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.

IN each Province, the Pastors of each Church shall as∣semble once a Year, or twice, as they may, which is re∣ferred to the Prudence and Discretion of the Synod.

CONFORMITY.

Christians have ever esteemed Synods so necessary, that they have been very careful to assemble them when the good of the Church required it; for as Eusebius saith in the 51 chap. of the Book of the Life of Constan∣tine, Great Controversies cannot be determin'd but by Sy∣nods: At the beginning, and even during the heat of Persecution, when there arrived any trouble in a parti∣cular Church, all the others concern'd themselves in it, and the Ministers by a meer movement of Charity, and without any form of Convocation, assembled of them∣selves, to make Peace, and to compose Differences: And in these Assemblies Humane Passions being bani∣shed, and Jesus Christ there presiding by his Holy Spi∣rit, they consulted together, and resolv'd without Ce∣remonies and Formalities, what was expedient. It is much after this Method they proceeded against Paul of Samosatia Bishop of Antioch, when he had published his Impiety, * 1.1 the Pastors of Churches as Eusebius saith, being run thither from all parts, as against an Enemy, which destroy'd the Flock of Christ. And I can't tell if the Synod of Iconia in Phrygia mentioned by Fer∣millian Bishop of Caesaria in Cappadocia, was not of the same kind of those held against Paul of Samosatia in the same Century; * 1.2 for he saith, they were assembled in that place, from Gallacia, Cilicia, and other adjacent Provinces, to confirm what had already been concluded touching the reiteration of the Baptism of Hereticks.

But what Bishops did at first by a principle of Chari∣ty, they were in time obliged to do also by Duty, the Cannons requiring it of them: In effect the V. Cannon of the First Council of Nice, appoints to hold Synods

twice a year in each Province. The Twentieth of the Council of Antioch renews the same Decree, and thence it is undoubtedly that him which forged the Cannons of the Apostles, borrowed the 37, which contains the same Establishment. The Nineteenth of Chalcedon ha∣ving complained that in the Provinces was not celebra∣ted the Synods prescribed by the Cannons, it appoints they be held twice a year, conformable to the Decrees of the Holy Fathers. There's a number of other Can∣nons which prescribe the same thing, and which I for∣bear to alleage, to observe two things which concern the matter which we examine; the first, that Auitus Bi∣shop of Vienna in Dauphine, which flourished about the end of the V. Century, and at the beginning of the VI, endeavour'd to restore the Antient Custom which in∣sensibly was left off, as he doth testifie in his 80 Letter. It may be thought that the Synod of Ries in Province had given some slight endeavour to the first practice, * 1.3 in the year 439, when it confirms it in the Eighth Can∣non, but under condition, that times were quiet: That of Orange explains it self fuller in the year 441, Cannon 29, saying, it was difficult to assemble twice a year, by reason of sad and difficult times. The Second thing I mean to observe is, * 1.4 That the Synod of Agde in Langue∣dock made a Decree in the 71 Cannon, by which it re∣duces these Synodal Assemblies to hold once a year, and it declares in the same Cannon, which is of the year 506, that it does so according to the constitution of the Fathers; having respect it may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the Cannons of Orange and Ries, but just now cite▪ The 37 of the 4 of Orleans of the year 541, the 23 an•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the year 549 on the same with that of Agde. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••he 18 of the 3 of Tolledo, alleges for a reason in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 589, the length of the way, and poverty of the Churches. To. 4, Conc. pa. 505, 506.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Euseb. Hist. lib. 7. c. 27, 28, 29.
• * 1.2

  Apud Cypr. contr. Ep. Steph. p. 146.
• * 1.3

  Tom conc. Gal. p. 69. Ibid. p. 74.
• * 1.4

  Ibid. p. 173. Ib. p. 268, 284.