taking of Armes against the Soveraigne Authority of their Majesties Nor to put absolutely in the power of a particular Province the Indiction of generall Fasts Nor to practise any thing in Collection of money for their poore and the like which may be a contravention of the Article 44. or of the particuâ—ar of the Edict of Nants their onely and constant Resolution being to remaine and continue under the precise observation of the Edicts and to lead under the benefit of them a quiet and peaceable life with all godlinesse and honesty They doe in most humble manner likewise beseech their Majesties 1. First to stoppe by the Interposition of their Soveraigne Authority the violences attempted by them which under the pretence of false zeale or of their employment undertake to trouble the publike tranquillity by Infraction of the Edicts in a violent way and enterprises against them of the Religion in generall and in particular to the end that none of them as being contrary to the principall end and formall intention and expresse of the said Edicts be brâ—ught to suffer for his Religion or in consequence be forced to make complaints of their sufferings which cannot be qualified according to their understanding with any other title then such as would be displeasing to their Majesties 2. Secondly to take into their consideration that the Confession of Faith framed about an hundred yeares since before the grant of any Edicts unto them of the Religion hath been presented by them to King Francis the second to render reason unto his Majestie of their opinion concerning things which they esteemed as being corrupted in the Confession of Faith received in the Church of Rome for to need Reformation insomuch as divers French Protestants could not from the beginning neither can at this day without prevarication change the forme of the expression which hath beene inserted to declare in truth and verity their common Faith authorized in the yeare 1561 by the Edict of January and since by that of Nants accorded unto by King Henry the great and confirmed so often by the last King as â—ikewise by his Majesty himselfe 3. Thirdly that all the Catholique Roman beliefe neither hath bin ever nor is not neither can be truly quaâ—ifâ—ed absolutely abuse and deceipt of Satan seeing that the Church of Rome and the Protestants differ not in the Doctrine of the Trinitie and Incarnation of our Lord Jesus which are the first principles of Christianity though with these fundamentall verities confessed by all the Christians of France c. There are some otherâ— in which they vary so that divers humane opinions touching the Intercession of Saints Purgatory the Pope c. have been Introduced into the Church in the compasse of â—ate Ages and constantly contradicted and gain-sayd by all the Protestants in France and else-where so that they cannot at this day continue their former Protestation confirmed by Edicts and depart from the Declaration which they had made by their Confession in sincerity and truth as before God which knoweth the hearts of aâ—l men and cannot suffer the hypocrisie and eviâ—l consciences of those which by an inexcusable imposture traverse their conceptions and ruine the hâ—pe of their salvation by a sacrilegious profession of Doctrines which they believe not And this is that the Churches hope that his Majesty which vouchsafeth to accord liberty of conscience unto his faithfull Subjects according to the example of his Predecessors will find them more worthy of supportation which declare openly that which they believe then them that dissemble or impugne the faith they professe by mentall reservations or in any equivocall way introduce a kind of fraud of Religion and betray by a deceiptfull complyance in a full Imposture the sound and good faith of their fellow Citizens and their owne consciences 4. Fourthly that the Printer of Geneva depends not on the Synods of this Kingdome nor hath taken order nor received any expresse charge of his Superiours to use those termes hee mentioneth from which it were to be wished he had abstained though for sence they expresse the general meaning of all Protestants in Europe which from the beginning with a common consent have impugned the forme of the Convocation the proceedings the Decrees the Anathemaes the Counsell of Trent it selfe Besides the Roman Catho ike Princes have judged it necessary to make provision by their protestationâ— against it by their Embassadours as the Emperour Charles the f fth his Majesties great Grandfather by his mothers side by Seigneur de Mendoza King Henry the second by Abbot Belozane since Bishop of Auxerres and King Charles the ninth by Monsieur de Ferrier who observing that famous Assembly saith of it that it was a Scorpion pricking the Gallican Church using an expression which containes little lesse then that of the Printer of Geneva whose liberty hatâ— been so displeasâ—ng to his Majesty 5. Fiftly that the Churches were never so forgetfull of their duty of subjection as to take the liberty to doe right unto themselves but having been favoured by the Declaration of their Majesties confirming the Edict at Nants as likewise the secret Articâ—es and Concessions which formerly have been accorded unto by f rmer Kings many particular Churches resetled entirely in their estate and re-established in their ancient rights have beâ—eeved that they committed no fault to use it according to the intention of his Majestie 6. Sixtly that upon this innocent Proposition which tends not unto any disobedience against publike order the exercise of the Religion which hath been continued for the space of seventy yeares without interruption at Ribaute having been violently hindered by the Lady of the place and Sieur Arnand the Pastour of Anduze beiâ—g called thither by the Inhabitants and accordingly having presented himselfe to serve in that place unto their edification as it hath been practised before was driven away by the force and violence of men of Armes by the Commandement of the said Lady and afterwards was put in prison by the commandement of Monsieur his Majesties Lievtenant Generall in Languedoc notwithstanding his being sent back by the Chamber for which wrong hee presented himseâ—fe now at the feet of his Majesty imploring his clemencie and Justice according to the Edict 7 Seventhly that the Deputies of the Province of lower Languedoc in the name and behalfe of those Churches that sent them doe professe that the three Cities of Nismes Vsez and Monpellier having by deputation with all possible speed tendered their first act of submission and acknowledgement of duty unto his Majesty rendered most humble thankes unto him for the grant of his Declaration and for the protection of his Justice and demanded in all submission and respect the repaâ—ation of the Infractions of the Edict as it hath beene alwayes practised They cannot perswade themselves that the said Cities have committed any fault in presenting their duty as good subjects according to the obligation of their consciences neither that they
have deserved blame in having recourse to his Majestie against the prohibition made by Monsieur the Intendant in the name of his Majestie directly against his intention which he hath vouchsafed to publish by his Declaration 8. Eighthly that the town of Vsez is not culpable of any Contravention be it to the Edict or to any particular Capitulation neither needed any permission to use that which was never taken from it by any former Prohibition The Bell of which there is complaint made to his Majestie having bin placed in the steeple of the Temple ever since the foundation and continued there till that a little before the Capitulation the steeple menaced ruine and was likely to fall whereupon the beâ—l was carried into one of the corners of the building whence after the Capitulation and the steeple repaired it hath been put again into his former place 9. Ninthly that in all the Provinces there neither is nor hath been any Preaching but in places permitted by the Edicts which confirme the Churches in their possession and entire enjoying of them for fourescore yeares and more from which they hold it hardâ—r for them to depart then to suffer death 10. Tenthly that in none of the Churches of the same Provinces the fathers and mothers which send their children unto the Colledges of Jesuits have bin suspended from the Sacraments but according to the Discipline permitted by the Edicts in which they of the Religion may observe in this particular which regards the peace of their consciences and the education of their children being bound to take an especiall care of their Instruction in the obedience of God and of their King and to detest all evill impressions which have so often obliged France to griefe sorrow and teares so that they cannot be culpable of the Infraction of the Edict seeing the Sorbone the most ancient University of Europe and the first of this Kingdome have at this day by publike accusations and in the face of the Parliaments complained by processe in publike Judicature of the society of the Jesuits as corrupters of the manners of youth committed to their trust by their doctrine as contrary to good pollicy as true Theology As for the Prohibition to send their Schollers hereafter destinated to the study of Theology to Geneva Switzerland Holland c. Seeing that Geneva hath these fifty yeares and more been in speciall protection of the Crowne of France and that it hath alwayes followed her Interests And that those other Estates are in aâ—lyance with the same Crowne and maintaine t emselves in it as much or more inviolably then any other Estates of Christendome that by sending their youth into France to fashion their manners and to instruct them in good learning they thereby give good testimony that they are no enemies to the Estate nor of the forme or order by which it is governed that some of them which at this present serve in the Churches of this Kingdome and have studied in all or in part with strangers in forraigne Countries have withdrawne themselves from the obedience due unto his Majesty neither have shewed any dislike or aversion against Monarchy unto which the French Nation have subjected themselves these 2200 yeares from the Father to the Son and seeing his Majesty thinkes it noâ— fitting to prohibit them which are students in Philosophie Law or Physick to travell into other strange Countreys yea Common-wealths as that of Venice where many on all parts of France render themselves by a great confluence to study in all Faculties His Majesty is most humbly intreated to leave the Churches in their liberty Accorded by the Kings his Predecessors to all his Subjects without distinction of Religion The Assembly have named Sieurs Vincent and Chebrole Pastours and the Sieurs de Pamieur and of Clesse Ancients to present without delay at the feet of their Majesties their most humble submissions and thankes and have charged them with Letters to the King the Queen Regent the Duke of Orleans the Prince Cardinall Mazarin the Chancellour the surintendents the Comptrollers generall and Monsieur de le Villiers Secretary of Estate A Copie of the Letter written to the King SIR NO sooner was our Assembly convened and that wee turned our selves towards God to obtain his benediction on the same our first thoughts have been to acquit our selves of our duty towards your Majestie who is his lively Image having sent for this purpose Sieur Vincent and Chebrole c. to lay downe at your feet our submissions and homages as likewise to render unto you most humble thankes for the singular favour we have received from your Majestie in that you were pleased to give unto us the liberty to Assemble our selves in this place where we labour with zeale to confirme our selves in the service of God and in the obedience we owe to your Majestie and in this glorious proximity of your sacred Person and of so many Jntelligences which inviron it The knowledge wee have that your Majesty observes us and that wee are as well under your inspection as under your power is unto us a strong encouragement to doe well and to persevere in the fidelity which is hereditary unto us and which we are most willing to transmit to our Posterity But since the principall ayme of this deputation is for this end that they wâ—tnesse unto your Majesty the triumphant joy of all the Church s and the unspeakable satisfaction we have in our soules to see him justly raised upon the Throne whom we have demanded of God with so much instance and importunity with the multiplication of so many prayers in our Ecclesiasticall Assemblies Wee doubt not Sir but God hath drawne you out of his treasures and that out of his abundant Grace hath given you to France to bring about the golden Age and to be the most glorious Instrument of his most exquisite favour such as wee never had before for that it hath pleased him to accompany your first entrance into the Kingdome with marvellous successe and unexpected Victories which have rendered your Majesty formidable to your enemies but made your owne people to consider you as a pretious bud of infinite prosperity which the providence of God hath reserved unto France under your Government Wee promise Sir that as with other of your people wee have reaped the fruit which God hath dispensed unto us by your hands in like manner as well as they wee will endeavour to make our selves worthy by the most signall examples of our fidelity and that we have neither lives goods nor honours which wee will not Consecrate with chearfulnesse to the seruice of your Majesty so often as the honour of your Commandements shall call us thereunto this is the Posture Sir in the which wee desire to live and dye being not onely by birth and obligation but by sincere and Ardent affections of your Majesty Sir the most humble most obedient most faithfull subjects and servants the Pastours and â—ncients
Ministers of Estate which makes us hope to see in our dayes the generall Peace which shaâ—l be the perfection of our hapinesse Besides the considerations which are common to all Frenchmen there are other particulars which concerne men of your profession Remember you that upon the entrance of this Kings raigne their Majesties have beene pleased to make a Declaration which confirmes all former Edicts permits you the exercise of your Religion the libertie of your consciences the safetie of your Persons Goods and of your Churches which subsist happily under the shadow of their Royall powers and bounty Observe that by their singular favour you have in the midst of you Dukes Pairs Marshalls of France Generalls of Armies Magistrates Governours of soveraigne Courts and that as yet to this day their Majesties for a witnesse of the confidence they have of your fidelity have granted you this Assembly at the very gates of the Capitoll or principall City of this Kingdome in the sight of all France and of the great people of Paris so different in manners and humours which will be Witnesses and Judges of your actions After all this Sirs I perswade my selfe you will all with a generall consent ayme at this principall end the glory of God the service of the King the good and welfare of your Churches and that in all your words and actions you will bring that prudent moderation and humility which can be desired of good and faithfull subjects which will be a powerfull meanes to draw upon you and upon the Provinces which have deputed you the gracious favour of their Majesties especially when all the world shall observe that ye breath nothing more then that respect and obedience ye owe unto them And to the end all things may be done according to the order prescribed me Their Majesties have commanded me to tell you that all Ministers which are strangers are to be excluded your Synod and that none may assist there which is not deputed by a Provinciall Synod and that during the time it is holden you may not have communication with strangers or other suspected persons but to abide in that place attending the affaires for which ye are called and because your Assemblies doe not constitute a body Politique their Majesties have forbidden you to treat in your Synod of any secular affaires of State or Justice nor to speake any thing in the Re-establishing of Ministers which are strangers and have been Dispossessed by vertue of the Arrests of Parliaments and Letters signed by his Majestie nor to propose there any complaints of pretended infractions of the Edicts seeing you have Chembre iniparties so called in the French and other Courts of Justice established by Edicts to doe you Justice and to repaire the Contraventions unto the Edicts if any shall happen for the which you may procure Remedy before the Counsell of the King and there present your requests according to the accustomed manner your Synod having no power to judge in such matters so that you are to treat onely of your doctrine and Ecclesiasticall Discipline They have forbidden you likewise to nominate any Pastours or other extraordinarie Deputies to receive Letters or to make Answer to them which shall be addressed unto them from their severall Provinces to provide for their affaires during the time that there is a Synod for that by the Edict of the moneth of December 1622. and other subsequent Declarations such Counsells and Counsellors of the Provinces are expresly forbidden Their Majesties also forbid you to print any bookes in any place whatsoever making mention of your Religion without Attestation of two Ministers of this Kingdome under paine of Confiscation of them and not to send forth any Excommunication against Ministers and others which shall change their Religion nor to use any reproachfull words against them by writing or otherwise nor to receive for the time to come any Minister which is a stranger appointing you for this end to put in the attestations of the Proposants and Ministers to understand or to be enformed of the place of their birth They forbid also the Provinciall Synods to summon generall Fasts And for the better assurance of publike tranquility his Majestie enjoynes the Ministers to preach unto his Subjects following the commandement of God the obedience which they owe unto him and that upon no occasion whatsoever it is lawfull for them to take Armes against their Soveraigne And hee forbids them in their Sermons and Writings to give the termes of scourgings Martyrdome and persecution of their Religion under the name of the Church of God or otherwise as likewise to use the word of Antichrist and of Idolatrie and other offensive words in speaking of the Pope of them which are of the Catholike Apostolike Roman Church of the Sacraments and Ceremonies therein upon paine of Interdiction It is forbidden them likewise to make Collections from house to house to gather money of the poore in regard of mens last Wills and Testaments or to sue any in any Court of Justice for Salary or payment of wages in regard of the charges of their Colloques Synods Reparations and garnishing of their Temples In this his Majestie is pleased that the Article 44 in the Edict of Nants be particularly observed and executed and for that their Majestie are advertiâ—ed you send your children to study and to bee brought up in learning at Genevas in Switzerland Holland c. which are Nations Common-wealthes a verse to Monarchy which may stretch their Precepts to politique and secular affaires a matter of great consequence and may produce dangerous effects for the prevention hereof their Majesties desire that amongst the Articles of Proposants you make one expresse to bee practised for time to come within all your Provinces that no Proposant or Theologue shall be received into the Ministrie if they have studied in these Countreys and Estates And they have commanded me to assure you that upon your conforming to their Intentions in an affaire so important you shall doe a thing very acceptable unto them and advantagious for them of your Religion I have charge also to let you understand that their Majesties are dâ—spleased that against the Amnestye so much recommended by the Edicts In the Calenders of the Psalmes imprinted at Geneva 1635 these termes are inserted that on the fâ—fteenth of March 1545 was Assembled the detestable Counsell of Trent and many other like things that in the twenty fourth Article of the Confession of your Faith the Catholike Apostolike Roman Religion is represented with the name of Abuse and deceipt of Satan Purgatory with the title of Illusion and the Shop from whence monasticall vowes Pilgrimages and other things doe arise and in the 28 Article you use these woâ—ds Wee condemne the Assemblies of Poperie where all Superstitious and Idolatry have their Vogue Their Majesties not being able to suffer that such words should be affirmed upon Oath in a Nationall Synod of their Kingdome holding them
into Idolatry Resp If the fault be fresh in memory and very late hee may not be chosen otherwise there is no doubt CHAP. III. Of Ancients and Deacons Article 1. IN places where the Order is not yet established the Elections as well of the Ancients as of the Deacons shall bee made by the common suffrages of the people and of the Pastours but where rhe order of the Discipline hath been already established it shall be in the power of the Consistory with the Pastours to choose the fittest and ablest men with earnest prayers and the nomination of them shall be made unto the Consistory with loud voyce and the charge of them which shall be chosen shall be made to the Consistory to the end they may know in what they are to be employed and if they consent they shall presently after be named to the people two severall Lords dayes to the end that the consent of the people may also be taken and if there be no opposition on the third Lords day they shall be received publikely they standing up before the Chaire with solemne prayers and so they shall be setled in their charges signing the Confession of Faith and the Ecclesiasticall Discipline but if there be opposition the cause shall be knowne and determined in the Consistory and if they cannot accord there all shall bee remitted to a Colloque or Provinciall Synod Article 2. They shall not choose hereafter so far forth as they may them for Ancients and Deacons in the Church which have Wives contrary to the true Religion following the saying of the Apostle Howbeit to the end the Church be not deprived of the labour of many good personages the which by reason of their forepassed ignorance have Wives of a contrary Religion they shall be tolerated onely for the necessity of time provided that they make their duty to appeare by indevouring to instruct their foresaid Wives and to solicite them to a conformity in the Church Article 3. The Office of Ancients is to waâ—ch over the flocke with the Pastours to cause the people for to assemble themselves and that every man be found in the holy Congregation to make a report of scandalls and of faults to know and judge of matters with the Pastours and in generall to have care with them of all things which concerne the order entertainement and government of the Church so that in every Church they shall have a forme of their charge in writing according to the circumstance of place and time Article 4. The Office of the Deacons is to gather and distribute by the advise of the Consistory the moneys of the poore of the prisoners and the sicke to visite them and to take an especiall care of them Article 5. The Office of Deacons is not to preach the word of God and to administer the Sacraments notwithstanding in case of necessity the Consistory may choose certaine Ancients and Deacons to Catechise throughout Families also it is permitted unto the Ancient in the absence of the Pastour to say publike prayers on ordinary dayes when they shall be chosen thereunto by the Consistory so that they follow the forme which is prescribed in the Psalmes As for Deacons which have been accustomed to Catechise publikely in certaine Provinces The inconvenience heard and weighed which hath happened and may happen hereafter the Churches are exhorted where that custome hath not been received to abstaine from it and others which have used it to leave it and to cause the said Deacons if they be found capable to range themselves into the Ministery of the Gospell so soon as possible they may Article 6. The Ancients and Deacons may very well assist the Propositions of the word of God but the decision of the Doctrine is principally referred unto the Ministers Pastours and Doctours in Divinity which are duly called to their charge Article 7. The Deacons nor the Ancients likewise may not pretend primacy or domination the one over the other bee it in nomination to the people or in place or in order to give their advise and other things depending on their charges Article 8. The office of Ancients and Deacons as it is used among us at this day is not perpetuall howbeit for that the change of them may bring detriment to the Church they are exhorted to continue their charge so long as they may and if they depart from it they shall not do it without leave of their Church Article 9. The Ancients and Deacons shall be deposed of their charges for the same causes that the Ministers of the word of God may be according to their quality Article 10. The restitution of Ancients and Deacons deposed shall bee after the same manner as the Restitution of Pastours CHAP. IIII. Of Deacons Article 1. THe Moneys of the poore shalâ— not bee disposed of but by the Deacons with the advise and consent of the Consistory Article 2. In ordinary distributions it is required that one or two Ministers be present above all in the rendring of Accounts Article 3. The people shall have notice given and be advertised of the making up the Accounts to the end that they may if they please be present aswell for the discharge of them which mannage the Accounts as to let every man know the necesâ—ity of the Churches and of the poore Article 4. To hinder disorder the Assembly adviseth that every Church nourish their owne poore c. CHAP. V. Of Consistories Article 1. EVery Church shall have a Consistory composed of persons which shall have the government thereof to wit of Pastours and Ancients and the Pastours ought to praesede in this company as likewise in all Ecclesiasticall Assemblies Article 2. As for Deacons seeing the Church by the necessity of the time have employed them hitherunto prosperously in the Government of the Church as also exercising the Charge of Ancients the which hereafter shall be so chosen and continued they shall have the government of the Church with the Pastours and Ancients and for that cause they shall accompany them ordinarily in the Consistory yea in the Colloques and Synods if they bee sent thither by the Consistories Article 3. In places where the exercise of the Religion is not already established the faithfull shall be exhorted by the Colloques to have Ancients and Deacons and to follow the Discipline of the Church and shall be advised in the said Colloques into what Church they ought to range themselves for their conveniency from whence they may not depart without communicating it unto the said Colloques Article 4. Every Church shall have one onely consistory and it shall not be permitted to establish any other Counsell for any affaires of the Church and if there be found any other Counsell separated from that of the Consistory it shall be speedily removed Howbeit the Consistory may call unto them sometimes such of the Church as they shall thinke good when any affaire shall require it Article 5. It resteth in the
which may bring great scandall to all the Church Item they which against the Remonstrances made unto them marry themselves to them of the Romish Religion the Fathers and Mothers which so marry their children the Tutors and Curators and others which hold the place of Parents which in such manner likewise marry their Pupills They also which carry their children to be Baptized among them or present others to Baptisme among them it is necessary that such persons though they perceive in them some beginning of Repentance be speedily suspended and deprived for a time of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and that the Suspension be declared to the people to the end they may be further humbled and brought to repentance as well to discharge the Church of God of all blame and reproach as also to beget feare in others and to make them learne by such examples not to commit the like offences The annotation upon this Article followeth They which shall be excommunicated for Heresies contemners of God Schisme Treason against the Church rebellion unto the same and other vices greatly scandalous to all the Church shall be declared Excommunicate unto the people with the cause of their Excommunication As for them which have beene excommunicated for any light cause it shall be the wisdome of the Church to determine whether it be fitting or no to manifest it to the people untill that otherwise it be agreed in the next generalâ— Counsell They which have been so excommunicated and cut off shall be deprived of the Communion of the Church and of the benefit thereof yea the faithfull shall be admonished not to converse any longer with them nor to haunt familiarly their company to the end that they may be ashamed and humbled and brought againe to repentance the which shall be approved by good and sufficient witnesses well knowne to the Consistory which shall judge whether or no they shal be remitted to the Church and to that purpose shall call them before them and having seen and heard them if they find their repentance true and unfained it shall be publickly denounced unto the people by the Pastours to the end that they may be moved to praise God which hath tâ—uched their hearts to make acknowledgement of their offences and brought them to repentance and then they shall be presented to the Assembly to acknowledge confesse and attest their forepassed offence and rebellion and beg for pardon of God and of his Church and so shall be reconciled with joy unto it and that with publike prayer The Assembly enacteth that when the Magistrate shall first take notice of any crime and have cognizance thereof the Consistory shall waite untill the fact be verified by the Magistrate before it require such satisfaction of the offender as appertaines unto conscience unlesse the circumstances be such as that they cannot wait or attend Upon the 16. Article the Deputies of Poictou having demanded whether they which marry themselves according to the Romish Religion or in such manner marry their children come afterward to testifie repentance of their faults may bee exempted from publick suspension or no The Synod judging such a punishment to be entirely necessary to retaine them which have but to great an inclination to commit such and the like offences have decreed that the Article shall be exactly observed seeing that without such a suspension the scandall given to the Church cannot be sufficiently repayred They which shall be married by a Romish Priest cannot bee dispensed withall without publick acknowledgement of their offence to the Consistory of what quality or condition soever they be They which have committed enormous crimes and offences as Paricides and Incests ought to be speedily suspended of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and their suspension declared to the people The Consistories are advised to use prudently and very rarely so farre forth as possibly they may Publick acknowledgements and they onely in the publike offences Article 17. If by suspension the offenders â—mend not themselves but continue Impenitent after long expectance and that they have beene divers times admonished and sollicited they shall proceed against them by publicke admonitions made unto the people by the Pastor three severall Lords dayes naming them if there be need to beget in them the more shame and every one shall be desired to pray unto God for them and to essay by all meanes to bring them to repentance and an acknowledgement of their sinnes that they may prevent a Cutting off and excommunication unto which they may not proceed but with a kind of reluctancy And if for all that they repent not but persevere in their obstinacy and hardnes the fourth Lords day the Pastor shall say publickly that they are declared hardned and scandalous and naming them shall denounce that they are not to be acknowledged for members of the Church cutting them off from it in the name and in the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ and of his Church the forme of which excommunication is fully set downe before Vpon the 17. Article An observation of the Synod of Saumur upon the Discipline It hath beene enacted by the Synod that in publicke acknowledgements the crimes shall not be specifyed which may draw after it danger of death or note of Infamy Article 18. For time to come all sentences of excommunication confirmed by the Provinciall Synod shall stand firme as also all sentences of suspension from the Lords Supper without the Consistories giving their names although the suspended persons appeale unto the Colloque or provinciall Synod The Deputies of the Isle of France having demanded in the 18 Article touching the Appeales of publicke suspensions that they may know if the Consistory having decerned a publicke suspension against one and the person condemned appeale whether they may proceed unto the suspension notwithstanding the Appeale The Assembly hath judged that the Consistory may not passe any further but ought to admit of the Appeale unles in publicke offences knowne to all the Church and this Appeale shall be definitively determined by the next Colloque or Provinciall Synod Article 19. They which have abandoned the profession of the Religion to adhere to Idolatry if they persist in this Apostasy after they have endevoured to bring them againe into the flocke they shall be publickely denounced Apostataes to witt they which lately have revolted unles by naming of them the Consistory judge that thereby there may happen some great and notable danger unto the Church in which case nothing shall be done but by the advise of the Synod of the province so that for them which shall have beene a long time revolted the execution of this denuntiation is remitted to the wisdome of the Consistories Vpon the 19. Article Touching them which have forsaken the Church they are no more to be accounted of our body noâ— of us The Assembly adviseth that where the Church is in danger all is to be remitted to the wisdome of the Consistory
faults before them Article 30. As for the crimes which shall have been declared unto Ministers by them which beg for counsell and comfort it is remitted to the conscience of the Ministers to judge if they ought to declare them unto the Magistrates and in this the Ministers shall with great wisdome have regard unto all circumstances It is demanded if a Minister ought to reveale to the Magistrate the Crimes which shall have been revealed unto him in secrecy by him which shall beg for counsell and comfort It is agreed that this be remitted to the conscience of the Minister who shall have a prudent regard of all circumstances It is demanded if it be lawfull to the faithfull to appeach them which being in the Church have committed any crime punishable by the Lawes As for scandalous vices and dammageable to the Common-wealth the faithfull ought to further and assist the Magistrate against them which are impenitent and persevere in their evill But in the behalfe of them which shall have fayled for once and prosecute not their failings one Ecclesiasticall censure shall suffice Article 31. If one or more stirre up debate to breake the union of the Church upon any point of Doctrine or of the Discipline or concerning the forming of the Catechisme of the administration of Marriage and of the Sacraments and publick prayers And because for this particular admonitions cannot give sufficient remedy the Consistory of the place shall readily endeavour to dissolve and appease all without noyse in all meeknesse by the word of God And if the gainsayers will not acquiesce the Consistory shall intreat the Colloque to assemble themselves on a time and place most convenient having first caused the said gainsayers to make an expresse promise which is to be enregistred not to scatter their opinions in any sort or manner but to attend the said Convocation of the Colloque upon paine to be censured as Schismaticks with exception notwithstanding that they confer with the Pastours and Ancients if they have not been taught and otherwise in case that the said gainsayers refuse to make the said promises they shall be censured as Rebells according to the Discipline The Colloque likewise shall joyntly proceed as above And if the gainsayers having been patiently heard and faiâ—ly refuted continue satisfied all shall be enregistred if not a Provinciall Synod shall be held to assemble themselves extraordinarily if need require in a time and place that the Colloque shall judge most proper after the promise such as is before reiterated made by the gainsayers The Synod Assembled shall advise as before with good and mature consideration of circumstances of the matter place time and persons if it shall be expedient that the conferences with the said gainsayers be made in the presence of the people in open Court and that they give audience unto him of the Assistance which shall speak yet so notwithstanding as that the decision of all appertaine to others rather then unto them which are Assembled in the Province and all following the order set downe by the Discipline And then if the gainsayers will not range themselves they shall make the same promises as before whereupon they shall be transmitted to an ordinary Nationall Synod or if necessity require to a Nationall Synod extraordinarily Assembled the which shall heare them with all holy liberty and freedome and there shall be made an entire and finall resolution by the word of God unto which Resolution if they refuse to acquiesce from point to point and with expresse renouncing of their errours enregistred they shall be cut off from the Church Article 32. A Pastour or Ancient breaking the union of the Church or stirring up contention upon any point of Doctrine or Discipline which be shall have signed or of the forme of Cathechisme the Administration of Marriage Sacraments or publick Prayers not willing to range themselves unto that which the Colloque shall have determined shall be suspended of his charge and be further proceeded against in a Provinciall or National Synod Article 33. In every Church they shall prepare Instructions of all notable things which concerne Religion and in every Colloque one Minister shall be deputed to receive them and to bring them to a Provinciall Synod CHAP. VI. Of the union of Churches Article 1. NO Church may pretend Primacy or domination over an other nor one Province over another Article 2. No Church may doe any thing of great consequence which may comprehend the Interest or damage of other Churches without the aduise of a Provinciall Synod if it be possible to assemble themselves and if the businesse be pressing and urgent shee shall communicate and have the advise and consent of other Churches and of the Province by Letters at the least Article 3. The Churches and particular persons shall bee warned not to depart for any persecution which may arise nor to procure for themselves any peace or liberty apart which breakes the holy Union of the body of the Church They which doe otherwise shall be censured according as the Colloques or Synods shall judge expedient Article 4. The disputes of Religion with the Adversaries shall bee regulated in such sort as that the Ministers shall not begin the onset and if they be engaged in verball Disputations they shall not doe it but according to the rule of the holy Scripture not giving place to the Ancient Doctors for the judgement and decision of Doctrine they shall not enter into dispute unlesse it be regulated by writing respectively given and signed And as for publike dispute they shall not enter into it but by advise of the Consistory and of a certaine number of Pastours which for that effect shall be chosen by the Colloques or Provinciall Synods They shall not enter into any dispute or generall conference without advise of all the Churches Assembled in a Nationall Synod upon paine to the Ministers which shall doe to the contrary to be declared Apostates and forsakers of the Vnion of the Churches Article 5. The Churches ought to take notice that the Ecclesiasticall Assemblies of Colloques and of Provinciall Synods as well as Nationall are the chaines and butteresses of their Vnion and concord against Schismes Heresies and all other inconveniences to the end that they doe their duty and employ themselves by all meanes unto what the said Assemblies shall order and Decree The Pastours shall come every one of them accompanied with one Ancient in the Ecclesiasticall Assemblies and if they be sent alone they shall not have more regard unto their Instructions then unto them of the Ancients when they shall come alone That which cannot be finally concluded or determined in the Consistory shall be brought unto the Colloque and thence to the Synod CHAP. VII Of Ecclesiasticall Assemblies Article 1. IN a Colloque the neighbouring Churches shall assemble themselves twice every yeare if it may be or foure times according to the Ancient custome This is reserved unto the wisdome
are admonished to behave themselues there with all modesty rejecting all ambition hypocrisy vanity and superstition CHAP. XI Of Baptisme Article 1. BAptisme administred by him which hath no vocation nor any Commission is altogeather null and invalid Article 2. A Doctor may not Preach nor administer the Sacraments in the Church unles he be chosen Doctor and Minister Article 3. A Pagan or Jew of what age soever he be ought not to be Baptised before he be instructed in Christian Religion and that it appeare so by his Confession Article 4. The Children of Fathers and Mothers of the Romish Church and of excommunicat persons may not be received into the Baptisme of the Reformed Churches although they be presented unto them by faithfull suretyes if they have Father and Mother when they have no Father or if they consent not when consent is required nor transmit their authority yet yeild their rights unto the surety in regard of instruction with promise that they will suffer their Children to be instructed in the true Religion they may be Baptised Article 5. The Children also of them which are called Bohemians Saracens or Egyptians may be received into the Baptisme of the reformed Churches upon condition that the suretyes oblige themselves for the education and instruction of them which are so Baptised Article 6. They shall not administer Baptisme unles it be in Ecclesiasticall Assemblies where there hath been a Church publickly erected where it is not publicke and the Fathers through infirmity feare to bring them to be Baptised in the Assembly the Ministers shall advise prudently how far they ought to yeild though there be allwaies the forme of a Church together with exhortations and publicke prayers But if there be any Church whereunto the people cannot Assemble the Minister shall not make difficult to Baptise the Child of a faithfull man presented unto him with prayers and exhortations Article 7. For that we have no Commandement from the Lord to take God Fathers and God Mothers to present our Children at Baptisme there may be no expresse law imposed on persons to use it howbeit for that the custome is antient and brought into the Church for a good end to wit to witnesse the faith of his Parents and at the Baptisme of the Child to charge themselves with the instruction of him in case that death take away his Parents also to entertaine the society of the faithfull by amiable conjunction They which will not follow this but themselves alone will present their Children they shall instantly be exhorted not to be contentious but to range themselves to the ancient order and accustomed which is good and profitable Articles 8. 9. 10. It is fitting that they which will present children at baptisme be of age sufficient as of 14. years of age at the least and that they have received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Article 11. They which are suspended of the Supper of the Lord may not in the quality of God-fathers and God-mothers present children at baptisme so long as the suspension shall last It is decreed that for whatsoever fault it be the faithfull may not be refused to present children at baptisme unlesse that they have been suspended of the Sacraments by the judgment of the Consistory Articles 12. 13. They of the Religion which present children by Proxie at baptisme in the Roman Church shall be sharpely censured as consentting to Idolatry It is demanded If it be lawfull to accompany the Papists to the doors of their Temples at the convoy of Baptismes and Marriages It is answered they may not and in such case they are lyable to censure Article 14. Touching the names given unto Children in Baptisme In the imposition of names unto Children Men ought to shunne on the one side over much precisenes and on the other superstition and scandall and for that this act as all other ought to serve unto the edification of the Church in such fashion that there where the Fathers are suretyes require that their or other mens names be given to their Children or being presented by them may be received provided that they be not names prohibited in this 14. Article as names of office of Angell or other notoriously ridiculous The Ministers shall be exhorted for the difficulty they make unto names henceforth to behave themselves with all modesty without being so difficult Besides the Ministers are exhorted not to make any more difficulty in receiving names from Fathers and sureties at Baptisme though they be not contained in holy Scripture provided that they containe nothing which is indecent Article 15. The Ministers shall admonish their flocks to behave themselves with all reverence when that Baptisme is administred and to abate the contempt that the greater part have of Baptisme which they shew by departing out of the Assembly when it is administred â— It is decreed that none depart the Congregation unlesse great cause require it upon paine to be censured by the Consistory Article 16. The Consistory shall have an eye on them which without great consideration keep their children too long without being baptised The Consistory are charged to exhort the faithfull to present their children at Baptisme so soone as they may after their birth and to censure them that are rebellious even to the suspending them from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper The faithfull are to be exhorted as well in Sermons as particularly not to suffer their children to be unbaptized if it be not upon very great consideration Article 17. Though a faithfull Husband have a Wise of a contrary religion yet is he not excusable if the child be presented unto Baptisme in the Roman Church therefore he shall not be received to partake of the Lords Supper unlesse it be in case that he hath endevoured to hinder it with all his power Article 18. Baptisme shall be enregistred and carefully kept in the Church with the names of the Fathers and Mothers Godfathers and Godmothers and Children baptized Article 19. They shall enregister in he Booke of Baptisme the names of Fathers and Mothers of Children borne of unlawfull copulation so far-forth as they may possibly know it unlesse them that are borne of incest to the end that the memory of so enormous a wickednesse may be extinguished in which case it shall suffice to name the mother with him and her which present the child and of all illegitimate there shall be mention made that thy are borne out of Marriage CHAP. 12. Of the Lords Supper Article 1. WHere there is no forme of a Church it is not permitted to administer the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Article 2. Children under the age of twelve yeares shall not bee received to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Article 3. Priests Monkes and other Ecclesiasticks of the Church of Rome shall not be admitted to partake of the Lords Supper untill they have made publick acknowledgement of their forepassed life and profession Article 4. Beneficed men which beare
the name and title of their Benefices and they which mixe themselves with Idolatrie directly or indirectly be it by enjoying their Benefices themselves or by the hands of another shall not be received at the Supper of the Lord. Article 5. Ministers shall not receive them which are of other Churches unto the Supper of the Lord. Article 6. A deafe and dumbe man which by signes and evident tokens and gestures shewes so far-forth as he may his Piety and Religion may be received to the Supper of the Lord when by long experience and holinesse of life the Church may perceive that he hath faith and shall truly have learned the knowledge of God Article 7. The Bread of the Lords Supper ought to bee administred unto them which cannot drinke wine they making protestation they doe it not out of contempt and essaying so farforth as possibly they may to put the Cup unto their mouthes It remaines in the liberty of the Pastours distributing the Bread and Wine to use the accustomed words the thing being indifferent provided they doe that which tends to edification Article 9. The Churches are admonished that it belongs to the Minister for to administer the Cup. Article 10. For as much as in the distribution of the Lords Supper many sick persons present themselves to the receiving of the Cup which causeth many to be unwilling to take the Cup and drinke after them The Pastours and Ancients are admonished hereafter to take order for it Article 11. 12. It shall not be permitted to any for time to come to present themselves to another Church for to receive the Supper of the Lord without the leave of a Colloque or Provinciall Synod Article 13. The faithfull which goe about to heare the word of God in one Church and to receive the Sacraments in another shall be censured Article 14. Though it hath been a custome in divers Churches of many places not to celebrate the holy Supper oftner then foure times in the yeare howbeit it is to be desired that they celebrate it more often the reverence required thereunto being kept as being a thing most profitable to the Church The Ancients of the Churches shall communicate at the Lords Supper with the Pastours in the beginning of the Action and the rest of the people in such order as the Consistory shall judge to bee expedient by the order of the Church Synod of Montaubeau CHAP. XIII Of Marriages Article 1. 2. 3. ACT. 6. of the Nationall Synod at Charenton in December 1644. and January 1645. The Province of Brittany having by their Deputies asked if it ought to be permitted unto Pastours to solemnize the Marriages of Cosin germans before they have obtained the dispensation of his Majesty The Synod forbids all to undertake any thing in that kind for that the contrary is expresly set downe in the particular expositive Acts of the Edicts Articles 4. 5. 6. Touching cosin germans be it by affinity or consanguinity the faithfull may not contract Marriages with them unlesse it bee permitted by the Edict of the King Article 7. 8. It is not lawfull to espouse the Sister of a mans Wife that is dead for such Marriages are forbidden not only by the Lawes but also by the word of God and although that the lawes of Moyses ordaine that when the Brother is dead without children the brother shall raise seed to his brother Howbeit that law given to the people of Israel was temporall regarding only the conservation of the lignage of the people there is another reason in the sister of the betrothed being dead because that the Alliance is not contracted by commixtion of blood Articles 9. 10. 11. No man may marry the Aunt of his Wife such a marriage being incestuous and when the Magistrate shall permit it it shall not bee solemnized in the Church wherefore the Pastours shall take care thereof and for the same reason it is forbidden to marry the Niece of a mans wife Article 12. Honesty and comelinesse permits not any man to marry the Widow of his wives brother Article 13. No man after the decease of his Wife may marry her with whom he had committed Adultery in the life-time of his wife Articles 14. 15. 16. The banes of Matrimony shall be asked in the places where the parties live and shall be well knowne Article 17. The Banes shall be asked three severall Lordâ— dayes Article 18. They which abide in places where the exercise of the Religion is not established may cause their Banes to be published in the Temples of the Roman Church because that it is a thing meerely politick Articles 19. 20. 21. 22. The Banes of Widdowes which shall Marry againe shall be published seven months and a half at the least after the decease of her Husband to prevent inconveniences and scandalls which may arise thereby Article 23. Marriages shall be publickely solemnised in the Assemblies of the faithfull and by the Ministery of Pastours and not of others Article 24. The Church shall not solemâ—â—e Marriage in the dayes on the which the Supper of the Lord is administred nor on the Dayes of a publicke Fast CHAP. XIIII Of particular rules and advertisements Articles 1. 2. IT is not lawfull for the faithfull to intermeddle with any thing which hath had Idolatry joyned therewith But to hold Priories Castles Farmes and Rents to pay the Revenue unto Ecclesiasticks seeing they are temporall Lords it is a thing indifferent Notwithstanding the faithfull shall be admonished not to intermeddle much with such things if they finde any abuse in them Articles 3. 4. 5 Advocats and Proctours shall not give counsell in causes which are properly concerning benefices Article 6. Bishops Archdeacons Officialls such as they are at this present have no right of Jurisdiction Civill or Ecclesiastick how be it for that the faithfull are constrained to goe sometimes before them to obtaine their right which otherwise cannot be obtained they may have recourse unto them being sent unto them by the Magistrate unto whom they shall first addresse themselves Articles 7. 8. It is a thing unlawfull in it selfe to exercise civill jurisdiction and procurations under Ecclesiasticks Articles 9. 10. Because it is not lawfull nor expedient to goe to heare the Preachers of the Roman Church and others which intrude into that office without any lawfull vocation the flocke shall be hindred to goe to heare them by their Pastors and they which shall goe shall be called to the Consistory and censured according to the exigent of the case Articles 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. Although the Priests falsly usurpe the tenths because of their administration yet ought they to be payd in regard of the Commandements of the King to avoide sedition and scandall Articles 19.20.21 All usury shall be straightly forbidden and men shall regulate themselves according to the Ordinanance of the King and the rule of charity Article 22. Swearers which rent the name of God by Oathes shall be severely
censured Articles 23. 24. Men may not be deprived of the Supper of the Lord for any ordinary and accustomed fashion of habits in this Kingdome but in this ranke they may not be comprehended which are branded with the notorious marke of impudicity dissolution and over curious novelty as painting naked breasts and the like things of which there is great abuse as well in Men as Women For these things the Consistory shall proceed with a simple suspension of the Sacraments to the end that they may range themselves to that which is most agreeable to Christian modesty Articles 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. Dancings shall be repressed and they which make a practise of dancing after they have been oftentimes admonished shall be excommunicated when they shall continue pertinacious and rebellious therein The Consistories are to be exhorted thoroughly to practise the Article and to cause it to be read in the name of God and authority of the Synods and the Colloques and Synods are to be exhorted to take care in their Consistories that they doe their duty in conserving of them Mummery Jugling Gaming Puppet playing shall not be tollerated neither yet a French game called Faire le Roybait nor Shrove Tuesday be observed of the faithfull they are all forbidden c. Article 30. They which call others to duells or being called thereunto do accept thereof which shall have â—ulled their parties Notwithstanding they shall have obtained their Princes favour or shall be otherwise justified they shal be censured even to the suspension of the Lords Supper which suspension shall be speedily pubâ—ished and in case that they desire to be received unto the peace of the Church they shall make publicke acknowledgement of their offence Article 31. The Articles here contained touching the Discipline are not so resolved on among us but that if the benefit of the Church require it they may be changed howbeit it shall not be in the power of the Ministers Consistories Colloques or Provinciall Synods to add thereunto nor to diminish from them nor to change them without the advise and consent of a Nationall Synod According to that which hath been agreed upon in the last Nationall Synod held at Gorgean the first day of May 1601. An Extract from the Acts of the Nationall Synod held at Rochell the 2. of Aprill 1571. THis present direction being read and dilligently examined according to the word of God by all the Ministers and Antients deputed by the Churches of France They have in the name of the said Churches promised and protested to keepe and observe them for the edification of the Church the conservation of the order and union of them to the honour and glory of God Another Extract touching the Confession BEcause there is found among men divers sorts of Confessions The Synod hath declared that to be the confession of Faith of the Reformed Churches in France which beginneth thus Wee beleeve that there is one only God c. The which was presented in the first Nationall Synod held at Paris the second of May 1559. As when were present Jaâ—e by the grace of God Queen of Navarre the high and puissant Princesse Henry Prince of Navarre and Henry Burbon Prince of Conde and the most Illustrious Prince Lewis Count of Nassaw and Messieur Gaspard Count of Caligne Admirall of France and many other Lords and Nobles of great quality Generall Acts of the Nationall Synod Assembled at Charenton c. THe Assemhly prohibits all Provinces to take an Oath of Schollers to the prejudice of the right of alâ— Nationall Synods and the common edification of the Churches that they shall never depart from the service of the Churches of those Provinces in the Which they were first received in the Ministery of the Gospell At the requisition of the Province of Ceuenes tâ—e Assembly for to explaine the first Article of the generall Acts of the Nationall Synod held at Saint Maixant have declared that no particular Church may make enquirie after any Pastour without the permission of a Colloque or Provinciall Synod nor establish him by Act in pursuite of such an enquiry without advise be it of the Synod in body or be it of the neighbouring Pastours attending the liking and agreement of the Synod The Province of lower Guyenne having desired that an injunction were made unto all the Churches to keep conformity with them which have received the custome that particular persons entering into the Church humble themselves before God and every man apart make his prayers for the imploration of his assistance in the hearing of the Word The Assembly hath not judged it fitting to make a Rule of such a thing which of it selfe is free but hath left the Churches in their Antient usages exhorting them all respectively to seeke that which tends to edification and to avoyd all ostentation affectation and superstition The Assembly enjoynes a Collection to bee made throughout all the Provinces for the reliefe of the Captives detained in Argier Tunis and other places Upon the Remonstrance of the Provinces of Anjon and the Isle of France all the Churches which have places for Printing houses are particularly charged not to suffer any alteration or change to be made in the Translation of the Scripture or in the Rithmes of the Psalmes or in the text of the Confession of faith Liturgy and Catechisme without expresse order of the Consistory authorised by the Provinciall Synod Upon that which hath been reported by certaine Deputies of Maritime Provinces that many comming from forraigne Countreys which call themselves Independants because they teach that every particular Church ought to govern it selfe by its own proper lawes without dependancy of any person in Ecclesiasticall matters and without obligation to acknowledge the Authority of Colloques and Synods for their government and conduct and establish their habitations in this Kingdome which may hereafter cause great inconvenience if it be not in good time carefully prevented The Assembly fearing that the contagion of this poyson gaining insensibly may bring confusion and disorder among us and judgeing the said sect of Independants not onely prejuditiall to the Church of God insomuch as that it endeavours to introduce confusion unto the place where it hath its being opening wide a gate unto all sorts of singularities and extravagances and taking away all meanes of bringing a Remedy thereunto but also it is very dangerous to the State so that if it have place it will forme as many Religions as there be particular Parishes or Assemblies It is therefore enjoyned all the Provinces and especially the Maritime to take care that this evill take not footing in the Churches of this Kingdome to the end that Peace and uniformity as well in Religion as in Discipline be invâ—olably maintained among us and that nothing be here brought in which may alter in any manner the service which is due to God and the King A Report being made of certaine Writings printed and Manuscripts by
the which the whole nature of originall sinne is placed in the onely hereditary corruption incident originally in all men and the imputation of the first sin of Adam is denyed The Assembly condemnes the said Doctrine insomuch aâ— that it restraines the nature of sinne in the only hereditary corruption of the posterity of Adam excluding the imputation of the first sinne by which he is fallen And forbids upon paine of all Censures unto all Pastours Professours and others which shall handle the said question not to depart from the common received sense of the Protestant Churches which besides the corruption have all acknowledged the said imputation unto aâ—l the posterity of Adam and ordaine that all Synods and Colloques which shall hereafter proceed to the receiving of Schollers to serve in the holy Ministery to oblige them to the signing of this Act. Because that the Adoration which is rendred by the Roman Church unto the Host which shee pretends to consecrate hath as well in their publick service as when it is carryed in Procession and to the sick this false presupposition for a maine foundation that by the Consecration it is made properly the very same body which was taken out of the wombe of the blessed Virgin by the eternall Sonne of God unto whose divine Person it appertaines as well before as after his Incarnation And because the Roman Church renders and requires no other Adoration then that of Latria 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the Consecrated Host and they of the Religion in regard of the same follow another beliefe touching the substance of the Host which they hold to be after the Consecration of the same insensible and inanimat matter which it was before cannot according to the sense of their consciences and the fundamentall principle of Christianity attribute soveraigne Adoration unto a thing which by nature is not God nor transfer the glory of the eternall God to any of the creatures of lower degree The Synod adjureth all by the profession which they make to serve the Lord purely and by this irreparable prejudice which they cause on the one part to come by their inconsideratenesse and on the other in regard of their owne consciences which they shamefully betray and for them of their fellow Citizens which are of the Roman Religion whom they confirme in their superstition as well as for the weake among themselves whom they lead into errour by the example of a prevarication most unworthy of the name which they beare to returne unto themselves and to bewaile their estate before the great God and Saviour Jesus Christ whose Glory they have prophaned so farre as in them lies It ordaines therefore that then when the Host shall be carried by them of the Roman Church that every one of them retire himselfe so soone as possibly hee may not to give any scandall to his neighbour and as for them which will not retire feeding themselves with this frivolous imagination that they set n t their thoughts as the Members of tâ—e Roman Church doe which adore it with the same worship as they doe the Divinity perswading themselves that they may conforme unto that custome by a servile complaysance in putting off the haâ— then when the Host passeth if not for the cause of it as their complaysancie requires at least in honour of the Curate or Vicar which beareth it or of them which accompany it seeing they answer noâ— the intention of them which they thinke to gratifie because they undertake to substitute a civill salutation not a Religious worship which the Church of Rome ordaines and that they attribute it unto another object then she propoundeth resting themselves against the Maxims of civility received among all men to honour not as the Roman Church pretends the Lord of Glory but in his presence and as it were in contempt of him the Minister which sayes he is calâ—ed to serve him and that in the proper act of service which he pretends to render unto him nor yet to the duty of Christian sincerity which requires that our deeds be veritable expressions of our desires and not deceitfull shewes of that which is not only with our intention but formally contrary to blind malignantly the eyes of them which see and observe us and lastly not answering the example of the Ancient Christians which could never suffer such disguisements but holding them impious and sacrilegious loved rather to expose themselves to death then to depart never so little from the fidelity which they had sworne unto God in their Baptisme The Synod ordaines that it be carefully declared unto them that they may not continue in this hypocrisie with what pretext soever they colour it without irreligion and open mockery of God and of men without scandall of their brethren and mortall wounding of their owne consciences and in case they continue in this ungodly resolution Enjoyne all the Consistory to pursue them with all Ecclesiasticall censures as unworthy of the Communion of the faithfull after they have caused in all places where there is need a publick reading of this present Act to the end that no man may pretend cause of ignorance Seeing that for a long time the patience and long-suffering of the Lord which invites men to repentance hath made way to his just anger against impiety so that the fire of his indignation which passeth from Region to Region hath covered the face of Christendome with an universall conflagration so that for the present his Almighty hand is armed and lifted up to smite the warres the cause of the obduration of the people continuing and menacing offenders with a totall ruine The Nationall Synod Assembled by the permission of the King at Charenton considering that the onely remedy of so many miseries consists in the conversion of men and in the humiliation of their hearts before the glorious Tribunall of that great God whom they have provoked to jealousie and that the perpetuall exercise of Christians ought to be the renuing of themselves and the cutting off of dead workes to serve Gods holy name in Righteousnesse and that true piety exhorts the faithfull as well in generall as in particular to offer unto the Lord of glory justly provoked the reasonable sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart unto the very feet of his most holy and divine Majesty and the Provinciall Synods have summoned in their Divisions Fasts according as the particular necessity requires And now to implore the grace and mercy of the Almighty and infinite good God to obtaine his favour for the establishment of a generall Peace the settlement of the Estate the conservation of the Sacred person of the King the benediction of his youth the glory of his Crowne and happy successe of his Armes under the lawfull government of the Queen Regent and the prosperity of all the Royall Stemme Enacts that a Fast of all the Churches of this Kingdome shall be Celebrated the fourth day of May next and that all the
faithfull shall bee Advertised to prepare themselves by the reading of this present Act. Particular Acts. REport being made by the Deputies of Normandy of a Processe commenced by the chiefe of a Family of the Church of Rouen as well against her which hath been without permission espoused by his Sonne as against her Parents The Assembly ordereth that the Sonne who hath beene deprived of the Communion inconsequence of this difference seeke the grace of his Father by all duties of submission and respect according to the word of God and that the Father be intreated and earnestly sought unto by the Consistory to limit time in which he will be pleased to voyd the suite which time being passed the Sonne may be admitted to the participation of the Lords Supper The Church and Academy of Sedan having represented by Letters the favourable and gracious entertainment which they doe receive and have received from their Majesties since they have thought good to incorporate the Principaliâ—ies of Sedan and Rancourt unto France and that they need that by order of this Assembly Schollers be sent unto them as unto other Academies of this Kingdome It hath been Decreed that Answer shall be made unto them to testifie the joy that all the Churches take in their prosperity and to assure them that their Academy shall be alwayes upon an equall consideration with others in this Kingdome The Academies for them of the Religion of the Kingdome of France 1. MOntauban 2 Nismeâ— 3 Die 4 Saumuâ— 5 and last Sedan lately added A Colledge erected at Chatillon for Schollers founded by Marshall Chatillon and others with Contribution of the Churches Contributions unto those Academies by particular Churches in all the Provinces The whole summe which is levied amounts to fifteen thousand eight hundred Livers A Division of the summe of fifteen thousand eight hundred livers every liver being two shillings of English money remaining of the summe of sixteene thousand livers accorded by his Majesty payd to defray the charges of the Assembly There being 54 Deputies every one of them received 292 livers 11 sous by the hands of Monsieur de la Veilliere Anjou for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous The Isle of France for 3 Deputies to wit Sieur Blundell Drelincourt and Le Cog 877 livers 15 sous Normandy for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous 4 deniers Dauphancy for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Ceuenes 1170 livers 7 sous Bearne for two Deputies 585 livers 3 sous Lower Guienne for two Deputies 585 livers 3 sous 6 Deniers Xantaigne for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Vivarets for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Berry for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Poicton for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Britany for two Deputies 585 livers 3 sous High Guyenne for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Lower Languedock for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Burgundy for three Deputies 877 livers 15 sous Province for two Deputies 585 livers 3 sous The two hundred livers remaining are to bee employed to defray the charges of the two Deputies if they have need as hath been observed before By reason of the dearnesse of Provision the journeys of the Deputies have been taxed according to the requisition of sundry Provinces at 6 livers the day The Province of Anjou have required that the right of the Convocation of the next Nationall Synod be continued unto them of the said Province The Synod hath accorded unto them their Demands and Agrees that after the expedition of the breuet of his Majesty the said Province shall have the said Convocation and the Synod shall Assemble at Loudun It is agreed that unto the Acts Signed by the Secretaries of this Assembly shall be given the like faith as if they had been signed by the Moderators and the whole body of the Synod Six Ministers were deposed this Synod for changing their Religion One of them named Esay Laurent aged fourscore yeares was deposed for Simony and Rebellion to the Discipline Particular Acte SIeur Blundell who was employed in the service of the Church of Houden when he was deputed by the Province of the I le of France and hath since been drawne thence by the last Provinciall Synod which hath permitted him his Residence at Paris for to intend his studies as it may appeare by reading of the Act of the sayd Synod The Assembly being entreated first to judge of the quality which ought to be given him by the Acts of this Nationall Synod and to take into consideration if it may approve his Residence in Paris Secondly they are to advise in case they are to prepare themselves to answer unto his said Treatise of Primacy if it bee fitting that hee keepe himselfe neare to defend it or if they thinke it fitting that that charge ought to be given unto some other hee leaves it to their consideration as also all which concernes the disposition of the Churches as likewise the ordaining that all they which can make any observations upon the said Treatise may communicate their Instructions to the end that profit may be reaped thereby Thirdly if the Treatises of which he hath produced a List by him composed on divers matters concerning Theology and History may be of any profit Fourthly if that in case that the Aydes which hee had hitherunto at Paris faile him or that hee find himselfe too much diverted if it may be permitted him to retire himselfe elsewhere or without any charge of the Churches he had the meanes to intend the defence of the truth according to the Arrests of the Nationall Synods of Castres Charenton and Alenson and to end the rest of his dayes in serving God and his Church The Synod acknowledging the profit that the Publick receives of his learned labours and that to finish them he cannot bee in a more proper place then Paris as well because of the communication which he may have there with divers learned men as for the reason of the use of many rich Libraries of France he continue there his Residence As for that which concernes the quality which is justly due unto him of the Minister of the Gospell it is enjoyned him to keep himselfe neare for to answer to his booke of Primacy as being a person which may acquit himselfe therein very worthily he is exhorted also to put in light so soone as hee may the Treatises of Theology and History the List of which have been read in this Assembly and of which we hope that the Church of God shall receive very much edification It is enjoyned him particularly to hasten the Edition of his Treatise of Bishops and Priests by the which he shewes that there is small appearance that Saint Peter was ever at Rome And because that the Assembly knowes his excellent gifts amongst other things the great knowledge that he hath in the Antiquity of the Christian Church which causeth all the Churches to esteeme of him greatly They cannâ—t in any sort
Religion which mourne in many places of this Kingdome seeing themselves deprived of the meanes to serve God according to the sense of their consciences in the Liberty which hath been granted them by the Edicts of the Kings your Predecessours of most glorious memory and confirmed by your Majesty upon your comming to the Crowne and deploring that by the rigour of some of your Officers they be excluded of their Charge and government of all sort of Trades and Occupations a dealing which hath taken from them contrary to the intention of your Edicts the meanes by which they may be able to gaine their livelihood as well as other of your subjects These things Sir shall be more particularly represented to your Majesty by the writing of Complaints which we have taken the hardines to present unto you and unto which we hope to receive favourable Answers to the end that the throne of your Majesty being grounded upon piety Justice during your happy Raigne that Equity and Clemency meet together and all sort of vertue flourish and the heaven poure downe his most pretious Benedictions as well upon your Sacred person as upon your people in such sort as that after they have seene the glorious Victories and magnificall triumphs of David they may behold to succeed the peace happinesse and abundance of Solomon We may end our dayes praising God blessing your Majesty and leaving to them which shall come after us the condition in the which we principally take glory in To be for ever of your Majesty Sir The most humble most faithfull and most obedient subjects and servants the Pastours and Ancients Assembled in the Nationall Synod and for all At Charenton 27th January 1645. A Copy of the Letter written to the Queen Regent MADAM AS we have opened this Assembly with the most sincere protestation of our fidelity so now we finish it with most humble thankes which are due to the bounty and clemency of your Majesty wee shall Madam be altogether ingrate of wee all find not in our selves a most deepe resentment of yours and the Kings favours Because that it is by the favourable permission if your Majesty that we have obtained the liberty to have our meeting in this place where the incomparable wisdome which holds the helme of your Regency governs the French Empire with so much good successe as that it possesseth an happy tranquility so that whilst other neighbouring Kingdomes mourne being beaten with fearfull tempests wee have had the good hap to busie our selves in our affaires under the shaddow of your royall protection with all safety And seeing that your Majesty hath dained not only to accord unto us a generall Deputy by whose mouth our humble supplications may enter into your most Sacred thoughts but also to poure out of the source of your liberality upon all this Assembly so many singular testimonies of the bounty and grace of your Majesty which touch most sensibly our spirits Wee dare as yet send prostrate to your feet Sieurs Langley and Cattiby Pastours with Sieurs de Maraude and Pelena Ancients newly to present unto you our most humble thankes and to implore the protection of the Kings Soveraigne Iustice in the name of all them which living with us under the benefit of the Edicts confirmed by the King at his comming to the Crowne suffer contrary to the intention of your royall Clemency divers troubles in all the Provinces of the Kingdome If the assurance wee have of hearts enflamed with zeale for the service of our lawfull Prince and grounded upon the inviolable fidelity of generous thoughts not to yeeld to any of your people in most entire obedience but to live and die therein with constant Resolution be capable to excite our just hopes wee shall live Madam in this to obtaine of your grace the generall remedy of our evills And after naturall obligations of faithfull subjects and religious among Christian people to enter into that of servants filled with good deeds which desire not to possesse their lives no longer then employing them in most ardent vowes for the preservation of the person of the King the deare Son of your Majesty obtained of heaven by the common supplications of all France for the benediction of his youth for the establishment of his Scepter sustained now by your Royall hands and for the perpetuall glory of your Majesty continuing ever Madam Of your Majesty the most humble most faithfull and most obedient subjects and servants The Pastours Ancients c. At Charenton Ianuary 27. 1645. The Confession being read it was Signed by all the Deputies which have unanimously in the name of all the Provinces made solemne Protestation of their continuance in the Inviolable profession thereof even to the last gaspe of their lives An Act that is to be published against Sieur Militier Sunday January 29. 1645. Most deare Brethren IT is a long time that you have beheld with griefe the Sieur Theophilus Brocheur Sieur de Militier employed to withstand by writings published the beliefe of our Churches and that you have been wounded with just griefe caused by the scandall of his proceeding totally differing from the duty of a Person raised from his infancy in the profession of the true Religion the which he hath in such sort contemned as that he loves rather to abound in his own sense and to leave himselfe seduced by his owne proper prejudgings then to hearken never so little to the Remonstrances which have been made unto him in all charity First by the Consistory of this Church and in the pursuance thereof by the Nationall Synod assembled at Alenson in the yeare 1637. by expresse order whereof the Consistory denounced against him that for default of returning unto himselfe within six moneths and giving glory unto God he shall not be acknowledged for a member of this Reformed Church This just and necessary advertisement having no way touched him and not having hitherto produced any other effect then to render him the more inexcusably obstinate The Nationall Synod of the Reformed Churches of this Kingdome desirous to remedy a scandall so long continued among them and to procure so much as in them lyeth your edification came to this Conclusion in this place confirming the proceeding Arrest assembled at Alenson declare unto you by our mouth that the said Sieur de Militier long since more then ten yeares being deprived of the Communion of the Lords Table and cut off from the Church in the yeare 1638. and from the number of the faithfull of our Confession may no more be accounted by you among the members of the Reformed Churches Pray the Lord that touching his heart with all the puissant vertue of his Spirit he may returne himselfe from the gall of bitternesse and that he would be pleased to give him the grace to turne himselfe from darknesse unto light and from error unto truth to the end that as the fall of this personage hath for many yeares afflicted
for a time and simple privation of the Lords Supper That there may be a right use of the one and of the other the Ministers and Elders in interpreting the words of excommunication and Suspension from the Lords Supper doe advise that no man ought to be deprived nor suspended from the Lords Supper by the private authority of the Pastour or of any other but onely of the Consistory to whose wisdome it shall bee left to take cognisance after that the offender hath first bin admonished for any fact which meriteth Suspension In this case he which shall have committed any offence shall for a time be deprived of the Supper of the Lord for to humble him and try his Repentance Howbeit the offence not being knowne but to a few men such a Suspension or the cause of it shall not bee declared to the people for feare of further defaming the oftendor by rendering his offence more notorious and scandalous then it is and it shall suffice in this ease to acknowledge his offence unto the Consistory that hee may be admitted to the supper of the Lord. But as for them which have been admonished divers times of their offences and yet shew themselves disobedient unto the Consistory as also they which shall have committed any great and enormous crimes which are punishable by the Magistrate and which may bring publike scandall unto the Church they shall be punished withall sort of Censures And if it happen that after long expectance and patience and many admonitions made by the Consistory and the forementioned proceedings kept and practised and all other endeavours of charity observed in the behalfe of the offendor if after all this he yet continue obstinate and impenitent then shall they proceed against him by publick admonitions and by the mouth of the Pastour in the name of the Church declaring his offence and protesting their endeavour of reclaiming him without any profiting therein exhorting the whole Church to pray unto God for him and essay by all meanes to lead him to the knowledge of his offence for to prevent his cutting off and Excommunication whereunto they may not proceed but with dolour and griefe of heart and of which the Pastour shall set forth the true and lawfull use from the word of God to the end that every man may bee admonished to keepe himselfe within the compasse of his duty towards God and his Neighbour and to make knowne also that this last remedy is practised in the behalfe of such an offender for the glory of God the honour and repose of his Church and his owne salvation the which publick admonitions and denuntiations they shall prosecute and continue three times on three severall Lords dayes In the first to spare in some sort the offendor he shall not be named because he is already knowne to the people but in the other he shall be named And if for all that he returne not but persevere in his hardnesse in the fourth Lords day he shall be signified and the Excommunication of such a personage shall be pronounced as a Rotten member cut off from the body of the Church by the Pastour in the authority of the word of God in the name and consent of the whole Church of the which Excommunication the tenour followeth Following the requisition made by the Province of Poictou the which was framed by the necessity of its practise in this corrupt age as also hath been more fully declared then it hath been in the book of Discipline MY Brethren behold here the fourth time that A. B. having committed of C. and having scandalized the Church of God and shewed himselfe impenitent and a contemner of all admonitions which have been divers times made unto him from the word of God hath been suspended from the Supper of the Lord the which suspension and the causes therof have bin fully made known unto you to the end that you joyn your prayers with ours that it would please God to soften the hardness of his heart and to touch him with repentance withdrawing him from the way of perdition But seeing after he hath been so long borne withall intreated and in a sort menaced and adjured to turne himselfe unto God hee persevers in his impenitency and with a hardened obstinacy rebels against God and tramples under his feet the Word and the order which hath been established in his Church glorifying himselfe in his sins and in a course that the Church hath a long time been troubled and the name of the Lord blasphemed Wee the ministers of the Gospell of the word of Jesus Christ whom God hath armed with spirituall weapons mighty through God to the pulling downe of strong holds casting downe every thing that exalts it selfe against him unto whom the eternall Sonne of God hath given power to bind and to loose on earth declaring that what they bind on earth shall be bound in heaven willing to purge the house of God and deliver the Church from Scandalls and in pronouncing Anathemaes against the wicked to glorifie the name of God In the name and in the Authority of Jesus Christ with the advise of the Pastours and Elders in the Colloque or Synod Assembled and of the Consistory of this Church of N. we have cut off and cutting off the said A.B. from the Communion of the Church we excommunicate him and expell him the society of the faithfull to the end that he be unto you as an Heathen and Publican and that he be unto all the true faithfull beleevers an Anathema and execration that his conversation bee esteemed contageous and that his example strike our spirits with horrour and cause us to tremble under the mighty hand of the living God Which sentence of Excommunication the Sonne of God will ratifie and will make efficacious untill the offendour confused and dejected before God give glory unto him by his conversion and being delivered from the chaines of Sathan which inthralls him he bewaile his sinne touched with repentance pray God well beloved that he have pitty on this poore sinner and that this horrible judgement the which with griefe great sorrow of heart we pronounce against him in the authority of the Sonne of God serve to humble him and to reduce his soule in the way of salvation from which he strayed and erred Amen Amen Cursed be every man that doth the worke of the Lord negligently Amen If there be any one that loveâ—â— not the Lord Jesus Christ let him bee Anathema Maranatha Amen yea Amen Moreover they shall use the suspension from the Sacraments of the Lords Supper to humble offenders and to touch them with a more lively sense of their offences This suspension nor the cause thereof nor the restitution of the offender shall be published unto the people unlesse in case they be hereticks despised of God rebells to the Consistories and traytours against the Church Besides they which shall be attainted and convinced of crimes worthy of corporall punishment and