribed by our Discipline because the way of appealing unto superiour Ecclesiastical Assemblies was wide open to him And therefore the said Province is injoined for the future to refrain all violent Proceedings contrary to the Discipline and to apply out of hand suitable Remedies whereby the Schism in the Church of Morlas may be cured and the Members thereof reconciled among themseives and with their Pastor Mr. Fabas and all others are to acquiesce and rest contented with the Ways prescribed by the Discipline forbearing all Proceedings contrary to it and bringing those their Differences into Ecclesiastical Assemblies there to be composed And whereas some particular Members of the Church of Morlas have complained against the said Mr. Fabas their Passion and bitter Expressions are condemned and they be exhorted to mind their present Duty which is by a mutual Reconciliation to heal the Breaches and restore the Peace of the Church of God All which shall be signified unto them by Letters from this Synod 8. Monsieur Chorets a Member of the Church of Paris complained unto this Assembly of a Judgment past against him by the said
should be united as it hath been for divers Years last past with it this Assembly doth approve both of their Reunion with the said Province of Vivaretz and of its being incorporated with that of Bonlieu 2. In Confirmation of the promises made by the National Synods of Charenton held in the Year 1631 the Second time at that Place and of Alenson in the Year 1637 unto Monsieur Chamier this Assembly resolveth stedfastly as soon as God shall have inabled the Churches that they shall be punctually performed 3. A Decree past that the Sieurs Constant and Bellot should be effectually paid what had been promised them by the foregoing Synods as soon as ever the Churches may recover a Fund for it and it shall be returned unto the Province of Xaintonge who had advanced before-hands the said Monies 4. For as much as the whole written Will and Testament of Monsieur Scoffier the Father produced in this Assembly hath not been in the least fulfilled although the National Synod of Alanson had strictly injoyned his Executors to perform it the Consistory of the Church of Nismes is ordered once again to call before them the Widow of Mr. John Scoffier Deceased who had applied to his own private uses the Monies belonging to Jaquemine his Sister tho she was by their own Father made Joint-heir with him that so she may make Restitution of what she had unjustly taken to her self and that by a false Information brought in by her unto the National Synod of Castres And in case she refuse to Discharge her Conscience in this particular then shall the said Consistory prosecute her with all the Censures of the Church according to the Discipline 5. Monsieur du Fresne producing Testimonials from the Province of Higher Languedoc of his Godly Life and most exemplary Conversation ever since the last National Synod and out of respect to his most Humble and Importunate Petition this Assembly granteth him his Desire and restoreth him to the Honour and Exercise of his Ministry of which he had been deprived these Fourteen Years And it was farther Decreed that the Act of the National Synod of Alanson relating to him shall be Rased and whereas his Name was enrolled among the Deposed it shall be now taken off the File and he shall be sent unto the Churches of Issoire Paillac Chazelle and Gazelle to serve them as their Ordinary Pastor All which shall be signified unto him by Letters 6. Complaints being brought in against Monsieur Amyraud Pastor and Professor in Theology at Saumur for Violating the Canons of the National Synod of Alanson by Printing his Book of Reprobation and some other of his Works and the Province of Anjou and the said Monsieur Amyraud who was deputed by the said Church and University of Saumur and charged with the Delivery of their Letters having remonstrated unto this Synod many and sundry Transgressions of those very Canons by several Provinces And the Provincial Deputies of Poictou being heard and also the said Amyraud both as to the Publishing of his Books and the Doctrin contained in them this Assembly being very well satisfied with his Explications and Sense given of his Doctrin agreeable to that of the Synod of Alanson and judging it best to bury in the Grave of Oblivion all those reciprocal Complaints brought in from all Parties hath as formerly dismissed the said Sieur Amyraud with honour to the Exercise of his Professorship wherein he is exhorted to employ himself with Courage and Chearfulness Moreover this Synod desirous for the future to settle a good arid lasting Peace in all the Churches and to satisfy the Requests of all the Provinces which have unanimously demanded the strict and punctual Confirmation and Observation of the Canons of the National Synod of Alanson doth most expressly forbid on pain of all Church Censures yea and of being deposed from their Offices all Pastors and Professors to go beyond those bounds in Writing Preaching or Disputing one against another upon those points declared and explained in the said Synod of Alanson or to publish any Books on those Subjects Moreover the said Professors shall be responsible for all their Lectures Theses and Disputations and their Provincial Synods shall be accomptable for them onto the National And all Students in Divinity are most expresly injoyned upon pain of being declared unworthy of ever serving in the Sacred Ministry to raise any Stirs or Debates about unnecessary Questions as concerning the Order of God's Decrees of Universal Grace by the Preaching of Nature which may lead and bring Men unto Salvation Points only propounded and advanced by pure Curiosity and for the Exercise of Mens Wits And all Examiners of our Proposans in order to the Ministry shall proceed in that business with very much Charity exacting from them nothing but what is demanded by the Canons of our Discipline and provided they give that Satisfaction which is requisite by signing the Confession of Faith the Liturgy of our Churches and the Canons of Alez Charenton and Alenson and this present Act they shall be approved and admitted 7. After Reading of this Canon which Monsieur Amyraud promised to observe and obey he petitioned the Synod that in case his Works might be opposed by Books printed in Foreign Parts without the Kingdom to the blasting of his Reputation License might be given him to defend his own Innocency and to make use of his Natural right in repelling injury and purging himself from all Blame and Reproach An Order passed that if any such thing fell out he should demand leave to vindicate himself from the Provincial Synod of Anjou who shall consider whether it will be expedient for his Consolation and the Churches Edification 8. Monsieur Grace producing his Accompts of Monies received and distributed to the Churches of Rochel Montauban and Castres shall carry them to the next Provincial Synod of Burgundy where upon his Bringing forth of the Acquittances this Accompt shall be concluded and past by the Authority of this Assembly CHAP. XI APPEALS 1. THE Churches of Divonne and Grilby in the Land of Gex appealing from a Judgment in pecuniary matters their Appeal is according to the Discipline sent unto the Province of Burgundy And the Deputies of that Province are Ordered to take into their Custody all Papers of both Sides relating to it 2. That right may be done the Church de la Fite upon their Appeal this Assembly judgeth that the Province of Lower Guyenne hath exceeded the stated Rules First In removing Monsieur de Bourdieu from the Church in that Town unto which he was by a particular Covenant obliged and without hearing the Church as is evident from the Acts of the said Provincial Synod 2. For fixing the said Monsieur de Bourdieu absolutely in the Church of Bergerac notwithstanding the Appeal of that of La Fite 3. That when the said Church of La Fite re-demanded their ancient Pastor they provided for them Monsieur Belon a Person never
their Establishment and Edification whereby they are under the Pastoral Care and in case of Scandalous or Offensive Walking may be authoritatively admonished or censured for their Recovery and for vindication of the Truth and the Church professing it 9. That a Visible Professor thus joyned to a particular Church ought to continue stedfastly with the said Church and not forsake the Ministry and Ordinances there dispensed without an orderly seeking a Recommendation unto another Church which ought to be given when the case of the Person apparently requires it 2. Of the Ministry 1. We agree that the Ministerial Office is instituted by Jesus Christ for the gathering guiding edifying and governing of his Church and to continue to the end of the World 2. They who are called to this Office ought to be endued with competent Learning and ministerial Gifts as also with the Grace of God found in Judgment not Novices in the Faith and Knowledg of the Gospel without Scandal of Holy Conversation and such as devote themselves to the Work and Service thereof 3. That ordinarily none shall be ordained to the work of this Ministery but such as are called and chosen thereunto by a particular Church 4. That in so great and weighty a matter as the calling and chusing a Pastor we judge it ordinarily requisite that every such Church consult and advise with the Pastors of Neighbouring Congregations 5. That after such advice the Person consulted about being chosen by the Brotherhood of that particular Church over which he is to be set and he accepting be duly ordained and set apart to his Office wherein 't is ordinarily requisite that the Pastors of Neighbouring Congregations concur with the Preaching Elder or Elders if such there be 6. That whereas such Ordination is only intended for such as never before had been ordained to the Ministerial Office if any judge that in the Case also of the removal of one formerly ordained to a new Station or Pastoral Charge there ought to be a like solemn recommending him and his Labours to the Grace and Blessing of God no different Sentiments or Practice herein shall be any occasion of Contention or breach of Communion with us 7. It is expedient that they who enter on the work of Preaching the Gospel be not only qualified for Communion of Saints but also that except in Cases extraordinary they give proof of their Gifts and fitness for the said Work unto the Pastors of Churches of known abilities to discern and judge of their Qualifications that they may be sent forth with solemn Approbation and Prayer which we judge needful that no doubt may remain concerning their being called to the Work and for preventing as much as in us lieth Ignorant and Rash Intruders 3. Of Censures 1. As it cannot be avoided but that in the purest Churches on Earth there will sometimes Offences and Scandals arise by reason of Hypocrisie and prevailing Corruption so Christ hath made it the duty of every Church to reform it self by Spiritual Remedies appointed by him to be applied in all such Cases viz. Admonition and Excommunication 2. Admonition being the Rebuking of an Offending Member in Order to Conviction is in case of private Offences to be performed according to the Rule in Matth. 18. ver 15 16 17. and in case of Publick Offences openly before the Church as the Honour of the Gospel and nature of the Scandal shall require And if either of the Admonitions take place for the Recovery of the fallen Person all farther proceedings in a way of Censure are thereon to cease and Satisfaction to be declared accordingly 3. When all due means are used according to the Order of the Gospel for the restoring an Offending and Scandalous Brother and he notwithstanding remains impenitent the Censure of Excommunication is to be proceeded unto wherein the Pastor and other Elders if there be such are to lead and go before the Church and the Brotherhood to give their consent in a way of Obedience unto Christ and unto the Elders as over them in the Lord. 4. It may sometimes come to pass that a Church Member not otherwise Scandalous may sinfully withdraw and divide himself from the Communion of the Church to which he belongeth In which case when all due means for the reducing him prove ineffectual he having hereby cut himself off from that Churches Communion the Church may justly esteem and declare it self discharged of any further inspection over him 4. Of Communion of Churches 1. We agree that Particular Churches ought not to walk so distinct and separate each from other as not to have care and tenderness towards one another But their Pastors ought to have frequent Meetings together that by mutual Advice Support Encouragement and Brotherly Intercourse they may strengthen the Hearts and Hands of each other in the ways of the Lord. 2. That none of our particular Churches shall be subordinate to one another each being endued with Equality of Power from Jesus Christ And that none of the said particular Churches their Officer or Officer shall exercise any Power or have any Superiority over any other Church or their Officers 3. That known Members of particular Churches constituted as aforesaid may have occasional Communion with one another in the Ordinances of the Gospel viz. the Word Prayer Sacraments Singing Psalms dispensed according to the Mind of Christ unless that Church with which they desire Communion hath any just Exception against them 4. That we ought not to admit any one to be a Member of our respective Congregations that hath joyned himself to another without endeavours of mutual Satisfaction of the Congregations concerned 5. That one Church ought not to blame the Proceedings of another untill it hath heard what that Church charged its Elders or Messengers can say in Vindication of themselves from any Charge of irregular or injurious Proceedings 6. That we are most willing and ready to give an Account of our Church-Proceedings to each other when desired for preventing or removing any Offences that may arise among us Likewise we shall be ready to give the Right Hand of Fellowship and walk together according to the Gospel Rules of Communion of Churches 5. Of Deacons and Ruling Elders We agree the Office of a Deacon is of Divine Appointment and that it belongs to their Office to receive lay our and distribute the Church's Stock to its proper Vses by the Direction of the Pastor and the Brethren if need be And whereas divers are of Opinion that there is also the Office of Ruling Elders who labour not in Word and Doctrin and others think otherwise We agree That this difference make no Breach among us 6. Of Occasional Meetings of Ministers 1. We agree that in order to Concord and in any other weighty and difficult Cases it is needful and according to the Mind of Christ that the Ministers of several Churches be consulted and advised with about such matters 2. That such Meetings may consist
Foreign Parts without the Kingdom and that he should not suffer them to be divulged or sold in this City of Loudun and this he did that neither the Parties concerned nor the Synod it self should complain that without those Paperâ— Pieces and Writings they could not come to a perfect knowledge of the bottom of this Affair and to judge aright of it In pursuance hereof and for these Considerations before mentioned the said Lord Commissioner declared that he did now also give full Liberty to all the Deputies who were in this Synod Judges of this matter to peruse those aforesaid Papers and Evidences as they should think meet and according to the Priviledges granted by his Majesty to his Subjects of the Reformed Religion by the Edicts and according to the Discipline received in our Churches and approved in France by the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom but without allowing them to subject themselves to any Foreign Authority Jurisdictioâ—◠〈◊〉 Judgments or to send Monsieur Morus unto any other Judges than â—â—ose of his said Kingdom to be tried by them and to undergo their Judicial Sentence this being contrary and prejudicial to his Majesty's Authority to his Ordinances and Edicts as also to the Weal and Rights and Priviledges of his Subjects All which it was his Lordships Pleasure should be inserted into the Act containing the Judgment of this National Synod upon this affair The Sieur Papillon Advocate in Parliament and Elder in the Church of Paris being admitted to produce his Arguments in defence of those Appeals brought both in his own Name and in that of Monsieur Beauchamp an Advocate and Elder also in the same Church from the Judgments given in the Synod of the Isle of France held at Ay in May last of this Year now current 1659 by which Monsieur Morus was conferr'd upon the Church of Paris to be their Minister and from those Members of the Consistory of that Church who had Ordered the said Mr. Morus to be confirmed in it notwithstanding their Appeal and for refusing to give him leave which he had demanded to pass into Holland according to his promise there to justifie himself from those Imputations laid upon him and for that they censured him the said Papillon for Appealing from them He was heard in this Assembly and the Assembly took notice of what he urg'd on behalf of his Appeal and heard him patiently in whatever he had to offer against those Judgments aforesaid And also Monsieur Morus was heard defend himself and explaining matters relating to him as were the Deputies of the Province of the Isle of France and those of the Consistory of the Church of Paris in defense of their Judgment and in their demand of the Ministry of the said Monsieur Morus And there was heard the Report made by the Committee appointed for a more exact Reading and Verification of all Papers and Writings and what Judgment had been past on the Excuses and Denials of both sides the Examination of this important business ate up several Days This Assembly having rightful Authority to judge herein and the rather for that the Synod of Nimeguen whose Act was now Read had remitted the whole unto the Prudence Discretion and Charity of this Assembly to do in it what it should conceive would most contribute to the Glory of God the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ and the upholding of that Holy Correspondence which hath always been betwixt the Reformed Churches of France and those of the United Provinces did take and retain the cognizance of this affair unto it self and declared that it found no cause obliging it to condemn the said Sieur Morus nor to blast the Reputation of his Person or Ministry but on the contrary that it had sufficient Reasons to dismiss him justified from all those grievous Slanders and Accusations which were brought into this Assembly against him Wherefore it declareth him innocent of those crimes which were imposed on him and having perused those advantagious Testimonials given him by the Magistrate Pastors and Professors of Divinity in the City of Geneva by the Pastors and Professors of Divinity in the City of Middleburg by the Burgomasters and Curators of the City and Illustrious School of Amsterdam and by divers Pastors and sundry other private Persons whose Names and Probity are celebrious and well known to this Assembly and considering the great Edification which the Church of Paris receiveth from his Ministry and their vehement desires urged with the greatest importunity that he may be continued to them this Assembly doth Establish and Confirm him in the said Church to discharge the Office and perform the Duties of an ordinary Pastor in it And making Reflections upon what hath been transacted in the Synods of La Ferte au Col and D'Ay and in the Consistory of the Church of Paris on occasion of the said Monsieur Morus it censureth that Synod of La Ferte for having judged the said Monsieur Morus when he belonged not unto them nor was under their Jurisdiction and only because an Impeachment against him had been brought before them and for that they never exacted of him in order to his Induction into the Church of Paris but a simple License of departure from the Curators of the Illustrious School of Amsterdam without making mention of his Testimonial from the Church And the Synod of Ay is censured for assuming to themselves a power of judging the competency or incompetency of the Synod of Tergou over which they had none Authority and that in speaking of that Synod they used very unbecoming Expressions and reflected unhandsomly upon their Judgment and confirming the Censures issued out by the said Synod of La Ferte against the Consistory of the Church of Paris it doth ordain that the Canons of our Discipline about the Election and Confirmation of Pastors shall be observed with greater exactness than hath been done in this Call given unto and Reception of Monsieur Morus by the Church of Paris And as for the Sieur Papillon the Assembly hath taken off the Censures inflicted on him by the Consistory of the Church of Paris and doth fully acquit him from it and declareth that there was no reason for denouncing any Censure against Monsieur Beauchamp And after grave and serious Counsels and Admonitions given unto Monsieur Morus about his Conversation which was not managed with that circumspection as was requisite and advice unto him to be more careful for the future that the mouth of Calumny which hath been wide and loud open against him may be stopped he was injoyned more particularly to look to it that he offended no Man by his Words or Writings and that he labour to the utmost of his Power to preserve Peace and to calm and reconcile the Spirits of Men of all Perswasions to himself and to regain their Love and Amity from whom he is departed 19. It being represented unto this Assembly that their Act made about Morus Mr.
Castell Thierry and Sarrau Pastor of the Church of Meaux are appointed to visit the said Church of Senlis accompanied each of them with an Elder of their respective Consistories and the said Church is to defray their Expences These things being thus ordered and dispatched Monsieur Fauquembergue craved leave of this Assembly to retire himself unto such a Place as the good Providence of God should direct him which was freely granted him and he was commended to the Grace of God 32. John Grillemet came unto this Assembly to maintain his Appeal from a Judgment of the Consistory of Montauban and from another given in the Provincial Synod of Higher Languedoc After that the said Guillemet and the Deputies of that Province had been both heard the Assembly judged that this affair should not have been brought before it and therefore doth send it back again to the Synod of that Province and to the Consistory of Montauban whose Judgments are now confirmed by the authority of this present National Synod but withal intreateth them both to extend their Charity unto this Appellant 33. The Church of Eyssigeac having appealed from the Judgment of the Colloquy of Perigord and from the Synod of Lower Guyenne assembled at St. Foy 1645 about the Titles put into the Bands of Matrimony of the Sieur de Bequay Attorney in the Praesidial Court of Agen and from the Complaints brought against Monsieur Eymer at present Pastor of the Church of Mount St. Proy which said Complaints were mentioned in a Memorial sent by the Consistory of the said Church of Eyssigeac This Appeal of theirs was declared null And as for their Complaints they were ordered to be carried unto the next Synod of Lower Guyenne who are to take Cognizance of them And the said Memorial was to this end put into the Hands of the Provincial Deputies of Lower Guienne being attested by the Signatures of Monsieur Beraud a Pastor and of Four Elders CHAP. X. General Matters 1. THE Assembly being informed by the Province of Lower Languedoc that some Pastors do read the Texts of their Sermons in other Translations differing from that which is commonly used in our Churches this Assembly decreeth that no Person shall dare use any other Version than that which is ordinarily used whether in Reading the Scriptures or taking their Texts out of it 2. As to that Proposal made by the Deputy of the Province of Burgundy concerning the administration of the Poor's Mony and the rendring of Accompts by those who have had the Management thereof This Assembly judgeth that the cognizance and direction of this matter belongeth unto the Consistory according to the Order established by our Discipline and that whosoever doth violate those Canons by remâ—â—ing this Affair from our Ecclesiastick Assemblies ought to be prosecuted with all kind of Censures as Contemners of our Canons and Rebels to the Consistories 3. The Provincial Deputies of Burgundy demanding upon the Sixteenth Article of the Thirteenth Chapter of our Discipline how they should judge of their place of Abode who contract Marriage that so they may warrantably publish their Banes This Assembly was of Opinion that there could not be a General Canon made which should oblige all the Churches because that the Customs of particular places though different one from another are to be followed Therefore the cognizance of this matter is remitted to the prudence of Provincial Synods Colloquies and Consistories which shall observe and follow the Customs in every particular District 4. The Deputies of the same Province made report of the little care that was observed in several parts of their Province to sanctifie the Lord's Day and that by very many Persons it was imployed in Worldly Businesses Sports and Pastimes depriving themselves of Religious Exercises and Ordinances and suffering themselves to be led aside by Sinful Examples unto Plays and Dissolutions This Assembly touched to the quick with a most sensible grief for so great a Profanation provoking God to pour down his most dreadful Vengeance upon the Sons of Men doth exhort all the Faithful to spend this Sacred Day of Rest in the performances of Holy Duties and to those divine ends whereunto it is appointed by exercising themselves in all publick and private Duties of Religion particularly in the Reading Hearing and Meditation of God's Holy Word and Prayer and that they do not only Religiously abstain from their ordinary Week-days labour but also from all Companies Meetings Sports and Recreations which will estrange their Hearts and Affections from the Worship of God and from that Devotion which we are most especially obliged to upon these Holy Sabbaths of Christs own Institution And our Provincial Synods are injoyned upon this occasion to make such Canons as they shall judge needful and every individual Member of our Churches are most strictly commanded conscientiously to observe and obey them 5. The Province of Bearn desired that they might be impowered with authority to practise those Canons which they had already established and which they might hereafter also as to the times and places of Celebrating Marriages This Assembly granted them their Request and gave also the same Authority unto all other Provincial Synods and forbiddeth all Ministers to Marry any Persons in their Churches excepting at the Hours accustomed for such Solemnities 6. The Two and Thirtieth Article in the last Chapter of our Discipline which forbiddeth Duels under the severest Censures even of Excommunication it self shall be read in all the Churches and reinforced with most close and vehement Exhortations that so this Hellish Sin may be banished from out the Hearts and Societies of the Faithful as being expresly forbidden by the word of God and declared by his Majesty's Edicts to have merited the deepest brand of Infamy and all Consistories are injoyned to put forth their Power in prosecuting the Refractory with all kind of Censures 7. Whereas diverts Provinces have complained of that great difference which is observed in the Printed Copies of our Discipline this Assembly Ordaineth that there shall be drawn up another most exact and correct according to the Decisions of our National Synods in whose Margin shall be inserted the Canons and Observations extracted out of those Synods which shall be judged most needful And Monsieur Amyraud Pastor and Professor in the Church and University of Saumur is charged with this Task and he shall use the labours of Monsieur Blondel Gaultier and Catelau and shall communicate his Work unto the Consistories of Saumur Paris and Rochel and with then Approbation it shall be Printed 8. In executing that Article of the National Synod of Charenton in the Year 1631 when as any Members of the Augustane Confession commonly called Lutherans shall offer Children into Baptism not having before-time communicated with us this Assembly decreeth that the Consistories shall take a particular notice of their Inclinations whether they joyn themselves unto our Church-Assemblies with a true peaceable Spirit of Charity as is required by
to assemble the National Synod in a great number of Ministers and Elders It is thought good for the present and till such difficulties can be removed that the Brethren assembled in every Provincial Synod shall chuse out only two Ministers and Elders who are Persons of great experience in Church-affairs to be sent in the name of the whole Province and these Deputies shall come with ample and sufficient powers and furnished with good memorials subscribed by the Moderator and Scribes of the Provincial Synod and lest any of the Deputies should fail three or four Pastors more and as many Elders shall be nominated by the Provincial Synods that so if the first named Persons should be by any accident hindered from taking their journey yet others may be at hand to supply their places in the National Synod N.B. That in all Letters of Commission signed by the Provinces to their Deputies unto the National Synods there was this Clause of submission to be inserted viz. We promise before God to submit our selves unto all that shall be concluded and resolved on in your holy Assembly and to obey and perform it to the best of our power being well perswaded that God presideth in the midst of you and guideth you by his holy Spirit into all truth and equity by the Rule of his Word for the weal and benefit of his Church and the glory of his great Name Which also we beg of him most ardently in our daily Prayers See the Acts of the National Synod of Vitré 1617. in that Canon next after the Catalogue of the Deputies CAN. IV. Provincial Synods shall not limit any certain time for the return of the Ministers and Elders whom they had deputed unto the National Synod but they shall suffer them to tarry at the said Synod so long as there shall be need of their presence and attendance in it and these Deputies shall have all their expences born and defrayed out of the common stock of the whole Province CAN. V. The Articles of our Confession of Faith and the Canons of our Church-Discipline shall be all read at the opening of every National Synod CAN. VI. And that the National Synod may not be busied about Questions already determined in the Acts of former National Synods The Provincial Deputies shall be advised to peruse the Acts of former National Synods before they prepare their Memoirs and they shall see that nothing be transmitted but what is of common and general concern to all the Churches and which meriteth the decision of a National Synod CAN. VII All Ecclesiastical matters may be finally decided and resolved by the National Synod the Provinces having been in the first place informed of them if possible by that Province which had the charge of assembling the National Synod CAN. VIII The Decisions shall be only made by the Provincial Deputies but and if there be in the National Synod other Ministers besides the Deputies they may propound their judgments as to what may be done but they shall neither have consultive nor decisive Votes N.B. This Canon is in three Editions in that of 1653. in that of 1666. and in that 1676. but in those of Paris and Quevilly 1663. it is omitted CAN. IX Those that appeal from Provincial Synods unto the National shall be bound to be present in Person at it or else they shall send unto it most ample Memoirs with a lawful excuse for their absence And on default hereof the Sentence of the Provincial Synod shall be ratified The same course shall be taken with Appeals from Consistories unto Colloquies and from Colloquies unto the Provincial Synods CAN. X. The Provincial Deputies shall not depart from the National Synod without carrying home with them the Synodical Decrees subscribed by the President and Scribe and a month after their return they shall give notice thereof unto the Colloquies of their Province that so they may send for the Acts of the said Synod and this at the sole charge of the said Colloquies CAN. XI And that Synodical Acts may be preserved and that they may be of use and service in after times for the determining of Controversies which may be propounded for resolution unto our National Synods The said Acts both for the time past and to come and all others which concern those Synods as also the Canons of Church-Discipline and the Confession of Faith of the Reformed Churches in this Kingdom shall be left in custody with the Provincial Deputies who are appointed to call the next National Synod and that Province shall be obliged to bring them unto the Synod CAN. XII Before the breaking up of National Synods there shall be an amicable and fraternal Censure of all the Deputies Ministers and Elders about those matters only which had been managed during its Sessions and whatever did in general respect their Provinces And the Holy Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ shall be Celebrated and partaken by them in testimony of their Cordial Union Provided always that this holy Sacrament shall be Communicated in with that very Church in which they held their Synodical Assembly and for this purpose the said Church shall be admonished to prepare themselves for it CHAP. X. Chap. X. Of Religious Exercises Of Religious Exercises performed in the Assemblies of the Faithful CANON I. THat great irreverence which is found in divers Persons who at publick and private Prayers do neither uncover their Heads nor bow their Knees shall be reformed which is a matter repugnant unto Piety and giveth suspicion of Pride and doth scandalize them that fear God Wherefore all Pastors shall be advised as also Elders and Heads of Families carefully to oversee that in time of Prayer all Persons without exception or acceptation do evidence by those exteriour signs the inward humility of their hearts and of that homage yielded by them unto God unless any one be hindred from so doing by sickness or otherwise the judgment of which shall be remitted to the testimony of their own particular Consciences CAN. II. Singing of God's praises being a divine Ordinance and to be performed in the Congregations of the Faithful and for that by the use of Psalms their hearts be comforted and strengthned Every one shall be advertised to bring with them their Psalm-Books unto those Assemblies and such as through contempt of this holy Ordinance do forbear the having of them shall be censured as also those who in time of singing both before and after Sermon are not uncovered as also when the Holy Sacraments are Celebrated CAN. III. In times of sore Persection and of War Pestilence or Famine or any other grievous affliction Item when as Ministers of the Gospel are to be Ordained and when as question is moved about calling a National Synod one day or more may be set a part for publick and extraordinary Prayers and Fasting yet without any scruple or superstition and all this shall be done upon mature consideration of the grounds and causes
service and the benefit of our Subjects and when any one shall be dismissed others shall be provided and put into their places before their departure without ever being able during the time of their service to depart or absent themselves from the said Chambers without leave of which a judgment shall be made according to the Causes of that Ordinance XLIII The said Chambers shall be established within six Months till which time if the said Establishment should be so long delayed the Processes moved or that may be moved in which those of the said Religion shall be Parties within the Jurisdictions of our Parliaments of Paris Rouen Dijon and Rennes shall be called out unto the Chamber which is now established at Paris by vertue of the Edict made in the year 1577. or else unto the great Council at the choice and will of those of the said Religion in case they shall require it Those which shall be of the Jurisdiction of the Parliament of Bourdeaux unto the Chamber established in Castres or unto the great Council at their choice and those which shall be of Provence unto the Parliament of Grenoble And if the said Chambers be not established within three Months after this our present Edict shall have been tendered to those our Parliaments that Parliament which shall refuse so to do shall be interdicted the Cognisance and Judgment of their Causes who profess the said Reformed Religion XLIV The Processes which are not as yet judged hanging in the said Courts of Parliament and great Council of the quality beforesaid in whatsoever estate they may be shall be dismissed over unto the said Chambers and to their respective Jurisdictions if one of the Parties being of the said Religion do so require it within four Months after their Establishment and as for those which shall be discontinued and are not yet in a condition to be judged those of the said Religion shall be bound to make Declaration at the first intimation and signification that shall be made them of their being prosecuted and the said time being lapsed they shall not be any more admitted to require such Dismissions XLV The said Chambers of Grenoble and Bourdeaux as also that of Castres shall keep to the Forms and Stile of the Parliaments in whose Jurisdiction they shall be established and shall give judgment in an equal number both of the one and other Religion unless the Parties do consent that it should be otherwise XLVI All Judges to whom the Executions of Decrees Commissions of the said Chambers and the Letters obtained out of their Chanceries shall be directed as also all Ushers and Sergeants shall be bound to put them in Execution and the said Ushers and Sergeants shall execute all Warrants throughout our Kingdom without demanding a Placet or a Visa ne pareatis on pain of being suspended from their Offices and of paying the expences dammages and Interests of the Parties the Cognisance of which shall appertain unto those Parties aforesaid XLVII There shall be no Evocations of Causes granted the Cognisance of which belongeth unto the said Chambers unless in the Case of Ordinances which shall be dismissed unto the next Chamber established according to our Edict and the Division of the Processes of the said Chambers shall be judged of in the next observing the proportion and forms of the said Chambers from which the Processes shall be issued out excepting for the Chamber of the Edict to our Parliament of Paris where the several Processes shall be divided in the self-same Chamber by those Judges which shall be appointed by us and by our particular Letters to this very purpose unless the said Parties would rather wait for the Renovation of the said Chamber And if it so fall out that one and the same Process should be divided among all those mixed Chambers then the Division shall be dismissed over to the said Chamber of Paris XLVIII When as there be exceptions made against the Presidents and Counsellors of the mixed Chambers they shall be only made against six of them to which number the excepting Parties shall be bound to confine themselves but if they will not then there shall be a proceeding unto Tryal without any regard had of the said Exceptions XLIX The Examen of the Presidents and Counsellors newly erected in the said mixed Chambers shall be made in our Privy-Council or by the said Chambers every one in his District when as there shall be a sufficient number of them and yet nevertheless the Oath accustomed shall be taken by them in the Courts where those said Chambers shall be established and if they refuse it in our Privy-Council those of Languedoc always excepted who shall make Oath before our Chancellor or in that Chamber L. We Will and Ordain that the Reception of our Officers of the said Religion shall be adjudged in the said mixed Chambers by plurality of Voices as it hath been accustomed to be done in other Judgments without any need of having more than two thirds of the Suffrages according to that Ordinance from which in this respect only there is a derogation LI. In the said mixed Chambers shall be handled the Propositions Deliberations and Resolutions which belong unto the publick Peace and the particular Estate and Government of the Towns in which those Chambers shall be LII That Article of the Jurisdiction of the said Chambers Ordained by this present Edict shall be followed and observed according to its form and tenour yea and as to all concerns about the Execution or Unexecution or Infraction of our Edicts when as those of the said Religion shall be Parties LIII The Subalternate Royal Officers or others whose Reception appertaineth to our Courts of Parliament if they be of the said pretended Reformed Religion may be examined and received in the said Chambers To wit those of the Jurisdictions of the Parliaments of Paris Normandy and Brittaine in the said Chamber of Paris those of Dolphiny and Provence in the Chamber of Grenoble those of Burgundy in the Chamber of Paris or of Dolphiny at their own choice those of the Jurisdiction of Tholouse in the Chamber of Castres and those of the Parliament of Bourdeaux in the Chamber of Guienne nor may any other Persons oppose their Reception or become Parties against them unless our Attorneys-General or their Substitutes and those who be provided unto the said Offices Yet nevertheless the accustomed Oath shall be taken by them in the Courts of Parliament which hath no power to take any Cognisance of their said Receptions and in case those said Parliaments should refuse the said Officers shall take their Oaths in the said Chambers and after they have so took it they shall be bound to present by an Usher or Notary the Act of their Receptions unto the Registers of the said Courts of Parliament and to leave a Copy thereof collationed with the said Registers who are injoined to Register those said Acts upon pain of the expences dammages and
in it then this Council commands that Province in which the said David shall be and reside to Formalize itself against him and upon this account the Church of Paris shall be obliged to furnish the said Province with Proofs which it hath now or may have had heretofore lying by against the said David that so he may be proceeded against in such a manner as shall be thought most advisable for the Repose of the Church III. Touching the matter propounded by the Minister of Paris the Council is of Opinion That the Marriage pretended to be broken by reason of Spiritual Kinred doth remain firm and in its full power and therefore the second Marriage which hath since intervened is null and these second married Persons are excommunicated because of their Adulteries until such time as they have done publick Penance and shall have duely evidenced their Repentance IV. Whereas our Brother the Minister of Varennes in Picardy doth usually administer the Lord's Supper every Month the Council doth advise That our Brother of Mont-mejor do admonish him in the Council's Name to follow the general Practice of our Churches that so there may be no Diversity among us and our Uniformity may be preserved V. The Churches are advertised to take notice of a Fellow called Frederick Thierry formerly an Augustin Fryar as also of another called Marmande as being Vagrants VI. 'T is the Judgment of this Council That a Minister being imployed in the Church may not ordinarily exercise any other Calling nor receive Wages for it Our Brother of Britain moved this Question VII As to that Book entituled A Treatise of Christian Discipline and Polity composed and published by John Morelly the Council judges That as to the Points concerning the Discipline of the Church by which he pretends to condemn and subvert the Order received in our Churches sounded upon the Word of God that the said Book contains wicked Doctrine and tends to the Confusion and Dissipation of the Church and therefore the said Council cautions the Faithful to take heed of the aforesaid Doctrine VIII A Remonstrance being made by the Church of Poictiers about an Appeal brought by the People of the City of Loudun from a Decree of the Provincial Synod of Poictou held at Niort concerning the Fact of Maturin Sibileau the said Appeal having been signified to the Church of Poictiers on behalf of the said People of Loudun the Decrees both of the Provincial Synod held at Partinay and of the Synod of Niort were read and considered Whereupon this present Council hath and doth send back the Knowledge of the said Cause unto the next Provincial Synod of Touraine which by the Authority of this Council shall pass a Definitive Judgment upon these Persons although they were absent provided their Absence be not out of Contumacy and they had been duely informed of the meeting of that Synod And in the mean while it is ordained That both the said Sibileau and the said People of Loudun shall yeild Obedience to the Synod of Niort And to this purpose the Church of Poictiers is required to signifie this present Sentence and the Church of Tours is to Assemble the said Provincial Synod IX A Petition being presented by Madam Margaret de la Voirie concerning a Marriage pretended to have been contracted between her and the Noble William de Schilhant The Council has approved and doth approve of that Sentence given by the Provincial Synod of Touraine held at Mans the last October by which the said Marriage was declared Incestuous because the said De Schilhant had formerly espoused the Sister of the said Petitioner whereunto it does injoyn the said Lady quietly to submit and to observe it with Repose and Tranquility of Conscience moreover the Council exhorts her to return unto her own Church there to make such Acknowledgment of her Fault as the Consistory shall think meet X. Having heard the Remonstrance made by our Brother the Deputy of Poictou concerning Peter Boulay who had intruded himself into the Ministry of the Church of Niort The Council ratifies and approves the Determination of the Provincial Synod held at Niort by which the said Boulay was declared uncapable and insufficient to be chosen into the Ministry of the Gospel until such time as he had given proofs of his Sufficiency before the Provincial Synod of Poictou Moreover this present Council hath ordained That this very Advice shall be signified both unto the said Boulay and to all those who do abett him by our Brethren La Forest and De Thire who making report unto the next approaching Synod of Poictou of the Obedience or Rebellion of the said Boulay and his Abettors a final Period shall be put unto this Affair according to the Rules of our Church-Discipline And the Council leaves it to the Wisdom of the next â—ynod whether it be expedient for the common Edification of the Church that our brother De la Fayole be not also removed from Niort XII There shall be no Alteration made in that Article of our Discipline touching the Choice of Ministers and the Council hath ordained That * * * In the Book of Niort he is called M John Viâ—ier Mr. John Rebitt do sign the Confession of Faith and Articles of Discipline and moreover doth expresly forbid him so Teach in his Lectures Doctrine contrary unto them that so there may be no Disunion in the Church and if he should refuse Submission to this Advise of the Council he shall be sent back to the Consistory of that City to be dealt withal according to the Canons of our Church-Discipline XII As to that Question moved by our Brother of Orleance the Council hath and doth leave it to the liberty of the respective Consistories to judge of those who may be sit to assist at the Examination of Candidates for the Ministry as may be most expedient for their Edification yet so as they shall not suffer any besides the Members of the said Consistory to examine them XIII The Council judgeth it inconvenient to publish from the Pulpit the Articles of our Discipline yet they may be given unto such as desire them by the Consistories XIV Whereas the Letters sent unto this present General Council of the Reformed Churches of France assembled at Orleance by * * * The Book of Niort calls him Jodâ—â— Maurice Joequin are fraught with heavy Complaints against David Vivian Minister of Bourges and divers others of the Consistory of the said Church and because both Parties are absent the said Council remands them unto the next approaching Provincial Synod Berry that there the said Vivian and the other Members of the Consistory may be dealt withal as is just and sitting In the mean while considering the outragious and prophane Words mentioned in the said Letters and the Contumacy of the said Joequin disdaining to come unto this present Council after he had been lawfully summoned and the Threatnings contained in his Answer divers of our
their Colloquies and Provincial Synods This Assembly following the Decree of the Synod of Saumur dismisseth such disputes over unto the Schools and judgeth their usage â—angerous among Ministers Another Copy hath of the Lower Guyâ—nne 15. That Order made by the Province of Anjou against a Lord of misrule chosen by the Lawyers is approved and confirmed by this National Synod 16. If any of the Brethren have observed in the Writings of our Authors somewhat deserving censure they be desired to inform the Provincial Synods of it which are ordered to convene as soon as may be after the breaking up of this National Assembly Every Province to maintain a select number of Scholars 17. Every Province shall be bound to maintain a certain number of Scholars named to this purpose out of the dividend of our Moneys granted us by his Majesty which said Scholars shall be obliged to study either in the Universities of this Kingdom or else where at the Order of the Province that maintains them And the said Scholars shall not be admitted into the Ministry in their respective Provinces without producing good and sufficient Testimonials of their Learning and Godliness signed by the Pastors and Professors of those Universities wherein they have studied 18. Messieurs Sohnis Beraud Gigort Ferrier and Chamier are appointed a Committee to draw up a Body of Laws for the right ordering of our Schools and Universities which shall be presented by them unto the next National Synod And in the mean while that the order already set up in the University of Montaubon may be confirmed the Pastors who at the breaking up this Synod shall return unto it and others that live near it shall pass over unto Montaubon and exhort the Consuls in the name of this Assembly to put to their helping hand together with their Pastors and Professors that it may be duely observed 19. When as a Professors place in an University comes to be vacant it shall be lawful for the other Professors together with the Pastors and Consistory thereof to nominate another Person by way of Provision who till the meeting of the Provincial Synod may read Lectures and perform the duties of that office 20. That Article of the Assembly of St. Foy concerning Counsellors resigning their places in the Mixt Courts shall be exactly observed by all the Provinces because it contributes abundantly to the better conduct of all our Affairs 21. This Assembly ordaineth that the summ of Nine Thousand Livers which had been assigned unto Monsieur de St. Germain out of the small income of the years 1602 and 1603. shall be intirely paid him by Monsieur Palot if he hath not yet done it although there had been but Six thousand Livers order'd him by the Assembly of Saint Foy. And that the summ of four thousand five hundred Livers which was ordered by the said Assembly unto Monsieur Bordes shall be also intirely paid him by the said Palot for every one of those years if it be not as yet done although he was not mention'd in the Account of the year 1602. nor in that of the year 1603 and there had been ordered him only twelve hundred Livers And the said sums shall be paid by the said Palot unto those two Gentlemen before any other moneys payable either to Ministers or Governors without any allowance or defalcations made by the said Palot for Taxes or Values of Moneys As also the sum of 2000 Livers a year ordained unto Monsieur des Fontains for his pains taken in auditing the Accounts of the said Palot and which as Wages had been payed him by the said Monsieur Palot for both these years 1602 and 1603. and shall be allowed unto the said Palot in the first place before all other moneys of the said Churches and Garrisons all this notwithstanding any debates whatsoever formed to the contrary by the General Deputies who hereafter may be ordained to reside near his Majesty who also shall be paid their respective Compositions preferably to all others out of the Moneys of the said Churches 22. Monsieur de St. Germain and Monsieur des Bordes General Deputies for our Churches at Court have the thanks of this Assembly for their faithfulness and diligence in the discharge of their Office as also the like thanks is rendred to Monsieur des Fontains for his pains taken with Monsieur Palot in auditing his Accounts according to the Commission given him by the Assembly of St. Foy 23. Our Universities are advised to do their utmost endeavour in getting a publick Library and in particular the King of Spains Bible in many Languages Printed at Antwerp 24. Our Universities shall bring in their Accounts together with all their Acquittances from the Synod of Montpellier unto the next National Synod And because of the great importance of the University of Sedan and its singular usefulness unto our Churches This Assembly out of the Dividend of Moneys granted to our Universities doth farther add over and above what was given it by the Synod of Gergeau the summ of three hundred Crowns more 25. There having risen up great Differences about the Deputation of Monsieur Du Bourg unto the King who was sent by the Provinces of the Higher and Lower Guyenne and that of Higher Languedoc of Normandy the Isle of France and the Church of Paris These Provinces and that Church in particular are very sharply censured for acting contrary unto what had been determined in the Assembly of St. Foy and thereby sowing the Seeds of division among us and the said Du Bourg shall be admonished to look to it that he bring no inconveniencies by his manner of proceedings upon our Churches and that such like troubles may be for the future prevented and avoided because they be contrary to and destructive of our Union all the Provinces shall be warned that for the future they do not grant any authority unto any one single Church or Person to dispose of affairs which may be of general concernment unto their Provinces without having first communicated them unto them respective Provincial Synods or Political Assemblies CHAP. VII Of Particular Matters 1. THe Province of Berry desired some course might be taken first with those Churches who arrogating to themselves all the Moneys of his Majesties bounty did grant out of it but sorry niggardly pensions and secondly with those who complain of their grievances in the inequality of payments to which their Provinces were taxed and lastly about the assistance and relief which is to be Ministred unto Churches in their first rise and gathering This Assembly devolved the whole upon the prudence of that Province in which these cases might fall out and to act according to the rule of Charity in and about them 2. The same Province of Berry prayed that the Synod of Burgundy might be injoined to censure Monsieur Textor by the authority of this Assembly for quitting the Church of Lorges he not having obtained leave neither from his Church
nor Province As also for that he neglected to give notice of it unto this Assembly The whole business was dismissed over to the next Synod of the Isle of France there to be determined 3. The complaint of the Colloquy of Niort against the other Colloquies of the Province of Poictou about the third part of all expences to be defrayed by that Province is turn'd over to the judgment of the Synod of Xaintonge 4. The Church of Mauvaisin demanded that License might be given to Monsieur Girard to Preach occasionally among them This Assembly confirming the decree of the Synod of Gergeau doth expresly forbid the said Girard in any wise to Preach at Mauvaisin 5. Monsieur Bourg complaining that Monsieur Forton and some of the Elders in the Church of Bourdeaux had in divers places slanderously reported of him that he intended to revolt from the profession of the true Religion This Assembly not crediting such relations and being perswaded that he will constantly and faithfully persevere in the profession of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus doth remit the cognisance of this affair unto the Consistory of the Church of Bourdeaux which is ordered to look into it with more than ordinary care and diligence 6. The Lord Vicount of Paulin and the Church of Compagnac desiring it we grant that the said Church shall be conjoined with the Colloquy of Quercy 7. The Churches of Dauphiny are charged to notifie unto the other Provinces when it may be needful to assist the poor Fugitives banished the Marquisate of Saluces and from the Valleys of Piedmont and Savoy 8. The Provinces of Anjou Poictou and Normandy shall by turns supply the Church of Rennes with a Pastor until such time as it shall please God to give a fixed one unto them and the Colloquy of Lower Poictou shall begin Anjou next and last of all Normandy He was Minister of Fentenay 9. The little book of Monsieur de la Vallee concerning a person possessed by the Devil shall be read and examined by the Synod of Xaintonge and if they judge sit let it be imprinted 10. The next Provincial Synod of Dolphiny is charged to moderate the Taxes laid upon the Church of Montlimar by the Colloquy of Die the said Church complaining of its being over-rated 11. For as much as the Pastors and Elders of the Church of Bergerac have petitioned that Monsieur Beraud the younger might be permitted to continue the exercise of his Ministry among them and that Monsieur de Beraud his Father gives way unto it as appears by letters under his own hand This Assembly confirms the Call of the said Beraud the son unto the Ministry of the Church of Bergerac for so long time as his Father can dispense with him considering the great need he will have of him now in his declining years 12. Monsieur Hesperian is confirmed in the Ministry of the Church of St. Foy and Letters shall be sent unto his Father from this assembly desiring his consent unto it 13. This Synod approves that Order established in the Baylywick of Gex concerning their Supreme Consistory in Matrimonal Causes and nothing therein shall be innovated 14. The Churches of the Baylywick of Gex shall have their share in the Moneys granted us by the King until the next National Synod and in the mean while their Pastors shall dispose their people to contribute something towards the common charges of the Churches 15. The Deputies of the Isle of France shall tender unto their next Provincial Synod the Letters and Memoirs of Monsieur du Perche sent by him unto this Assembly that satisfaction may be given the said du Perche for what he pretends owing to him from their Province and to this purpose notice shall be given him of the time and place of their meeting by the Church of Paris 16. Letters were read from the Church of Vertueil whereupon this Assembly ordered that immediately Letters should be written to the Lords Commissioners for executing his Majesties Edict in Dolphiny recommending that Church unto them that so it may be named the first Town of the Baylywicks of Dolphiny as it was ordered at the Synod of Grenoble in the year 1602. and that the Town of Briancon might be reputed the second 17. Letters from our Brethren in the Valley of Barcelona craving advice how to govern themselves under their apprehensions of being deprived by the Duke of Savoy of their pretious Liberty to profess the Gospel and worship God according to his holy Will prescribed in the Scriptures This Assembly desiring most sincerely their Consolation doth earnestly exhort them to a stricter Union with the other Valleys of Piedmont assuring them of all Offices of Christian Charity in case they should be persecuted or banished they being Members of our own Body united with us in the same Doctrine and Discipline Concerning the setling of our Religion at Issoire 18. Letters from the Church of Issoire being read this Assembly ordered the General Deputies at Court vigorously to endeavour that the exercise of our Religion might be established according to the Edict in the said Town of Issoire and in other places of the lower Auvergne and the Colloquies of St. Germain and Anduza in the lower Languedoc shall supply them with Ministers And that this their Establishment may be the better and sooner effected they shall have four Portions of the Moneys granted us by the Kings Majesty out of that Sum appointed for the lower Languedoc And in order hereunto the said Colloquies of St. Germain and Anduze shall assemble themselves within a Month after the breaking up of this Assembly to consult together about those Ministers who are to serve and shall be sent into the Lower Auvergne and those Churches there shall in the mean while do their utmost endeavour to get themselves furnished with able Ministers And the Province of Higher Languedoc shall have the same care and kindness for the assistance and relief of the Churches of the â—igher Auvergne 19. The poor fallen Christians in the Marquisate of Saluces demanding Counsel what course they should take after this their great Offence This Assembly ordered that Letters should be sent them to forsake those places where they be constrained to participate in Idolatry and to accompany their banished Brethren in bearing the Cross of Christ 20. The Universities shall be once again exhorted to get for themselves if possible a publick Library See this Art 24. of gen mat and in it the great Bible of Antwerp 21. The General Deputies of our Churches at Court are ordered by this Assembly to do their utmost for the repose and welfare of the distressed Valleys of Chasteau-Dauphin 22. Monsieur Claudius Jobard Citizen and Inhabitant of Geneva complained against the Province of Burgundy for wrong done in their publick Synodical Acts at Ullim unto Master David Peaget Minister in the Baylywick of Gex when as by the Colloquy of Gex who had inspected and examined that matter the
Assembly commissionated Monsieur Vignier Minister of the Gospel and Monsieur des Fontaines Texier and le Fevrier Elders to examine and close up those Accounts which being done and report made by them it appeared that Monsieur Phillip Pinaut Receiver of the said Moneys stood indebted to them in the sum of 4292 Livers 15 Sous and 8 Deniers upon the whole which said Audit and final Reckoning is approved and ratified by this Synod and it 's further ordered that the said sum of 4292 Livers 15 Sous and 8 Deniers shall remain in the hands of the said Pinault to be employed in the Maintenance of the said University and about nothing else as we shall hereafter take care for And in so doing the said Receiver and Province shall be acquitted and discharged of the said Moneys And the Originals of the Accounts aforesaid shall be kept in the Consistory of Rochell and the Duplicates and Copies evidencing the whole shall be lodg'd in the hands of the said Pinault with the consent of the Deputies of that Province 29. The Province of Xaintonge moving whether it were not needful to make a compleat Answer to the Works of Bellarmine This Synod charged the Deputies of Dolphiny to intreat Monsieur Chamier to prosecute his worthy Labours begun by him upon this Subject 30. Every Province shall chuse one particular Church in it where the Original Acts of their Synods shall be conserved that in case of necessity they may have recourse unto them 31. The Professors of Divinity in the Universities of this Kingdom shall be advised so to contrive their Lectures and Common-places that they may be compleatly finished in three years time 32. The Province of Orleans and Berry demanding that the time for Proposans tendering themselves unto Synods and Colloquies with their Propositions might be fixed equally This Assembly judged that it were best and most convenient to leave it as before unto the liberty and prudence of those Meetings 33. Moreover at the request of the same Province it was ordained That Churches which had Ability should be desired to Erect Libraries for the service of their Ministers 34. Monsieur Perrin is intreated to finish his begun History of the True Estate of the Albingenses and Waldenses and to help him in it all persons having Memoirs by them either of the Doctrine Discipline or Persecutions of those poor Saints of Christ are charged to transmit them to him with all possible care and diligence 35. Into whose hands there may fall a little Treatise about the dispossession of the Devil out of a Demoniack in Soreze they are required to suppress it 36. No Scholars for the future shall be received by the Provinces as Pensioners and who be now maintained at the trivial Schools by the Moneys of his Majesties bounty till such times as they shall have finished their Studies of Humanity and have begun their course of Philosophy and shall give in good Security for repaying the sums received by them and expended on them in case that through their default they do not serve the Church in the Ministry of the Gospel 37. This Case was propounded by the Deputies of Higher Languedoc and Guyenne How they should deal with them who being accused of Crimes were absolved by the Magistrates and yet afterward new evidence appeared against them and the scandal continued The Synod leaves it wholly to the prudence of Consistories who shall comport themselves herein according to circumstances and take special care that the Lives and Reputation of the Brethren be not exposed to needless dangers 38. The Deputies of Normandy requiring that the proper Hebrew names of the Old Testament according as they be printed in this last Edition of our Bibles might be refined and pronounced as in the former Antient Impressions This Synod judgeth it more convenient that they remain as they are and that nothing be changed by our Printers in any of their After-Impressions 39. Monsieur Beraud propounded this Case Whether an Elder of the Church accused of some enormous Crime and justified by an Inferiour Judge and yet drawn by his adverse Party to a Superiour Tribunal may whilst this Appeal stands in force against him exercise his Office in the Church The Synod judgeth that he ought to refrain until such time as he be finally acquitted and discharged by due course of Law See the Synod of Gergeau p. m. 39. 40. The Provinces are exhorted to assist the poor Churches especially in their distribution of his Majesties Bounty conferred upon us 41. The General Deputies are charged not only to manage the general Affairs of all our Churches but the particular ones of every single Church especially when as a difficulty is started about the Erection and Conservation of it according to the Edict And this Order shall bind the Provinces to seek out diligently a Legal Title for the Erection of our Churches and to associate themselves with the Deputies in all Prosecutions at Law necessarily required that so their Erection may be obtained and confirmed A conditional Supersede as to the Article of Antichrist 42. Whereas since the last Resolution taken by us concerning that Article Antichrist and its insertion into the body of our Confession of Faith and in consequence thereof its being printed his Majesty hath notified unto us by our Deputies as also by Monsieur de Montmartyn that the publishing of this Article would exceedingly displease him This Assembly ordaineth That the Printing thereof shall be superseded unless any Member of our Church be molested for it or be brought before the Magistrate for his confession of it or any Minister for Preaching Teaching or Writing about it and his Majesty shall be humbly intreated to interpose his Authority that no one be disquieted for the Impression which is already past or for being possessed of any Copies received from the Press 43. The Deputies of Higher Languedoc crav'd the Advice of this Synod what should be done in that case of Moneys received by their Deputies sent unto the Assembly of Chastelleraut in the year 1605. and which had been given them to defray the Charges of their Journey and Abode there by the Churches and by his Majesties Liberality This Synod ordaineth That the Receivers and Detainers of the said Moneys not having given in their Accounts for them unto their respective Provinces nor having received from them good and vallid Acquittances and Discharges shall be bound to do it and in case of defailure they shall be prosecuted with all Church-censures and other due courses of Law if that the Provinces and Churches do so require it 44. In reading the Synod of Gap about Censures inflicted on the Violators of Marriage-promises without just cause several difficulties were related to have arisen in divers places upon this Subject Wherefore this Synod decreeth That neither private persons nor Consistories have any Authority to dissolve such promises but shall remand them back unto the Cognizance Order and Legal Judgment of the
more advantagiously promote the common Weal of our Churches the repose and happiness of the State and the establishment of their Majesties Authority And the like Letters to the same purpose shall be written to the Lords of Chastillion of Parabere to the Dukes of Rohan and of Sully to the Dukes of Soubize and de la Force and to the Lord du Plessis from this Assembly to acquaint them with our desires and invitations in the name and behalf of all our Churches to joyn in with the Lords Dukes of Bouillon and de les Diguieres and that as we had exhorted these so we do earnestly exhort their Lordships also to quit and forego their own particular Resentments and Discontents and that as formerly they have so they would be pleased now and evermore to testifie their zeal and affection for the Weal and Repose of our poor Churches and that they would demean themselves with a generous frankness and integrity in their mutual Correspondence and Re-union one with the other that being united in a perfect Bond of Charity they may with conjoyned Forces promote and advance the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Letters also shall be written unto the Lady Dutchess of Tremouille intreating her in the name of all our Churches to continue her endeavours in mediating the said Peace and Re-union and to give her thanks for her singular care in the Education of her Children in the True Religion and in the Fear of God and in Love and Affection to our Churches hoping and praying that they may hereafter prove excellent and useful Instruments of God's glory and of the Churches good And it shall be protested to all and every one of those Lords in the name and behalf of our Churches in the said Letters directed to them of our Intention and Resolution to consider honour and value them according to their Families Qualities Dignities and Merits as being the most honourable Members of our Body And the said Letters shall be presented them to wit unto the Lords of Bouillon and of les Diguieres of Chastillion and to the Lady Dutchess of Tremouille by the immediate hands of our General Deputies Those for the Lord Duke of Rohan and my Lord of Soubize by the Lords Barons of Saujon and Bonnet Deputies for the Province of Xaintonge who shall also acquaint them particularly from this Assembly with our sentiments desires and designs exhorting them to approve of them and to consent unto them and they shall be intreated to declare freely their thoughts of the whole that so the General Deputies may be out of hand advised and allured of it The Letter to the Lord Duke of Sully shall be tendered by Monsieur de l'Isle Grossat Deputy for the Province of Berry That to the Lord de Plessis by the Sieurs Perillau Vigneux and Ferrand Deputies of the Province of Anjou That for the Lord de la Force by the Sieurs de Brassalay and du Hau Deputies of Bearne That for the Lord de la Parabere by the Sieurs de Cuville and Cognac Deputies of Poictou And all these Gentlemen are charged with one and the same Message as above-mentioned only they may make such additions as their zeal and dexterity shall judge to be most conducing to the Weal and Perfection of so glorious a work Moreover this Assembly intreateth and exhorteth that for God's sake and the glory of his great name and their own salvation and for the peace and welfare of the Nation yea it adjures by all that is desirable or commendable the whole Body of our Communion in general and every faithful Soul in particular to divest themselves of all Animosities whatsoever and to lop off immediately all dissolutions and dissentions lest they should be the causes of the dissipation of the Churches of God in this Kingdom which have been planted in the Blood of infinite Martyrs and preserved by the Zeal and Concord of our Fathers and that they would at length open their Eyes and see and consider that the Churches Enemies bottom all their designs of ruining us upon our own Intestine Dissentions and that by reason of these we are become very little and exceeding despicable with our Adversaries And all Pastors and Elders of Churches are enjoyned diligently to procure the Re-union of the respective Members of their Flocks and to lend one another their helping-hand to effect so good a work and mightily to insist upon it in their puâ—lick Sermons and private Exhortations and Remonstrances And in case they should meet with contempt scorn and reproach in the discharge of this their duty and that any one through an obdurate perverseness should shew himself implacable and irreconcilable This Assembly according to that Authority which the Great God gives unto the Ministers of his holy Word denounceth to them the dreadful Judgments of God and wisheth that they may be had in Execration among and by all the Faithful yea all the ensures of the Church shall be exerted against such Refractory persons and the utmost rigour of our Discipline shall be inflicted and executed upon them lest the good Name of God should be blasphemed through our sins and that we may not contract upon our selves the guilt of the Churches desolation but rather that b the Bond of Peace and Fraternal Union the Church of God may send forth a sweet perfume among our Adversaries and his holy Name may be blessed and glorified by the Children of men 9. And whereas in the prosecution of the said Re-union the several persons before mentioned to be employed in it must needs be at considerable Expence this Assembly leaveth that Affair unto the prudence of our Lords the General Deputies who shall apply themselves to the Lord of Candall with this our Order to disburse Moneys for their necessary Charges And the Lords the General Deputies at Court are ordered to complain unto their Majesties that the Moneys granted by them by way of Augmentation unto our Churches are not paid nor have we the disposal or management or receipt of them and they shall again by word of mouth renew their former Instances and vigorously importune that the said Augmentation-Moneys and all other sums belonging to us may be put into such hands as shall wholly depend upon our Churches that so according to the Warrants granted us for the said Moneys and according to the Promise made us they may be paid in unto us without any defalcation or diminutions and that our poor Churches may be cased of that Penny in the Liver which the Receivers attribute unto themselves and their condition bettered if may be And as to what sums have been advanced by the aforesaid Lords Deputies notice shall be given thereof unto the Provinces CHAP. XII A Warrant signed for 45000 l. for the Churches FRiday the 22th of June the Lord de Rouvray produced in this Assembly the Original Grant of Augmentation of five and forty thousand Livers which it hath pleased His Majesty to bestow upon
seemed to revive the Memory of our by-past divisions might be taken off the file and razed out of the Acts of the Synod of Privas This Assembly ordained that the said Canon shall remain in those very words in which it was conceived Art 3. In that Article which gives leave unto Elders the Pastor being refused and excepted at to Judge of some Emergent differences yea even to suspension from the Lords Supper the Province of Lower Languedoc demanded that there might be some mittigation of its rigour This Assembly Judged that that Article should abide as it was conceived whithout any alteration at all Art 4. Upon the fourth Article treating of Marriage-Promises that they should be made in words de futuro The Lord de la Riviere demanded that the name of the Church of Rouen might be razed out of that admonition which had been given it Privas obs 3. See Vitré 2. Observat upon this present Synod Art 2. and to that of Diep to forsake their Custom of betrothing persons publickly in their Temples declaring that in the Church of Rouen they were only done in the Consistorial Chamber the Pastors and Elders being present This Assembly acquainted him that they could not in the least approve of this Order and Practice among them Art 5. Privas obs 2. on the preceding Synod On that Article concerning the Works of Monsieur Chamier Pastor and Professor at Montauban the Assembly ordained that before they be sent unto the Press they shall be put into the hands of some certain Pastors and Professors in Divinity to be perused and examined and the Pastors and Professors his Colleagues in the Church and University of Montauban are named to this purpose Art 6. Privas obs 3. upon the preced Synod and p. m. 10. The Synod of Dolphiny is charged to read over the History of the Waldenses and Albingenses collected and written by Monsieur Perrin who also is required as soon as it is Printed to send a Copy to every one of the Provinces Art 7. Privas obs 7. upon the preced Synod That Article which deferred the changing of that of St. Maixant concerning Baptism to the examination of the Provinces being now again read this Assembly advised that the Provincial Deputies should gather the judgment of this Synod by Majority of voices and not the particular opinion of each single person In pursuance whereof it was carried by plurality of Votes that the order practised before the said Synod of St. Maixant should be still observed and that it should not be lawful to celebrate Baptism unless there were a Sermon either immediately before or after that Sacrament Art 8. Privas Appeal 2. 2 Vitré Appeal 7. below Appeal 31. On that Article concerning the expences of the Church of Annonay in getting a Minister to Preach among them during the abode of Monsieur le Faucheur at Saumur This Synod ordaineth that it shall pass into a General Canon that the Provinces shall defray the charges of those Churches whose Pastors are Commissionated unto General Assemblies be they either Political or Ecclesiastical Art 9. Privas App. 10. The Assembly having received a good Testimonial of the worthy carriage of Monsieur Bansillon Pastor of Aiguesmortes since the last National Synod doth ordain that that Article of his Censure be razed out of the Acts of the Synod of Privas Art 10. Privas g. m. 8. Reading the Act of Re-union the Lord de la Millitiere General Deputy gave in an account of the endeavours used by the Sieurs du Moulin Durant de l'Isle Groslot together with the General Deputies in reconciling all those Lords mentioned by name in that Act as also of other private persons for which the Assembly returned them hearty thanks and doth discharge them of their Commission with that honour which is deservedly due unto them for their great diligence in it Art 11. Privas Ap. 1. The Churches in the Principality of Orange reiterating their complaints by the month of the Sieur Julien against the Synod of Dolphiny held at Veines for excluding them from the Political Assembly of that Province This Assembly the Deputies of that Province having owned the charge brought in against them viz. That they were excluded an Ecclesiastical Synod judgeth that the said Churches of the Principality of Orange ought to be restored unto their former priviledge Art 12. Privas p. m. 21. Mr. Mayor of Bergerac declaring on behalf of that Church and Town that it was never their Intention to depart from the Union of our Churches or to procure their own private good to the prejudice of the Publick as they were condemned for by the Censure of the National Synod at Privas And the Province being heard on those inquiries they were obliged to make and testifying for them that they could never find by any Witnesses nor by any probable conjectures that they had gotten the Kings Writ of grant for their Colledge out of the Moneys bestowed upon the Churches See below of Universities 2. and the said Mr. Mayor requesting on their behalf that that summ might be vouchsafed them by order of this Assembly out of the free and charitable benevolence of our Churches It was decreed that the said Mr. Mayor should produce an Act proving that the said Communalty of the Town of Bergerac do address themselves for this matter unto this Synod and that they renounce all other ways of obtaining it and particularly the effects of that Writ aforesaid and upon doing this they were promised full contentment in all their demands Art 13. The Deputies of the County of Venise and Archbishoprick of Avignon requesting Privas p. m. 1. that according to what was promised them in the Synod of Privas so by the authority of this Assembly our Deputies in Court might recommend their affairs unto their Majesties and that particular Prayers might be offered up unto God for them in all the Churches This Assembly granteth them their desire on those two heads and enjoyneth all the Deputies as soon as they return unto their respective Provinces to report unto those Provincial Assemblies their miserable estate that so it may be inserted into their Memoirs which shall be sent unto the next General Assembly Art 14. Privas p. m 3. The National Synod of Privas having ordered the Colloquy of Nismes to examine the matter of Fact about that difference between Monsieur de Bansillon and de Mallamont concerning an Act of that Colloquy for which Mallamont accused him of forgery It appears by an Act of the said Colloquy since held and now produced that that which was produced by the Sieur Bansillon was certainlytrue and the said Sieur Mallamont being fully convinced of it doth renounce his Accusation of the said Bansillon Art 15. Privas p. m. 8. Monsieur Brunier Pastor of the Church of Usez is charged to yield up unto the Province of Lower Languedoc those Letters forged by that infamous Apostate Jeremy Ferrier
their dependencies and that the said Churches cannot long Subsist without a Good a Strict and Mutual Union and conjunction of one with the other and this better kept and maintained than formerly Therefore being desirous what in us lyeth for the future to remove all seeds of division and occasion of partialities between the said Churches and to obviate all Impostures Plots Calumnies and Practices whatsoever by means whereof divers Persons ill affected to our Religion do indeavour its utter Ruine and destruction For which reason we are more bound than ever by an unanimous consent and agreement to use those means which will most and best contribute to our just lawful and necessary preservation in the Union aforesaid under the authority of our Soveraign Lord the King and the Queen Regent his Mother we have in the Name of all those Churches and for their Weal and Happiness and for the service of their Majesties Sworn and Protested and do Swear and Protest yea we do also promise that we will see these our Protestation to be ratified in and by all our respective Provinces to continue inseparably United and conjoyned in the Confession of Faith owned and Professed by the Reformed Church of this Kingdom and confirmed approved and ratified by us all We Swear as well in our own Names as in the Names of all the Churches and Provinces which Commissionated us to be their Deputies unto this Assembly that we will live and die in this Confession as also we do protest that we will keep inviolably that Ecclesiastical Discipline which is established in the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom and to observe its Canons for the Government of these Churches and the reformation of manners owning and acknowledging that it is agreeable to the Word of God under whose supream and unviolable authority We Protest and Swear to yield all obedience and fidelity to their Majesties desiring nothing more than through the favour of their Edicts to serve our God without any Violence offered unto our Consciences Sworn and Subscribed by Gigord Moderator Gardesy Assessor Rivet and Scribes Maltrett Scribes And by all the other Deputies with their own hands CHAP. XVI An Act for the Meeting of the General Mixt Assembly THE Lord of Rouvray our General Deputy having sent unto this Synod his Majesties writ bearing date the 22d day of this present month by which at the request of this National Synod the time of meeting for the next National General Assembly is put off till the a 25th of August but without any change of place This Assembly judging the City of Grenoble to be a very inconvenient place because of its great distance and for being the Residence of a Parliament and for divers other great and weighty reasons ordered that Letters should be written unto the Lord Marshal Duke de Lesdiguieres and presented to him by the Deputies of Burgundy and Dolphiny who also by word of mouth should humbly intreat his excellency not only to take in good part the change of the place of meeting which all the Deputies convened at this Synod have unanimously desired and hold necessary but also that he would be pleased to joyn with them in their humble request and Petition unto their Majesties by the Lords our General Deputies who shall present unto them Letters from this Assembly in which with all humbleness it shall be declared that the late King of most happy Memory did usually make choice of the most meet and convenient places for the holding of those Assemblies And the said Lords Deputies shall use their utmost care and diligence to give notice and information of the success of this their undertaking before the 15th of July or sooner if may be unto the Provincial Assemblies in case of refusal This Assembly adviseth also that it would be expedient that they send each of them one Deputy chosen out of their whole Body to reiterate with all submissions and reverence their most humble Petitions unto their Majesties and by conjoyned Supplications to obtain this change from them Moreover the Lords General Deputies are most expresly charged to prosecute their complaints of that grievous Outrage Committed by the Lieutenant in the Government of Guise against Monsieur Sigart Pastor of the Church of Levall and to desire that justice may have its due Course upon that Officer they corroborating by word of mouth what hath been written unto their Majesties from this Assembly about it They be also exhorted according to the Canon made at Privas most humbly to petition their Majesties that we may be exempted from that necessity which is now more eagerly and violently prest upon us than ever yea and with greater severity rigour and exaction than heretofore and against that Liberty of Conscience which hath been so often promised us of styling our selves of the pretended Reformed Religion we rather choosing to suffer all kind of torments than to be compelled with our own mouths to condemn our own most holy and true Religion Moreover they be exhorted to assist the Church of Dijon whose place of Meeting for Religious Worship is removed four long Leagues distant from that City although by the Edict they may have their Temple in the Suburbs And yet this poor Church hath been frustrated of its expectations and earnest requests after ten years Prosecution and Attendance at Court for if They shall also complain of the Commissioners that were sent into Burgundy to see the Edict of Nants executed for that they refused to hear the Petitions tendered them for restoring the exercise of our Religion in seven antient Baily wicks and in the Cities of St. John de Laune and de Noyers where the Word of God had been duly and constantly Preached in the years 1576 and 1577. And they shall favour and stand by that opposition made by those of our Religion in Vivaretz against the Petition presented to the Council by the Judge of the Lower Vivaretz who would of his own head and authority bring into the Royal Courts of Villeneuve of Berg and Annonay Causes determinable in the Provosts Court which is expresly contrary to that Article of the Edict declaring that the Judgment of Declinators and Exceptions against the Jurisdictions of a Court shall only appertain to the Mixt Chambers of the Edict or to other Courts at the choice of the Professors of our Religion They shall complain also of letting decay the Fortifications of Clermont in the Lower Languedoc one of our Cautionary Towns and given us as a pledge and hostage for our security The Papists in the mean while fortifying the Town against the Castle They are also intreated to be careful of that business of Monsieur de la Garde Governour of Tonneins who being summoned and brought before His Majesty and Council after a world of difficulty was dismissed over to the Chamber of Grenoble from whence the Jesuits and other Clergy of the Romish Church would fain remove it back again to Paris And they shall use all
for some weighty reasons and motives it doth at present accept of their Appeal and amending the Decree of that Provincial Synod ordaineth that the Canon made in the National Synod of Tonneins be put in Execution and whereas the said Church of Niort have been at needless Expences in seeking Ministers to supply them abroad without the Province all their Costs and Charges shall be limited and restrained to the sum of two hundred Livers to be payed them out of the monies allotted unto the said Province nor shall Monsieur Chauffepied be at all obliged to make any restitution out of the monies given him for his pains and travel unto the said General Assembly 8. The Church of Chastelheraut appealing from a judgment of the Province of Poictou their Appeal was admitted notwithstanding it had been decreed otherwise in former National Synods Though still the Provinces be exhorted to conform themselves unto their Orders of else they shall be remanded back re infectâ who ever bring unto these Assemblies matters which may and ought to be judged in a Neighbour Province and therefore amending the Sentence of the Synod of Poictou it ordaineth that whereas the Church of Chastelheraut had exhibited an hundred Livers towards the maintenance of a certain Fellow named Pichon formerly a Franciscan Fryar the Province of Poictou shall reimburse the said Church the sum of fifty Livers 9. Monsieur Paul Bonnet formerly Pastor in the Church of Saujon Alez Obs 17. on this Synod appealing from the judgment of the Colloquy of the Isles and since from that of the Provincial Synod of Xaintonge which had ratified the Sentence of the said Colloquy by vertue whereof he was suspended the holy Ministry until such time as he had fully cleared himself from that crime whereof he was impeached and accused This Assembly having heard the Deputies of that Province and the Arguments and grounds of their proceedings against him and the said Bonnet speak in his own defence approved the Decrees both of the Synod and Colloquy and ordained that his suspension should be continued until the next meeting of the Provincial Synod of Poictou which will be about six months hence and at present doth Commissionate the Sieurs Chesneau Pastor of the Church of S. Maixant and Papin Pastor of the Church of St. Hermin to take with them each an Elder either from their own or the Neighbour Churches at their own choice and to pass over unto those places at the charges of the Province of Xaintonge where the Crimes of which he stands accused were committed and they shall make strict and particular inquiry into the truth of them and make report thereof unto the said Provincial Synod who shall judge finally by authority from this Assembly of the whole affair either by aggravating his Censure in Case he be found guilty or by restoring the said Bonnet if innocent unto the holy Ministry which yet he shall never any more exercise within the said Province of Xaintonge and till this judgment be executed the said Bonnet shall be received into Communion with us at the Lord's Table but in another Church than that of Saujon And that portion of moneys given us by his Majesty and received under his name by the Province of Xaintonge shall be detained by the Receiver of the said Province to be restored to him free of all Taxes and Costs from the time of his deprival in case he be declared innocent absolv'd and justified but and if he be found guilty the said Province shall be responsible for it in their accounts unto the next National Synod And whereas the Church of Saujon demands reimbursement of costs expended by them during Bonnets absence they be remanded back unto the said Province of Poictou who shall judge definitively herein and the next Synod of Xaintonge shall come to an account with the Church of Saujon and pay them all their charges which are in justice due unto them without expecting the Declaration of that final Judgment which was before mentioned 10. The Church of Belin having appealed from a Decree of the Synod of Brittain which had ordained the said Church to reimburse Monsieur de la Place Pastor of the Church of Sion a certain sum of moneys owing by them unto Monsieur Aveline his Father-in-Law deceased The whole business was dismissed over to the Consistory of this Church of Vitré because it was not of that nature or moment as to be brought hither or determined by these Assemblies 11. The Appeal of the Church of Beziers from a Decree of the Synod of Lower Languedoc which had refused to give them two supernumerary portions is rejected because the said Church neither sent any Memoirs about it nor any one to report the true Causes of their said Appeal 12. The Appeal of the Church of Genouillac from a Judgment of the Synod of Lower Languedoc is also rejected and declared null because they sent not any Memoir about it and the Reverend and Learned Monsieur De Croy is confirmed in the Pastoral Office of the Church of Beziers 13. Whereas the Lord of Soubeyran Consul of the City of Aimargues and certain Inhabitants of the said City have appealed unto this present Assembly from the Synod of Lower Languedoc which had confirmed Monsieur Boulet in the Pastoral Office of their Church and had refused to restore unto them Monsieur Laurent neither of those persons having appeared for them nor having sent any Memoirs unto the National Synod they were declared to be fallen from their Appeal and to have lost all benefit and advantage by it and the Judgment of the Provincial Synod was now ratified and the rather because the Elder of the said Church yielded his consent unto it in the name of the Consistory and farther declared that the Ministry of the said Monsieur Boulet was exceeding edifying and successful and very acceptable unto the whole Church Wherefore the Colloquy of Nismes is charged to pursue the opposers of Monsieur Boulet's Ministry and settlement there with all Church-Censures 14. The Church of Privas appealed from a Decree of the Synod of Vivaretz Privas Art 10. of Colledges which had transferr'd their Colledge setled in their Town and confirmed by the National Synod there in the year 1612. unto the Churches of Aubenas and Annonay but they not appearing about it nor sending any Memoirs unto this Assembly the said Appeal was laid by until the next National Synod 15. Another Appeal of the same Church of Privas which was brought in from a Judgment of the Synod of Vivaretz that had injoined them to pay unto the Widow of Monsieur Valeton deceased the remainder of his Wages due unto him as also what he had disbursed out of his own pocket for their service was declared null and the Judgment of that Synod ratified 16. The Judgment of the Synod of Burgundy declaring that the Church of Mascon could not lay any claim of right unto the Ministry of Monsieur de
Tilloy Pastor in the Church of Sedan decreeth that he be intreated to write the said History and the Provinces are exhorted to send him whatever Memoirs they have on this Subject 13. On that Canon concerning Monsieur Pilotis the Deputies of Sevennes requesting that he might be reimburst the losses which he had heretofore suffered in the Service of our Churches This Assembly agreeing with the Synod of Alez hath answered that the Moneys attributed unto the Churches can not be diverted unto other uses 14. That Canon condemning the Province of Higher Languedoc to make restitution of the Summ of Five Hundred Livres unto that of the Isle of France the Province of Languedoc requesting that it might be discharged from paying the Two Hundred Livres which yet rest due This Assembly judged that it ought not to change a Tittle in the said Canon and that the said Province should apply it self unto that of the Isle of France to whose Charity they be recommended 15. On the next Canon concerning Monsieur Richer this Assembly having seen the Judgment of the Consistory of Saumur Deputed to clear up his Accounts doth confirm the said Judgment yet nevertheless it intreateth the Province of the Isle of France to deal charitably with the said Richer according to the Canon of the Synod of Alez and the advice of the Consistory of Saumur 16. The reading of particular Matters being over it was observed that divers Provinces though they were ordered by the foregoing Synod to execute several Canons yet had not brought with them any proof of their care and diligence in so doing The Synod therefore ordained that for the future the Provincial Deputies should produce the Acts of their Provincial Synods and other needful Evidence of their having performed the Matters which were injoyned them CHAP. XI On the Chapter of Colledges and Universities 17 THE Synod of Anjou petitioned that the Fourth Canon concerning Professors of Divinity and the Hebrew Tongue who are Ministers to be reputed Pastors of that Church wherein the University is seated might be explained This Synod confirming the decree of Alez declareth this to be the sence and meaning of it That the Churches are not obliged to give them Wages nor imploy them in such frequent services as their ordinary Pastors but leaveth it to die prudence and discretion of Consistories to agree with the said Professors about their work and maintenance as they shall judge most consonant to reason and equity 18. In that Fifth Canon by which the Province of Higher Languedoc is censured after those words And for not having observed all the Formalities required by the Discipline in the reception of the said Monsieur Beraud into the Professors Chair of Divinity shall be added these following When as the said Sieur Beraud had submitted himself unto the most Rigorons Examen even as the Deputies themselves of that very self-same Province had attested 19. On the Eleventh Canon which had setled the Colledge of the Province of Sevennes in the Town of Anduze by provision only till the meeting of this present Synod This Assembly ordaineth that since by their silence both that Province and the City of Alez do seem to consent unto it things shall continue in that Estate in which they are at present 20. Reading that Article about bringing in the Accompts of our Colledges and Universities Monsieur Basnage and le Clerk Pastors and Du Port and du Four Elders were constituted a Committee to examine all such Accompts CHAP. XII Observations on the Chapter of General Laws for our Universities 21 THE Synod after Debate had of what Classick Authors should be read in Schools doth order all Tutors and Regents of the Lower Classes on every Saturday to read unto their Scholars a Section of the greater Catechisme either in French Latin or Greek according to their Capacities and to cause them to get it by heart and to give them a plain and familiar Exposition of it CHAP. XIII Appeals unto this National Synod of CHARENTON 1 WHereas the Church of Mesnil-Imbert appealeth from the Sentence of the Synod of Normandy which had ordained that the said Church should be joyned to that of Falaise The Deputies of that Province being heard they did declare that they had no notice nor intimation given them of this Appeal till this very moment and Monsieur de Beaufiel Deputy for the said Church being heard praying that they might be joyned unto that of Orbec This Synod injoyneth the Province of Normandy to procure the re-union of the Church of Mesnill-Imbert with that of Falaise and in case that the said Church of Mesnill will not consent unto this re-union then to conjoyn them with that of Orbec And the Province shall annex that of Falaise unto such a Church as will with the greatest ease and readiness admit of it and in the mean while the said Churches shall be served by the Neighbour Ministers according to the Ordinance of their last Provincial Synod 2. Monsieur Belon Pastor of the Church of Gevaudan in the Lower Guyenne appealed from the Judgment of the Synod of Higher Languedoc which had declared that the Church of Montauban should not give him any recompence for his labours among them during the time of his Retreat and Sojourning in it The Synod ordaineth that the Judgment of the Province shall hold good 3. An Elder of the Church at St. Savinian appealed from a Decree of the Synod of Xaintonge which had set Monsieur des Oullieres at liberty so that he might joyn himself unto the Church of Tailleburg and contribute towards the Ministry there This Synod for divers reasons doth reserve to it self the cognisance of this Matter and reforms the said Sentence and confirmeth that of the Colloquy of St. John d' Angely held at Jarnac the Two and Twentieth day of April last 4. The Lord of Lodde together with the Consistories of the Churches of Treviers and Collumbieres appealed from the Decrees of divers Colloquies and Synods held within the Province of Normandy which had assigned the Pension given by the Lady of La Hay du Puy for the maintenance of a Proposan in Divinity unto the Son of Monsieur Basnage who had not as yet attained unto that Degree The Synod being not in a capacity to judge of this Affair because the Acts and Evidences necessary to be perused before a judgment can be given on it are not produced hath left it to the Consistory of the Church of Paris finally to dâ—â—ermâ—nâ— it within one Moneths space after the breaking up of this Synod And the said Province is ordered to send that Act of the said Ladies gift and the resolutions of the Colloquies and Synods thereupon thither unto that Church of Paris that so they may judge of it by the Authority of this Synod And whereas Monsieur Basnage declared that he would decline acceptance of the said gift the Synod confirming the payments which have been already made ordaineth that for the future no Money shall
injoyned to send their Acts unto it and to adjourn the Parties thither 17. Monsieur Peyreille Pastor of the Church de la Cabarede appealed from a judgment of the Colloquy of Albigeois and the Synod of Higher Languedoc which had Deposed him from the Holy Ministry The Letters of the said Peyreille directed unto this Assembly being read and the Acts of all proceedings had against him by the Colloquy of Albigeois having been perused and the Deputies of the Province of Higher Languedoc having spoken on behalf of their Synod This Assembly did not only confirm the Sentence of the said Colloquy and Province but doth farther aggravate it by depriving the said Peyreille utterly of all hopes of ever being re-instated into the Sacred Ministry 18. The Lord Broccard formerly president of the Exchequer at Dijon brought his Appeal from a Decree of the Provincial Synod of Burgundy but it was declared null and the Consistory of Dijon is injoyned to proceed against him the said Broccard by all Church-Censures in case he detain his Daughter from her Husband without his consent 19. The Church of Croset brought its Appeal from a Judgment of the Synod of Burgundy which ordained that the Churches of Cheury and Puilly should both equally and by turns enjoy the Ministry of their Pastor with that of Crosett This Assembly remanded back again this Affair unto that Provincial Synod which having congregated its Four Colloquies shall revise it over once more and then pass a final Sentence on it 20. The Church of Monoblett appealed from the judgment of the Province of Sevennes because it had lent their Minister Monsieur de Merveils for Sixth Moneths unto the Church of St. Hippolyte The Church also of St. Hippolyte brought an Appeal from the same Judgment The Deputy of St. Hippolyte was heard petitioning that the Ministry of Monsieur Marvell might be confirmed to them during Life and the Deputies of that Province were heard also and the Letters from the said Churches were read audibly and distinctly and a Canon of the National Synod of Tonneins and several other Acts were all perused and considered after which this Assembly altering the Judgment of the said Province ordained that according to their request Monsieur Marvells be settled during Life in the Ministry of that Church of St. Hippolyte and chargeth the said Province to get out of hand a supply for that of Monoblett 21. The Consuls of the Town of Anduze appealed from a Decree of the Synod of Sevennes importing that Monsieur Couront should continue his Ministry in the Church of Anduze and the said Courant petitioned that he might be freed from their Service The Deputy of that Church and the Deputies of the Province having been heard and Letters of the said Courant being read this Synod discharged the said Courant from his Ministry in that Church and ordereth the Province to present him unto some other Congregation and farther the Deputies of Sevennes are charged as they return home to pass through Anduze and to accord and pacifie the Differences between their Consuls and Consistory And whereas the Deputy of the said Town hath brought in a complaint against Monsieur Ollier another of its Pastors This Assembly considering that their Complaints are about sorry Trides and that they had not first carried them as they ought to their own Provincial Synod doth ordain that Monsieur Ollier continue in his Ministry there until the sitting of the next Provincial Synod who shall take care of this business 22. Monsieur Tricot Pastor of the Church of Chasteau du Loire complained of the Consistory of the Church of Tours for that being order'd by the Provincial Synod of Anjou in their Name and Authority to judge of a difference betwixt Monsieur du Verger an Elder in that Church and himself they gave a respit of Hearing for Fifteen days unto the said du Verger before which time this National Synod will be dissolved and the Parties concern'd deprived of all means for bringing in their Appeal and having it here determined This Assembly considering that the said du Verger is absent dismisseth over the Affair to the Colloquy of Anjou with full power in two Moneths time after our breaking up to judge finally thereof 23. Monsieur Guerrin Pastor of the Church of Baugency brought in his Appeal from the Judgment of the Provincial Synod of Berry This Assembly for certain reasons drawn from the special nature of the matter in question judgeth that it does not belong to the cognisance of our Ecclesiastical Assemblies as it hath been also thus determined by the Provincial Synods However we would not have it to be made a President 24. The Church of Puylaurens appealed from a Judgment of the Synod of Higher Languedoc by which Monsieur Garissoles Pastor of that Church was lent unto the Church of Montauban until the meeting of this National Synod which yet was contrary to a Decree of the last National Synod held at Alez which had only lent Monsieur de Garissoles unto that said Church for Six Moneths with an express prohibition unto the said Church of Montauban not to detain him beyond that time Monsieur du Bois Deputy for the Church of Montauban having been heard and the Elder of the Church of Puylaurens as also the Deputies of the Province this Assembly corrected and condemned the Judgment of the said Synod of Higher Languedoc for violating the Decree of the last National Synod of Alez And yet considering the great necessity of the Church and University of Montauban ordaineth that Monsieur de Garissoles shall remain in the Church of Puylaurens until the next Provincial Synod which may then bestow him upon the Church and University of Montauban provided that he yield his consent unto it which that he may be induced to Letters shall be written him from this Assembly to perswade and incourage him to accept thereof 25. The Church of Montrevil Bonnein appealed from a Judgment of the Provincial Synod of Poictou for giving away Monsieur * * * Two Copies call him Delon but a Third D'Vssen Delon their Pastor from them unto the Church of Montauban After that the Deputies of the said Province had been heard the Assembly confirmed Monsieur Delon in his Pastoral Office in the Church of Montauban upon the same terms and conditions as were expressed in that Decree of the Provincial Synod of Poictou 26. The Church of Touars appealed from the Judgment of the Synod of Poictou which for some special reasons had remanded back unto the Colloquy of Higher Poictou their Petition about Monsieur de la Piltiere whom they desired to be their Pastor and who is now Minister in the Church of Chastelheraut After hearing the Deputy of that Church of Touars and the Deputies of the Province and the Letters of the Lord Duke and Lady Dutchess of Tremouille and of the Church of Chastelheraut and those of Monsieur de la Piltiere and the Memoirs sent by him
a long and uninterrupted Possession without any Complaint brought in against him 2. For Suspending Monsieur Fazas the Younger maintaining his Father's Right yea since he had entred his Appeal without any the least regard had unto his Father's unjust Deposal from his Office in the Eldership 3. For refusing to notifie unto the Church the Restitution of the said Monsieur Fazas unto his Office whom they had Deposed although the Provincial Synod had ordered them so to do and that according to the Canons of our Discipline Moreover this Assembly Decreeth that the Judgment of that Provincial Synod shall be fully and most effectually performed and that the Pastors and Elders of the Church of Tonneins who shall not acquiesce in it shall be Censured and Suspended from their Offices by Monsieur Brignos another Copy hath Brinol Pastor of La Parande who was ordered by the Provincial Synod to inflict the Censures on them And the Lord of St. Blancard by reason that his House is Situated on the other side of the River shall be at liberty to joyn himself unto that Church which is nearest to him And farther all Consistories are strictly forbidden to bring any Appeals of this Nature unto these National Synods and although it be not our Intention to trouble our Selves with particular Customs which have obtained in the Churches about seating of Persons in our Temples yet we do declare our Judgment that there are less and fewer Inconveniences in leaving them free to all Comers than to assign them unto particular Persons of a Private Condition who have no Right nor Priviledge to arrogate and claim unto themselves a preheminence above any others 12. This Assembly desiring to preserve those Lords who have the priviledge of high Justice and other Gentlemen in the possession of those Advantages granted them by the Edict and doing right unto the Lord of Marcassargues upon his Appeal Ordaineth that the Province of Sevennes shall yield unto his Lordship's Demand upon those Conditions expressed in his Memoirs and produced by him in this Assembly to wit that the Pastors shall come unto his House at his Charges and without prejudice to those Religious Exercises which are to be performed formed on certain Days of the Week and that there be the like Consideration had for Persons of the same Quality and Character 13. A Man going by the Name of Michael dwelling at St. Stephens de val Franscisque being Condemned by the Provincial Synod of Sevennes to separate himself from the Niece of his Deceased Wife whom he had espoused Appealed unto this Assembly who having considered the Case judged that Monsieur Sauvage the Pastor and the whole Consistory of St. Stephen's had deserved the greatest Censures for their Disrespect shewn unto the Laws of the Land and the Canons of our Discipline in publishing the Banes of the said Michael and afterwards for having given him a Certificate of their Publication The Synod also of Sevennes was justly blamed for admitting a Fellow so deep in Guilt and engaged and resolved to continue in his Sin to take an Oath in their Presence And the Sieur Ausez is ordered to appear before the Provincial Synod of Lower Languedoc and to be accountable unto them for what he hath done in this business And the said Michael and his Wife are commanded to give Glory unto God and to refrain each others Company and no more to wound their Consciences by continuing in a Life so Scandalous Condemned by the Word of God and the Statute Laws of the Kingdom And whereas the said Consistory of Saint Stephens have took upon them by their Letters to maintain the Cause of these Delinquents and that there is very much reason to suspect that the Signature of Monsieur Barjon affixed to the Lower end of the said Letters is Counterfeited they shall be all carried to the next Synod of that Province which shall inform themselves of the matter of Fact and in case the Suspicion be found to be well grounded they shall immediately proceed to censure the Person or Persons guilty of this Forgery 14. The Acts and Memoirs sent from the Sieur de Combalasse and those Joyning with him on the One Party were read in this Assembly and on the other the Deputies of the Province of Higher Languedoc were heard giving in the Reasons of that Judgment which the Provincial Synod held at Mauvezin had prononuced both against the said Sieur de Combalasse and those who had Accused him Whereupon the said Judgment was Confirmed in all its Articles and Members And forasmuch as there have been very many Defaults in the Proceedings on all Hands which deserve a Censure it was Decreed that sith the Ministry of the said Sieur de Combalasse can be no longer Edifying to the Church of Realmont he shall be removed from it and another Pastor Substituted in his Stead And whereas upon Reading those Acts produced divers Articles of Accusation appeared which were not sufficiently cleared nor proved the Colloquy of Albigeois is charged at their next Meeting as also the Synod of higher Languedoc to revise this matter and to take new Information thereupon and as things alledged shall be averred and proved to apply the Censures appointed by our Discipline 15. Monsieur Guyonnet Pastor of the Church of Chastillon upon Seine having Appealed unto this Synod that right might be done him a Decree past that he should continue to serve the said Church one Year however until the Meeting of the Provincial Synod of Burgundy upon the breaking up of which he shall be at full Liberty And the Sieur de Carouge shall be sent unto the Church of Beaune to continue there for a time and at the departure of the said Monsieur Guyonnelt he shall be settled in the Church of Chastillon as its peculiar Pastor 16. That Judgment pronounced by the Province of Berry upon the Sieur de la Galere was Confirmed and his Appeal from it disannulled yet forasmuch as the said Province and that of Anjou in which he hath heretofore exercised his Ministry have given him an Honourable Testimony this Assembly Decreeth that he shall be left upon the Roll of Pastors who are by the National Synod to be distributed among the Churches and shall be imployed in such an One as the good Hand of God shall direct him to 17. The Sieur Codure formerly Pastor and Professor of Divinity in the Church and University of Nismes having sent Letters with a Diatribe of his Dedicated unto this Assembly in which he pretends to reconcile the Differences between the Protestants and the Church of Rome concerning Justification and demanded Audience of it According to his Request he was admitted to propound the Reasons and Motives of his Design Which having done there was a most serious Remonstrance made him of the great wrong he had done First Unto the Truth of God in taking upon him to reconcile Contradictory Opinions and utterly inconsistent one with the other And then Secondly How
needful for the Peace and Welfare of the Church of Vitre in Brittain that the Sieurs Petre and Jortain its Pastors should be removed from it because of the Misunderstandings and Divisions which have been between them for many Years together Moreover the Province of Anjou requested that the Church gathered at Terchant which was only joyned for some time to that of Vitre by the National Synod held there in the Year 1583 might be reincorporated with that of Laval because the said Church of Terchant lieth and is situated in the County of Laval and was from its first Foundation United to and a Member of that of Laval The Deputies of the Province of Brittain were also heard speak on behalf of their Synod who reported how opposite the Intentions of the Lady of Montmartin were unto this Separation because the Discords between the Pastors had divided the Body of the Church of Vitre which being at length tired with their Contentions and Debates in which they have been unavoidably ingaged through their Means did entreat by Letters the Lady Dutchess of Trimouille to get them discharged from their Ministry in it This Synod Decreeth that according to the desire of the said Lady Dutchess those Two Pastors who have hitherto served in the said Church of Vitre shall be transferred elsewhere And that Monsieur Jortan shall be sent unto the Church in the Isle of Gast and Lassay provided the said Monsieur Jortane and the Church do Consent unto it and the Church of Vitre shall be provided of a Pastor adorned with Gifts and Graces meet for their Edification And as for that of Terchant and Vieuville the Sieurs Basnage and de L'Angle together with the Sieurs Guesdon and Caillard or in case of their Lawful Hindrance then two other Pastors and Two Elders Members of the Colloquy of Constantin taking with them the Memoirs and Acts brought hither unto this Synod from the Church of Vitre shall pass over to it at the Charges of the said Church and shall proceed to Censure those Persons whom they find guilty of these Divisions And they shall send Monsieur Petre to the Church of Terchant and la Vieuville and that they may effectually compose the Discords which do trouble the Church of Vitre they shall endeavour to gain the Consent of the Lady of Montmartyn for the settling of Monsieur Petre in the said Church of Terchant and to yield unto the Dismembring of the said Church from that of Vitre and dispose the said Lady to follow the Intention of this Assembly And they shall give an Accompt hereof unto the next National Synod 23. Monsieur Huron Pastor of the Church of Barbigneres sent Letters with his Appeal from the Synod of Lower Guyenne which had interdicted him the publishing of some certain Discourses of his about State Affairs because they did not conceive them to be any wise Edifying unto the Church of God This Assembly Declareth that the said Appeal ought not to be admitted nor can it be of right brought before it and farther the said Huron is injoyned to acquiesce in the judgment of his Province 24. Monsieur Charron Advocate in the Parliament of Bourdeaux and Elder of the Church of Bergerac Complained and Appealed from the Synod of Lower Guyenne by the Mouth of the Lord of Pyrarede with whom he had deposited his Memoirs This Assembly reversing the Judgment of that Provincial Synod taketh off the Censure which was inflicted on him by the Colloquy of Perigord there being an Error in it and declareth that the Consistory of Bergerac hath acted very ill in their Proceedings and that the Sieur Jacob Tourneau having carried himself so unnaturally and unhumanly to his own Father as is publickly and notoriously known to the whole World ought not to have been chosen unto the Office of an Elder in that Church of Christ 25. The Synod of Higher Languedoc shall judge finally of that Appeal brought by the Church of Saint Foy which was condemned by the Synod of Lower Guyenne to pay the Arrerages due unto the Heirs of the Sieurs Hesparian and Mizaubin their Deceased Pastors for their Work and Service in the Ministery among them 26. The Appeal of Monsieur Crane shall be signified unto the Consistory of St. Maixant and by them carried unto the Synod of Xaintonge who shall by the Authority of this Synod pass a final Judgment on it 27. Mr. Giles Marchand Advocate in the Parliament of Rouen presented a Petition unto this Assembly requesting that there might be some Alteration made in the Government of the more Populous Churches of this Kingdom and he Complained that because he had insisted on such like Proposals he was Suspended from the Lord's Supper by the Consistory of the Church of Rouen and this Sentence of Suspension was Ratified by the Authority of the Provincial Synod of Normandy Answer was return'd him in these Words that the National Synod injoyned him to abandon these his Designs and Fancies which could never be effected according to his Intentions And inasmuch as he hath promised to acquiesce in what shall be here Ordained if he do let him be again admitted to Communion with the Church at the Lord's Table 28. The Sieur de Coutures Appealing from a Judgment given by the Isle of France and not sending any Memoirs to abet and maintain it his Appeal is declared null and void 29. Le Sieur Toussaints de Roussannes Appealing from the Synod of Lower Guyenne for giving leave to the Sieur de Blancard to sit ordinarily among the Elders in the Church of la Fite which they did out of respect to his Old Age and many Infirmities and because of those considerable Services he had done the Church of la Fite and not sending any Memoirs to sustain his Appeal it was declared null 30. Those Appeals of the Churches of Navarrins and Ortez from the Judicial Sentence pronounced in the Synod of Bearn held at Lambeze are declared null 31. Monsieur Rondel who had been Deposed from his Office of Elder by Sentence of the Consistory of Vitre which also was Confirmed by another of the Provincial Synod of Brittain having Appealed from them shall declare his Grievances unto the Sieurs Basnage and de L'Angle who are Commissionated by this Assembly to remedy those disorders in the Church of Vitre and to judge finally of those matters without any Appeal from them 32. The Sieur Aymin at present Pastor in the Church of Manosques Appealed from the Synod of Dolphiny held in the Year 1642 at Nyons which had by their Decree removed him from his Ministry in the Church of Die and given him liberty to provide himself elsewhere either within or without the Province according as the good Providence of God should direct him The Assembly having heard him open particularly his Grievances and the Answers made unto them by the Deputies of that Province doth Confirm the Decree of the said Synod of Nyons and at the request of those
Imposing Hands in Ordination shall be observed in all the Churches and such as do not yield an intire Conformity thereunto shall be censured 5. The Province of Sevennes complained of that of Languedoc for transgressing the Ninth Article in the First Chapter of our Discipline they having admitted Persons into the Ministry without assigning them any particular Flock or taking care before-hand to secure a Maintenance for those Ministers in those Places whereunto they send them This Assembly judgeth the said Province of Lower Languedoc to be blame-worthy and ordaineth that the said Canon be most exactly observed by all the Provinces and an account hereof shall be rendered unto the National Synod 6. The Province of Berry petitioned this Assembly to exert its Authority that all Preachers of the Gospel might be obliged to contain themselves within the bounds of that Simplicity recommended by the Apostle and to banish from their Sermons whatever may favour of the vanities and affectations of the Writers of this Age. The Assembly answered that in their Judgment there could not be a more Holy nor Judicious Decree framed than that Twelfth Canon in the First Chapter of our Discipline nor than those Canons of the Synods of Gap Rochel St. Maixant Privas Thonneins and Castres the exact Observation of which is recommended unto all Pastors and all Consistories Colloquies and Synods are injoyned to have a strict and watchful Eye over those who do transgress them and to employ against them those Remonstrances and Censures which they shall judge needful that so the Sacred Depositum of Truth being Religiously preserv'd in the midst of us the Gospel may be Preached in such a manner as well becometh it's most excellent Majesty 7. Upon the Twentieth Article of the First Chapter of our Discipline This Synod Ordained That the Canon of the National Synod of Privas which injoyneth Pastors to exhort their People to observe Modesty in their Habits and to go before them in their own Persons and Families as the best Patterns and Examples shall be most strictly observed And there being made great Complaints of several Pastors whose Wives and Children have transgressed this Canon by their vain Conformity to the World in the new fangled Fashions of their Habits contrary to Christian Modesty All Moderators of Colloquies and Synods are expresly charged and commanded to reform these Excesses by Censures and the severest Reprehensions And it is farther Decreed that these Refractory Ministers shall be suspended their Office till such time as they have removed the Scandal and that a stricter Watch than ever may be kept over these Excesses all private Persons are permitted according to the method prescribed in our Discipline to inform their Consistories of them and to demand a Reformation of them which being refused they shall apply themselves unto their Colloquies that Censures may be issued out against them and against all Supporters and Abetters of them And this Canon shall be Religiously observed and read in all Consistories 8. The Provincial Deputies of Dolphiny complained upon the First Article in the Third Chapter of our Discipline That some certain Persons when they were to be received into the Elder 's Office refused to stand up in the Face of the Church although this be required by the said Article and demanded whether this part of the Order observed in the Reception of our Elders should be dispensed with in favour of any Persons and these in particular should injoy their Liberty This Assembly injoyneth that the Contents of this Canon be fully observed by all sorts of Persons whatsoever without distinction and the Province of Dolphiny is censured for that it suffered it to be violated 9. At the request of the Deputies of Lower Languedoc upon the same first Article of the Third Chapter of our Discipline it was decreed That those Persons should be chosen into the Elders Office who resided within the Bounds of that particular Church which did Elect them and who were numbered among their actual Members if it were possible to be done but in case any Difficulties should occur on this occasion they were to be decided by the Colloquy or Synod upon which that said Church hath dependance 10. The Assembly being informed how little care is taken for putting in Execution the Thirty Third Article of the Fifth Chapter of our Discipline doth injoyn all Provinces and particular Churches to do it more carefully for the future and to keep an exact Record of those Memorable Events concerning our Religion and to send them unto the Colloquies and Synods by some careful Hand that they may be delivered unto that Person who is appointed to Collect and Compile them into a just Volume And that Order made in the National Synod of Vitre 1617 is now again revived and all the Provinces are injoyned in their respective Synods to nominate one particular Pastor to whom the account of those remarkable Providences may be directed 11. The Provincial Deputies of Lower Languedoc moved upon Reading the Second Article of the Eighth Chapter of our Discipline that a Rule might be made for the future that no Church in any Province at least in theirs should send any more than One Elder with a Pastor unto the Provincial Synod But this Assembly did not think meet to make any Alteration in the said Article neither with respect to that particular Province nor any other of the Provinces As also that one and the same Church however it be composed of divers Quarters and annexed Congregations may not depute unto those Synods more than One or Two Elders 12. The Deputies of the Province of Xaintonge demanding what course they might take with those who had Espoused the Neice or the Great Grand Neice of their Deceased Wise and yet demanded to be received into Communion at the Lord's Table This Assembly adviseth that they direct and govern themselves in this Affair by the Eleventh Canon of the Thirteenth Chapter of our Discipline and the Decrees of the National Synods of Vitre and of the Second and Third of Charenton who have declared such Marriage to be Incestuous and all Pastors are forbidden to bless and solemnize the Marriages in those prohibited degrees upon any pretext whatsoever and all Consistories are injoyned without medling with the validity of those Marriages or their effects the cognizance whereof doth properly belong unto the Magistrate to declare unto such as be in that Estate that they cannot be admitted to partake of the pledges and tokens of the Remission of their Sins as long as they cohabit together moreover all Colloquies and Synods are to exert their Authority that this present Canon be duly observed 13. In the next Edition of our Church Discipline care shall be taken that Printers do insert the Province of Bearn in the number of those which do make up the National Synod The Church Discipline being read all the Deputies of the Provinces did promise for themselves and on behalf of their respective Synods whom
not be put to the Costs and Charges of Postage of Letters and Packets which by Reason of this his Employment he must of necessity be at in receiving from and sending to the Churches and with this condition that the said Sieur Loride shall be bound to give an Account once a Year unto all the Provinces by Letters directed to one of their chiefest Churches of all things concerning them and their Affairs And in case the Provincial Synods should not approve of the payment of the said Sum of Three Thousand Livres a Year the said Sieur Loride decalred that he would be contented with a Moiety of his Salaries and Fees for all Suits and Processes in our businesses before the Council A Tax of Three Thousand Livres assessed upon all the Provinces hereunder named to be paid into the Sieur Loride de les Galinieres for managing the Affairs of our Churches intrusted with him  l. s. d. The Province of Normandy is taxed the Sum of 400 00 00 The Province of Higher Languedoc and Guyenne 300 00 00 The Province of Burgundy 060 00 00 The Province of Lower Languedoc the Sum of 300 00 00 The Province of Berry 100 00 00 The Province of Sevennes 150 00 00 The Province of Provence the Sum of 050 00 00 The Province of Poictou 160 00 00 The Province of Brittaine 060 00 00 The Province of Anjou 100 00 00 The Province of the Isle of France 450 00 00 The Province of Xaintonge 230 00 00 The Province of Dolphiny 200 00 00 The Province of Lower Guienne 300 00 00 The Province of Bearn the Sum of 060 00 00 The Province of Vivaretz 080 00 00  3000 00 00 All which Sums amount in the Total to Three Thousand Livres which shall be payed by each of these Provinces according to this rate in case the Provincial Synods shall agree unto it CHAP. XI Particular Matters 1. THE Deputies of the Province of Berry complained against Monsieur du Prat Pastor of the Church of D'Angeau that whereas he hath been setled in their Province for above Six Years yet in all this times he would never own the Authority of their Synod nor submit himself unto it This Assembly decreed that he should appear in person at the next Synod of that Province and give a Reason of this his Carriage and undergo its Judgment and in case he pretend any Grievance he shall appeal unto the Synod of Anjou who shall by Authority from this Assembly take Cognizance and give Judgment in it but till the meeting of that Synod of Anjou he shall stand bound by the Judgment of that of Berry 2. The Provincial Deputies of Normandy moving that this Assembly would in their Wisdoms take some care to remedy those Disorders which are fallen out in the Church of Alanson through the long continuance of Elders in their Office And a Memoir being read containing the Requests of some certain Members of the said Church that there might be a certain time limited when Elders should quit their Office that so they may not perpetuate themselves in it This Assembly remanded back their Petition unto the Synod of Normandy according to the Canon of the National Synod of Tonneins which assigned the cognizance of such matters as these unto Provincial Synods and that Provincial Synod shall take care in it according to their Prudence having first made an exact inquiry into the true state of the said Church 3. Monsieur Gualtier Pastor in the Province of Xaintonge presented himself to this Assembly declaring that he had finished his work upon the Discipline of our Church Monsieur Larroq did after effect and Print it as he had written the last National Synod held at Charenton and that he had another design in Hand which was a Treatise of the Harmony of the Articles of our Confession of Faith Liturgy and Church Discipline with that of the ancient Church and in special with the Decisions of the Councils of the Gallicane Church The Assembly applauded his Zeal and ordered him to apply himself unto his Province of Xaintonge to which he shall produce his work and they shall dispose of it according to the Canons of our Discipline And in the mean while he and his Labours were recommended unto God praying that the Father of Lights would enrich him with all needful gifts to the accomplishing of his great design and to shour down his Heavenly Benediction upon his Person and Undertaking 4. The Sieurs Priouleau Pastor of the Church of Rochel Berual Elder le Toncille and de la Chapeliere Heads of Families in the said City appeared as Deputies from that Church with a Petition unto this Assembly requesting that Monsieur Gilbert Pastor of the Church of Mesle might be conferr'd upon them as their Minister and they back'd their Petition with very many and weighty Arguments The Deputies of the Church of Mesle were heard who did as importunately Petition that their Minister the aforesaid Monsieur Gilbert might be continued with them And the Provincial Deputies of Poicton persisting in that Resolve made in their last Synod of their Province that they did not judge it any way fit to grant them their Request Now although this Assembly doth highly value that Church of Rochel and it's Petitions yet nevertheless it doth not count it reasonable to deprive the Church of Mesle of a Pastor who is so very useful and needful to them 5. This Assembly did for divers causes thereunto moving them without intending it a Precedent for the future receive the Informations given by one part of the Elders and Heads of Families in the Church of Calais although they ought according to the Canons of our Discipline to have been carried unto the Synod of the Isle of France and took cognizance of those Troubles wherewith that Church hath been agitated about the settling of a Second Pastor in it The Sieurs Tricotel and Peter du Croix a Deacon in the Quarter of Guisnes and James Barrizeau of the Lower Town of Calais Deputies from another part of that Church had audience given them and there were read Letters and Memoirs from Monsieur de Montigny Pastor who was sent unto the said Church by the Synod held at Ay this present Year The whole Affair having been heard and debated a Decree past that the Sieur de Montigny shall if it so please him exercise his Ministry in the said Church till the meeting of the next Synod of that Province which will be within Six Months at the farthest And before that time the Church of Calais shall choose a Pastor by plurality of Votes in a lawful Assembly called and directed by their Consistory according to the order of our Discipline either fixing their choice upon the Sieur de Montigny who received a most Honourable Testimony in this Assembly or upon any other whom they shall judge most proper for their Edifying And by th' Authority of this Assembly one of the Pastors of Dieppe and
and admitted of all kind of Evidence and Witnesses against him though they were never so passionate and Parties in the case and some also who were not legally to be admitted unto a Deposal against a Minister And as for the said Sieur de Richelieu This Assembly judgeth him worthy of a very grievous Censure for neglecting his Duty and not keeping up Order and Discipline in his Church for not holding Consistories nor passing Censures as ought alwayes of course to have been done and practised before Communion days at the Lords Table and for leaving his Church before the time appointed and without having demanded or obtained his License of departure in due form and above all for expressing too much levity in his imaginations and for giving too much way unto his passions and for speaking disadvantagiously of other Persons and insulting over the dead whom he took for his Enemies and who could not speak for themselves And whereas this Assembly could not at present be fully and satisfactorily informed of the State of that Church of Plouer the Colloquy of Constantine in the Province of Normandy is ordered to visit it by their Deputies who are Authorized by this Assembly to provide for that Church as they shall judge meet and to order all matters for its edification in Godliness and if they see cause for it they shall remove and discharge the said Sieur de Richelieu from his Ministry and the Expences of these Deputies shall be defrayed by that Province of Britain 13. The Church of Die and the Sieurs Martinett and Huron appealed from two Judicial Sentences denounced in the Provincial Synod of Dolphiny against them to witt Monsieur Martinett complained for that the said Synod had ordained his removal from the said Church of Die upon pretence of ease and quieting his Spirit though he had been preferred unto that Church by some former Synods And Monsieur Huron appealed for that the said Synod had forbidden him the Exercise of his Ministry within the Province of Dolphiny whereunto he had retired in time of the late troubles And the said Church appealed for that the said Synod had refused and rejected their endeavours to get Monsieur Huron for their Pastor Whereupon the Provincial Deputies of Dolphiny were heard give in their Report of the causes and occasions moving their Synod to pronounce those Judgments and the aforesaid Martinett and Huron were heard in their reciprocal Accusations and Apologies and in like manner the Messengers of the said Church were heard speak for it and the Acts relating to these Affairs were all produced and perused upon the whole This Assembly doth ratifie the Judgment of the said Province of Dolphiny and dischargeth the said Monsieur Martinett from his Pastoral Office in the Church of Die purely for his ease comfort provided alwayes that the said Church do pay him if they have not already done it all his Arrears due unto him from the very first day that he was set at liberty from them by the aforesaid Synod and he is at full liberty to accept of any other Church And as for the maintenance of the said Martinet since that time he was first of all discharged and set free of serve the Church Beaumont This Assembly exhorteth and intreateth the said Province out of Charity to pay him the one half of his Salary And forasmuch as Monsieur Huron has been convicted to have left his Church for little or no just cause and to have brigued his Election into the Church of Die and to have fomented the Divisions in it betwixt the Church and Monsieur Martinett in whose expulsion out of it he had the greatest hand and part having consented to divers irregular Actings and Contentions and adhered to the Rebellions of several Members of the said Church to the contempt of its Consistory and of the Decrees of many Ecclesiastical Synods and for that he kept Conventicles private Meetings Proclaimed Fasts and Days of Prayers and Writt Books contrary to the Analogy of Faith and Form of Sound Words and hath done many other things contrary to the Order and Discipline Established in the Church of God and that honourable Calling of the Holy Ministry This Synod aggravating the Judgment of the Provincial Synod of Dolphiny suspends the said Huron from the Sacred Ministry for the space of Three Moneths and sets him at liberty to be imployed in some other Province than that of Dolphiny And forasmuch as in their endeavours to get the said Huron to be their Minister the Consistory and Pastors of the Church of Die have too much adhered to the unruly motions of some private Persons and strangely supported their insolencies and proud irregular actings This Assembly doth judge them also worthy of a very sharp censure and exhorts them for the future to testifie and express more Vigour and Zeal for the Discipline of our Churches and to maintain it in theirs and to see the Decrees and Canons of our National Synods put in Execution And that all these Censures may be performed the Sieurs Paulet and Berlie Pastors Deputies for the Province of Sevennes are appointed by this National Synod to pass over unto the said City of Die as they return home unto their Province and in the Consistory of that Church there to make denunciation of them 14. The said Sieur Huron the next day came into this Synod petitioning that his suspension might be taken off and that some maintenance might be provided for him until such time as he were presented unto another Church But the Synod confirmed his suspension and ordered that some small matter should be allowed and given him for his present Relief 15. The Church of Sauve and Monsieur Rossel Pastor of the Church of Montlimart appealed from a judgment of the Synod of Dolphiny by which his Ministry was refused to that of Sauve and confirmed in that of Montlimart though the former did most earnestly re-demand him After hearing the Deputy of the Church of Sauve and Monsieur Rossel speaking for it as also Monsieur Chamier for the concern of the Church of Montlimard and the Provincial Deputies of Dolphiny and Sevennes This Synod ordains that Monsieur Rossel shall be lent unto the Service of the Church of Sauve in the Ministry of the Word and Sacraments until the next National Synod and injoyneth the Colloquy of Montlimart to take care that the said Rossel be then restored unto his Office again in that Church 16. Monsieur de Gouvernet Lord of Mirabel appealed from a Decree of the Synod of Dolphiny concerning Monsieur Perrin Pastor of the Church of Serres After that the Deputies of that Province had been heard who reported that there was nothing to this purpose spoken of or handled in their Synod at Mure This Assembly because of the absence of Monsieur Perrin and their want of Acts needful to determine this Affair hath given full Authority to the Province of Burgundy to judge therein and the Province of Dolphiny is
voted a Decree that the Censure past on the Church of Paris in that Synod of he Isle of France shall be reversed and that the Church of Paris shall be advised precisely to observe the Canons concerning the re-search of Pastors Moreover to comply with their instant urgent Importunities Monsieur Daille is purely and absolutely resigned to them 3. Whereas John Mellier having opposed the Election and Reception of the Sieur John Celaris into the Office of an Elder and brought his Appeal unto this Synod it is remanded back unto the Province of Higher Languedoc who have full power to determine it 4. The Synod ratifying the Judgment of the Province of Xaintonge from whence the Church of Montendre had appealed This Assembly ordaineth that for the future Provincial Synods shall judge soveraignly and finally in all causes about dismembring and conjoining of Annexed Churches 5. And therefore according to this Canon the Appeal of the Church of St. Hillary in the Province of Poictou is declared null notwithstanding what hath been remonstrated to the contrary by the Lord de la Begaudiere 6. For the same reason the Appeal of the Church of St. Fulgentius in the same Province is disanulled 7. The same Sentence was given on the Appeal of the Church of Quissac from the Decree of the Province of Sevennes 8. And for the like reason the Church of Sauve in the said Province having brought an Appeal had it rejected 9. Although the differences about the distribution of His Majesties Liberality granted us to our Churches ought not to be brought before these National Synods yet that the contestations in the Churches of the Lower Guyenne may be terminated the Deputies of that Province are commanded to confer with the R. R. Mr. Belot and de Baux Ministers of the Gospel and with the Sieurs Marlat and la Briere Elders that in case they should hit upon an expedient of accommodating Matters it may be ratified by the Authority of this Assembly not that we would have a precedent made hereof And once again that Ancient Prohibition against our Ministers is now revived That not one of them shall touch a Denier of His Majesties Bounty assigned to and distributed by the Provinces unto their particular Churches because the said Churches ought solely to receive it and it must remain wholly at their disposal and because our Pastors shall not have an uncertain but a most certain and determinate Pension for their subsistence from their Churches 10. The Appeal of Monsieur Perez Pastor of the Church of Cajarre was vacated and the Assembly injoyned the Province of Higher Languedoc to put forth their hand that the said Perez may receive for time coming greater satisfaction from his Church than heretofore And in case the said Church do not fully content him and pay him his just dues betwixt this and the next Synod of that Province they shall be deprived of his Ministry and he shall be assigned to some other Flock yea and though they should give him all possible satisfaction yet shall he not be compelled to serve a Church against his Will whereunto he was not sent but for a time 11. This Judgment past upon the Appeal of the Church of Angles that it was very needless and ill layd the Sentence of their Province being founded on Equity and Charity 12. The Appeal of Monsieur Peter Prevost a Pastor Emeritus is declared null 13. The Church of Bergerac appealed and petitioned that forasmuch as the Sentence of the Province of Lower Guyenne hath been invalidated the Twelve Hundred Livres formerly granted unto their Colledge might be continued The Letters and Memoirs of that Church being read and the Deputies of that Province heard this Decree was made That the Four Hundred Livres given unto every Province for their respectiye Colledges shall be continued unto that of Bergerac until the next National Synod unto which they shall give a clear and good account of what has been done by them for the re-establishment of their Colledge on default of which that Sentence of the Provincial Synod for translating the said Colledge to the Town of Nerac shall be confirmed And as for the remaining Eight Hundred Livres Four Hundred of them shall be detained by the Lord of Candal in his hands and the other Four Hundred shall be accorded to the Church of Nerac but on this condition only that the Town of Bergerac do find out some means for the re-establishment of their Colledge And our National Synods may hereafter give them sensible pledges of their accustomed Love and Kindness 14. Monsieur des Marests suspended the Holy Ministry by the Province of Vivaretz petitioned in his Appeals that they might be obliged to restore him unto the Publick Exercise of his Office and come to an account with him upon hearing the Deputies of that Province this Synod voted that his suspension should be removed and that the said Province should accompt with him for the Moneys owing to him before the Consistory of Alez and that Monsieur Cuper shall pay him presently in ready Moneys Three Hundred Livres out of what might accrew unto the said Province and to repair the want of Charity which those of that Province have been notoriously guilty of towards him they shall for the future take special care to incourage him in his Ministry 15. Mr. George Arbaut formerly Pastor of the Church in Boiscoiran appeared in Person before this Synod to maintain his Appeal But upon hearing the Deputies of the Province of Lower Languedoc by which he was Deposed and Monsieur Paulett Pastor of the Church of Vezenobre who gave in Evidence against him on one of the Principal Articles for which he was condemned the Letters and Acts produced both for and against him having been perused The Synod confirmed the Judgment denounc't against the said Arbaut and declareth him for ever unworthy of Employment in the Sacred Ministry and decreeth farther that he shall not be admitted to Communion in the Sacraments till such time as being toucht with a deep remorse and serious Repentance for his Sin he do fully freely and ingenuously Confess his Offences before that Church in which he constantly resideth 16. Monsieur Beraut Pastor of the Church of Montauban and Professor in that University appealed from a Decree of the Provincial Synod of Higher Languedoc and consequentially from the Actions of the Delegates of that Synod and of the Colloquy of Lower Quercy Letters from the Magistrates in the Sheriffdom or Montauban were read as also from the Four Consuls of the said City The Lords de la Roche and Bardon Counsellors in that Sheriffdom the Lords de la Rose and Auglas first and second Consuls and the R. Mr. Charles a Minister one of those Delegates were all heard speaking of this Affair and Monsieur Beraud also declaring his grievances as also did the Deputies of the Province The Synod did hereupon take unto it self the cognisance of this Case and voted that the R. R. Mr.