Conformity of the ecclesiastical discipline of the Reformed churches of France with that of the primitive Christians written by M. La Rocque ... ; render'd into English by Jos. Walker.

ARTICLE I.

THE Churches shall use their best endeavour to Erect Schools, and shall give Directions, that Youth be in∣structed.

CONFORMITY.

The instruction of Youth being of the greatest im∣portance for establishing of the Truth, for advancing the Glory of God, and for the Edification of his People, it was great reason to procure amongst us the means of doing it, wherein our Fathers have exactly followed the Example of the Primitive Christians, who neglected nothing for the Educating of their Children; for not to insist on Grammar, or Rhetorick, to which Schools they sent them, until the Emperor Julian the Apostate (who gain'd this Name by his falling off from the Truth) forbid the Masters of those two Arts, to teach them to Christians; which Amianus Marcelinus, though a Heathen, condemns as an Action directly contrary to the Laws of Clemency and Equity; not to insist, I say, on these things, no more than on other humane Scien∣ces, the knowledg of which they were no strangers to; Who don't know, that their principal study was to understand the Truths of the Holy Scriptures, the Mysteries of Piety, and of Religion; It was for this

Reason, that from the very first beginning of Christia∣nity, they had publick Schools, wherein the principal Matters, and Fundamental Points of the Religion of the Son of God, was taught; as has been proved on the 13th Article of the 1st Book.

Now to descend lower, I observe, that Charlemain, who may be looked on as the first restorer of Sciences, in a great part of the West, I say, he took care to settle Schools in Monastries, and Episcopal Houses, for the Instruction of Youth; it is what he particularly enjoins in his Capitulary, * 1.1 in the year 789. Theodulph Bishop of Orleans, declares in his, made Eight years after the other, That there were several Schools in his Diocess, which he names; and moreover appoints to have others in the Country, and in Villages. The 2d Council of Chalous on Soan, made a Decree in the year 813. * 1.2 which deserves here to have its place. It is requi∣site, that according to the command of the Emperor Charles, a Prince endowed with singular Sweetness, Force, Prudence, Justice, and Temperance; Bishops should Establish Schools, where the Doctrine and Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures may be Learned, and where persons may be instructed, of whom our Saviour may justly say, Ye are the Salt of the Earth, and may be the savour of the People, and whose Doctrine may not only resist sundry Heresies, but also the temptations of Antichrist, and the Antichrist himself; and that so it may justly be said of them, in praise of the Church, A Thou∣sand Bucklers, and the Arms of Men of might, are there. The Synod of Paris, * 1.3 term'd the VI. in the Year 829. make request to Lewis the Debonnair, in following his Predecessors steps, That he will be pleas'd, by his Au∣thority, to procure the Establishment of some publick Schools, at least in three of the most convenient places of his Empire; to the end, that his Father's, and his

pains, might not be in vain: Besides, that this Establish∣ment would be very useful, and glorious to the Church of God; and that by this Action, he would make his name Immortal. The Council of Meaux, * 1.4 in the Year 845. requires, that each Bishop has a Learned Man, of a good and unblameable Life, to teach and instruct Priests, which have the care and conduct of People, in the truth of Faith, and in the observation of God's Commandments; and to enable them to Preach, that the Light of the Word of God may shine always in the House of God, which is the Temple of the Living God. It is also the substance of the 18th Canon of the 3d Council of Valentia in Dauphine, * 1.5 assembled Ten years after that of Meaux; of the 34th of a Roman Synod held in the 9th Century, * 1.6 under Pope Eugenius the 2d. and which is repeated, and inlarged in another under Leo the IVth. in the same Century.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Tom. 2. Conc. Gall. p. 152. c. 72. Ib p. 215. c. 19, 20.
• * 1.2

  Ib. p. 308. Can. 3.
• * 1.3

  Ib. lib. 3. p. 549. Can. 12.
• * 1.4

  Tom. 3. Conc. Gall. p. 41, 42. Can. 35.
• * 1.5

  Ib. p. 104.
• * 1.6

  Collect. Rom. Part 2. p. 43, 89.